Trade between Moldova and Romania and the development of investment projects in industry, energy, agriculture, transport and regional development will be stepped up as a result of a series of measures. The sides reached such an agreement in a meeting of the Moldovan-Romanian intergovernmental commission for economic cooperation that was held in Bucharest, IPN reports, quoting a communique of the Ministry of Economy.
The commission’s co-chairman, Minister of Economy Stephane Bride in the meeting said that the maintaining of the intense pace of the dialogue with Romania represents a priority for Moldova. “The economic relations between Moldova and Romania are rather solid. Since 2014 Romania has been Moldova’s main trade partner. Last year the bilateral trade reached a record level of US$1.24 billion and the projections for this year are also encouraging. In January-June 2015, Moldova’s exports to Romania represented 22.36% of the total exports, an increase of 10.4% compared with the corresponding period last year,” stated the minister.
The sides also discussed the implementation of projects in the energy sector, especially as regards the building of interconnections, in accordance with the memorandum of understanding between the Government of Moldova and the Government of Romania that was signed on May 21, 2015. Three asynchronous interconnection projects to build convertors and a power line will be implemented in the medium and short terms. There will be examined the opportunity of constructing natural gas stores on Romania’s or Moldova’s territory based on feasibility studies, especially for satisfying the greater needs in winter.
There was signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation between the Association of Industrial, Technological, Scientific Parks and Business Incubators of Romania and the Employers Association of Industrial Parks of Moldova, which set up a working group within the joint commission. The memorandum will be used as an instrument for attracting potential investors that are interested in creating and developing industrial parks in areas of common interest (transfrontier regions).
Another important objective agreed was to develop business contacts between enterprises from both of the countries and to promote partnerships and experience exchanges, exhibitions and fairs of goods and services.
