In the village of Văleni, Cahul district, a solar tree was launched, the first of its kind in a rural community in the Republic of Moldova and even in Eastern Europe. The initiative was implemented as part of a pilot project. Thus, in Văleni, the premises were created for the first SMART village in Moldova.
The aim of the “SMART Solutions for SMART Communities” project is to boost local development and create a point of interest both for the locals of Văleni also to attract tourists from Lunca Prutului, offering them free internet access and charging devices from renewable energy sources.
The initiative also aims to join the village of Văleni to the general digital development efforts of the interconnected area Cahul – Galați – Brăila, being halfway and acting as a bridge for the two capitals Chisinau and Bucharest.
The project is initiated and implemented by AO Ecoscout / Eco-Village Văleni through funding from the GEF – UNDP Small Grants Program to transfer good practices from Romania (Alba Iulia Smart City) related to SMART-digital solutions to developing in Văleni the premises for the “First smart village in Moldova” using digital and renewable energy solutions in the development of tourism and local public infrastructure.
The solar tree launching event took place on World Environment Day and gathered guests from both banks of the Prut, including representatives of the Parliaments of Romania and the Republic of Moldova, local public authorities, entrepreneurs, and artists.
