The Recruitment Agencies Association of Moldova (ARA) recently had the honor of hosting its long-standing partner from Poland — Solano Group — for a high-level working visit. The delegation included the company’s founders: Paweł Sobczak, Ariel Sobczak, and Aneta Sobczak, who personally led the strategic discussions in Chișinău.
This visit marked a major milestone in a partnership that has evolved over 15 years, transforming both companies and making a lasting impact on the lives of tens of thousands of Moldovan workers.
A Partnership that Changed Lives and Economies
Since 2010, ARA was the first Moldovan agency to initiate legal workforce mobility to Poland, building the foundation of what would later become one of Eastern Europe’s most successful recruitment alliances.
In 15 years of collaboration:
- Over 48,000 Moldovan citizens have legally worked in Poland through Solano Group
- More than €60 million were repatriated to Moldovan families
- Workers were hired under both short-term (3 months) and long-term contracts (1+ years)
The recruitment process has always been fully legal and transparent, with strong social protection
Solano Group today: One of CEE’s most Powerful Staffing Groups
Headquartered in Poland, Solano Group is now among the largest temporary employment and outsourcing agencies in Central and Eastern Europe.
Key facts and figures:
- Over 4,000 active workers from 28 countries
- Annual revenue exceeding 360 million PLN (approx. €80 million)
- Diverse talent pool:
- 1,250+ Moldovans
- 1,000+ Latin Americans (e.g., Brazil, Colombia, Peru)
- 1,500+ Asian workers (e.g., Nepal, Indоnesia, Vietnam, Philippines)
- 500+ Ukrainians, Belarusians, and other Eastern Europeans
Solano Group provides turnkey Process Outsourcing & HR Services for industry leaders across:
- Food production
- Logistics and warehousing
- Manufacturing and packaging
The company offers end-to-end support:
- Recruitment & preselection
- Work and residence legalization
- Housing and coordinated transportation
- Onsite supervisors and coordinators
- Payroll, rotation, and legal assistance
Looking ahead: Expansion into France and the Netherlands
The Chișinău meetings, led by Petru Maleru (ARA Director General) and Vasile Ceban (ARA President), focused on plans to launch joint ventures in France and the Netherlands, targeting legal workforce mobility for Moldovan citizens with Romanian passports.
Solano Group also expressed interest in sharing its expertise with ARA to support the import and leasing of foreign personnel into Moldova, helping address the growing domestic labor shortage.
What’s next?
A second round of negotiations is scheduled for June 2025, where the operational and legal frameworks for the expansion will be defined.
This enduring 15-year partnership between ARA and Solano Group stands as a model of mutual growth, trust, and long-term success — not only in Poland, but soon in Western Europe as well.
