Vitalie Serpu

Business: As an importer and seller of used cars, Vitalie is the epitome of a pure entrepreneur. Vitalie researches used cars for sale at an Internet café, purchases them, pays all taxes and needed repairs, then offers the cars for sale. All of the cars are purchased in Western Europe (Italy or Germany), then driven back to Moldova to sell. Vitalie is a "one man band", doing the research, making the purchase, driving the car back, and showing it for sale. He sells about 18 cars per year.

Lending History: 1st loan: 2003 to purchase cars. Paid back in 2 months. 2nd loan: 2004 to purchase cars.

Working with CAMED (Integra) since 2003.

Employees: 1

Households supported: 1

Plans to grow the business: He has been successful, but would like to find a business with a little less risk.

Note: Vitaliecame to know Integra through a summer camp program 2 years ago. Vitalie impressed us as rather fearless. It was apparent that he takes the full financial risk to bring the cars into the country, and sell them. The risk includes financing the cars, paying taxes up front and any repairs, not to mention the challenge of finding good cars on the Internet in foreign countries.