On June 20, 2013 Congress of Local Authorities from Moldova (CALM) in partnership with the Network of Associations of Local Authorities of South-East Europe (NALAS) organized the NEXPO National Promotional Event within the project "Establishment of a Matchmaking Platform for local governments and the business sector" supported by GIZ/ORF.

The event aimed to:

• Increase the awareness of the LGs and business sector about NEXPO 2013 programme and the possibilities it offers to both of these target groups;
• Inform about the new, added value of NEXPO 2013 – the  matchmaking component, which will enable exchange, information-sharing and partnership between LGs and businesses;
• Inform what the matchmaking platform offers to both groups;
• Raise the LGs' and businesses' interest to come to NEXPO and use the Matchmaking Platform.

About 111 mayors (members of CALM administrative board, municipalities that have potentials for investments, those that signed the Covenant of Mayors, the ones who already participated in Sarajevo, etc.,), 17 businesses from the energy efficiency and renewable energy sector and 7 CALM secretariat members participated at the NEXPO 2013 National Promotional Event.

The events Agenda included detailed presentation of NEXPO 2013 programme and offer; detailed presentation of the Matchmaking Platform for the LGs and the Businesses; presentation of NEXPO 2013 promotional video; experience-sharing from NEXPO 2011 in Sarajevo; focus on the possibilities for exchange, networking and open business possibilities between the LGs and the Businesses in SEE and questions and answers session.

NEXPO, its offer and matchmaking opportunities were presented by CALM Executive Director Mr. Viorel Furdui and by Knowledge Management Assistant Ms. Irina Luncasu.

4 Mayors that participated at NEXPO 2011 in Sarajevo: Ms. Silvia Ştirbeţ – Mayor of Valeni, Mr. Veaceslav Cociu – Mayor of Carahasani, Mr. Alexandru Tinica – Mayor of Soldanesti and Ms. Silvia Ţurcanu – Mayor of Chiscareni shared their experience from NEXPO 2011, explained to their peers what was the benefit for their municipalities in participating at NEXPO 2011 and advocated for participation in NEXPO 2013 in Croatia.

All the participants highly appreciated the event organisation and mentioned that the subject is of great interest to them and NEXPO 2013 is an outstanding opportunity to meet people, exchange experiences, learn new things, compare with others, to present their municipality projects and meet potential partners and investors.