.:: Creation

The Central Agricultural Market Information Bureau was created in 1997 by the EU TACIS ‘Improved Marketing of Agricultural Products’ Project’ as part of the project within the Ministry of Agriculture and Processing Industry. In February 1999 the staff of The Central Agricultural Marketing Information Bureau (CAMIB) formed CAMIB as an autonomous unit and registered it as an NGO under Moldovan law. The same team that started the Bureau is now working for CAMIB NGO, which is a non-governmental and non-profit organization.

CAMIB is located in Chisinau, has no affiliates but closely collaborates with other business services providers all over Moldova, regularly providing marketing information and consulting advice to local and foreign clients.

.:: Mandate

The mission of CAMIB NGO is two folders:
   1/ to promote the development of the civil society movement and business sector in Moldova, in collaboration with selected partners/communities, in the areas of community/NGO development, with an emphasis on rural areas.
   2/ to provide domestic food operators with information and marketing services fundamental to create and maintain market transparency - which is an indispensable prerequisite of market economy;

.:: Fields of Experience and Expertise

- Administrative support to program implementation;

- Improvement quality of life and social conditions in rural area via job creation and formation activities (JOBS PLUS Project);

- Grants Administration:

• Administration of Small Grants Program and consultancy support/training services to NGOs with emphasis to rural areas within the NGO Small Grants Program funded by Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). The programme's main objective is to ensure the sustainability of local organizations in rural areas actively working in the social sector

- Organisation logistics for the SDC Program:

• Public relations;
• Organisation of press conferences;
• Conducting information sessions for NGOs.

- Conducting business development activities (2001- 2007– projects Alliance for Support Agricultural Markets (ASPA), 2003 - 2005 - “Partnership for Food Industry Development”, 2003-2004 - Cross-Border Cooperation, Component “Wholesale Market Information System in Ungheni Region”, Monitoring beer, soft drinks and mineral water production and sales in Moldova, Efes Vitanta Brewery (2001-2003), marketing support to Hulubas DEFand others):

• marketing advice (including creation and enforcement of marketing Dpts, quality management and food safety systems implementation) in export promotion of food and agricultural products of such branches as wine, dairy, processed fruit and vegetables, dried fruits and nuts;
• industry assessment (fruit processors, more recent e.g. Orhei Vit, 2004-2005);
  o export promotion: establishing contacts with buyers/importers of agricultural and food products;
• market investigations, preparation of marketing/business plans and investment profiles for the Moldovan companies and foreign clients among which have been the following:
  
  - Fruit and vegetable sector in Moldova (2004-2005) for StePac);
  - Hulubas DEF (meat producer) (2004): meat market in St. Petersburg;
  - Poultry Report for Moldova and Balkan states (for the Council of the US exporters), (2003);
  - Food Industry report (2004) (for USDA);
  - Country profile: fishery sector (for FAO), 2004;
  - Monitoring beer, soft drinks and mineral water production and sales in Moldova, Efes Vitanta Brewery (2001-2003);
  - Hides and skins (for Italians) (2001).

- Conducting business training for Agri and Food enterprises, SME staff:

• preparation of training publications and training of marketing specialists from 14 APAs business centres on fruits, vegetables, table grapes growing and marketing, including conditions for export trade (project “Market Information Support to agricultural producers (Uniagroprotect) in Moldova” (2003);
• training of marketing specialists in export marketing tools (project (2001- to present) projects Alliance for Support Agricultural Markets (ASPA);
• training on how to make an investment business plan (Project (2003 – 2005) “Partnership for Food Industry Development”.

- Enhancement of small farmers associations (fish, poultry producers).

- Policy advice in the field of business opportunities and investment climate;

- Promotion of local and foreign companies through creation of web sites, www.sdc.md , www.ialoveni.md, www.hulubasdef.com , www.csbu.com; www.camib.com/maintradepage_ro.php;

- Information support system to and training of meat/poultry/fish producers and food industry (Information Support System include: Best practices of raw material production and processing, Associations providing cold chain services, Directory of meat, poultry and fish processing enterprises; Business partnerships, HACCP Food Safety Systems);

- Consultancy on Food Quality and Safety systems (ISO, HACCP) – the Moldovan Centre for Food Safety and Quality: implementation to meat, poultry and fish processing companies, e.g. Free Fisheries (fish), Tochile Avicola JSC (poultry processor), Carmez International Ltd (meat processor);

- Policy advice in the field food safety system at food industry;

.:: Data bases resources

• 9-year market price trends for fruits & vegetables/ livestock in Moldova and Eastern Europe -Market Information System (MIS):retail and wholesale prices for around 50 different products traded either in Moldova or in surrounding countries (Romania, Russia, Byelorussia and Ukraine);
• Input/ fertilizers/ seeds suppliers in Moldova;
• Packaging producers in Moldova;
• Export/ Import statistics;
• Agricultural production statistics;
• Dedicated trade web site AGROCOMERT (go to www.camib.com), helping local operators with business contacts and trade information. It hosts data on supply, demand and cooperation, posted by traders in Moldova and abroad.

.:: Publications

• Export Opportunities for Value Added products made in Moldova, published by CNFA, 2004;
• Comparative Analysis of the EU and the Moldovan legislation on veterinary and consumer protection (2002) (available on www.pca.md );
• TRAINING MANUAL Food Marketing development in Moldova (first edition, Dec 1997; second edition, July 1999);
• The current situation in fruit growing and fruit processing sectors, funded by USAID, 2003;
• The current situation in vegetable growing and processing sector, funded by USAID, 2003;
• The current situation in viticulture sector, funded by USAID, 2003;
• Newsletter “NPA” – News from the Agrarian Markets (since 1997) (available on www.camib.com against subscription).

.:: Collaboration and established linkages and relationships with agribusiness enterprises, research institutes, universities:

International organizations: World Bank, TACIS, UNDP, CRS, ZMP (German Information Agency), International HACCP Alliance, the National Sea Food HACCP Alliance (USA), CNFA, , Embassies (French, US, German, Dutch, Ukrainian, Polish, Russian, Belarusian); WFLO, FDA, USDA, EBRD, FAO.

Private companies: food processing companies (fruit-,and vegetables, meat, fish processors, daories), exporters of frozen fruits and vegetables, packaging producer Russian-Israel joint company “StePac”;

Universities: Louisiana State University, ILSI (international Life Sciences Institute Europe), Technical university of Moldova;

Local authorities: Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Internal Affaires Chamber of Commerce in Chisinau and Balti;

Agencies and associations: ASPA (Alliance for Agricultural Market Support), ACAI (Consulting, Assistance & Implementation Agency), ACSA (Agency for Training and Consulting in Agriculture), ASSAD (Alliance of Scientists for Sustainable Development), ACA (Alliance of Credit Associations).

   CAMIB staff is well trained and has proved itself as professional team able to carry economic and social activities on the territory of Moldova Republic. Currently, six members and one foreign expert (volunteer) represents the CAMIB full-time positions. For additional activities and projects CAMIB has part-time specialists, who are not listed below. CAMIB closely collaborates with Universities of Moldova for attracting young specialists in the development of social and economical activities in Moldova :

Mrs.Valentina Chitoraga - CAMIB Director, Economist.
She graduated from the Academy of Economic Studies, major marketing; University of Foreign Languages, major English and French. Mrs. Chitoraga has a working experience in marketing field for 12 years. Her experience in marketing is based on different tasks like: creation and development of Marketing Department at local enterprises in four main sectors of Moldova (dairy, wine, processed fruits and vegetables and dried fruits and vegetables), industry analysis and audit of agro-food sector of Moldova Republic, development of trainings and training materials for agro-food sector, research on local and foreign markets, coordination and organization of local organizations' participation at international Trade Fairs. Chitoraga Valentina has a large experience in administration of international projects on the territory of Moldova Republic. She administrated a six year project "Small Grants for NGO development" with SDC (Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation). She had performed as a manager in a EU Cross Border project and Executive Director of a partner organization in "Job Plus" project oriented to reduce poverty through creation of jobs in rural areas of Republic of Moldova- funded by Argidius Foundation and CRS. Her working experience in Republic of Moldova includes collaboration with such international organizations like: FAO (Rome), TACIS, USDA Washington DC, CNFA (US), EBRD (UK), ZMP (Germany) etc.

Mr. Veaceslav Mahu, CAMIB Finacial Manager .
He graduated from the Technical University, Economics. He has a 16 year experience in financial area on the territory of Moldova Republic, mainly in NGO sector. His main duty is to ensure adequate budgetary control of programmed operations and financial resources and prepare annual, quarterly and monthly operating budgets and cash flow plans. Mr. Mahu's experience in NGO financial management expand his knowledge to rural NGOs in building good financial management in more than 150 regional NGOs. He also performed as Team Leader for mobilization of civil society for poverty reduction project. His technical education helped him to perform also as IT specialist for deferent projects, foreign companies, local organizations, regional NGOs, etc. Mr. Mahu speaks good English.

Mr. Octavian Mahu, CAMIB Legal Adviser.
Mr. Mahu graduated State University of Moldova, mainly International Relations, Political and Administrative Science; Bucharest Polytechnic University (Romania). He has 8 years experience in non-governmental sector. He administrated several projects, actions and campaigns on human rights. His duty as a legal adviser is to organize the documentation, contracting and monitoring of activities in correspondence to Legislation of Moldova Republic. He provides consultation to NGO sector concerning human rights, women rights and child protection. He is a team member of CAMIB in mobilization process of civil society for poverty reduction project.

Our Voluntares

Mr. Paolo Galliadi   Team Leader of the EU/TACIS "Improved Marketing of Agricultural Products" Project in Moldova (1998-2000). 
Specialized in Agri-business Economics. Economist with 8 years of experience in Market Research and Marketing Information Systems (MIS). Main areas of experience: Market Research project, development and management; MIS project, implementation and management; Agricultural commodities market and agri-food industry analysis.