The parliament of Moldova has approved legislation for the creation of Moldova HiTech Park, a €200mn high-technology industrial zone to be built near Stăuceni, outside Chișinău. The bill, passed on July 10 during the final session of the current legislative convocation, introduces a special legal regime for the park’s development and operation, according to Newsmaker.

The law was introduced by Victor Spînu, a member of parliament from the ruling Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS), and aims to address legal and regulatory barriers that have hindered previous attempts to develop modern technology parks. The new framework will allow for streamlined land use procedures, simplified construction rules, and expanded rights for the park’s management to attract investors and lease facilities to non-residents.

Planned as a multifunctional "mini-city" for IT specialists, Moldova HiTech Park will occupy up to 50 hectares of land opposite the Arena Chișinău complex. Two publicly owned plots totalling 124 hectares have been earmarked, with 40 hectares to be granted for 30 years free of charge, and an additional 10 hectares contributed as a non-monetary investment.

The park will focus on key high-tech industries including information and communication technologies, digital and creative industries, outsourcing, microelectronics, financial services, green technologies and advanced research fields such as artificial intelligence, robotics, bioengineering and cybersecurity.

The government expects the park to create more than 21,000 jobs and serve as a hub for education, research, and business development. The project will be implemented in partnership with universities, local authorities, and the private sector.

The park’s management will be handled by a limited liability company founded by the Public Property Agency, local authorities and technical and medical universities. Residents will be selected based on their alignment with the park’s innovation and investment goals.

The project’s initial development phase is expected to last five years and will be funded through Moldova’s Economic Growth Plan, which allocates up to €200mn for industrial and innovation zones. The law stipulates that a management company must be established within 15 days of publication in the Official Monitor, with land demarcation and transfer to follow within 30 days.