Moldova: from protective covers for cars to protective suits for medical staff

The corona pandemic is having a massive impact on national economies around the world. Supply shortages and weak demand are forcing companies to scale back their production and employees are losing their jobs. How can firms respond to this situation and steer a path through the crisis? A creative solution can be found in South-East Europe.

In Moldova, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is advising the Ministry of Economy and Infrastructure as well as private enterprises. The objective is for companies to grow and the number of jobs to increase. Yet as countries combat the coronavirus pandemic, the mandate of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation requires flexible approaches: GIZ is now helping companies to temporarily expand their production to include the manufacture of protective clothing for medical staff. Three car suppliers and a textile company therefore more than cover the demand in the country.

A company that usually makes protective car covers is now producing full-body medical suits. These keep out microscopic air particles and therefore protect health workers from becoming infected with the coronavirus. Manufacturing the suits is a complex task. GIZ helped with regard to certification in accordance with European standards and developing the digital pattern. It also established contact with potential customers, such as hospitals. The companies have already produced 500,000 of these suits, which also protect against aerosols, about one-fifth of them have been exported to Italy and England. Other products include protective visors and full-face masks.