Vasile Popan

Business: Meat processing (sausage) and distributing.

Lending History:
1st loan: $100 for kitchen equipment to make cakes.
2nd loan: more kitchen equipment.
3rd loan: to slaughter meat and take to market. Developed a network of meat suppliers
4th loan: for car, truck to build up the business.
5th loan: for meat processing and building the market.
6th loan: $16,000 for purchasing building, equipment, expanding the business. All loans repaid on time.

Working with CAMED (Filadelfia) since 1999.

Employees: 10

Households supported: 7

Plans to grow the business: In February (05), Vasile’s business was selected to supply a ton a week of smoked meat to Eastern Europe's equivalent to Walmart. This is a very significant validation that his business delivers quality and value.

Note: Vasile’s sausage products won government award in 2004 for highest quality products compared with 15 other small business sausage makers in Moldova.