Romania and R. Moldova strengthen cooperation
Bucharest and Chișinău to step up efforts to mitigate the negative effects of the geopolitical and economic context
Daniela Budu, 14.09.2022, 14:00
Romania and the neighbouring Republic of Moldova intend
to step up their common efforts to mitigate the negative effects of the current
context created by the war in Ukraine, the energy crisis, disruptions in
international trade circuits and the steep global inflation. This is the
announcement made by PM Nicolae Ciucă, after taking part in a forum focused on
cooperation in the capital market, held in Bucharest and also attended by Moldova’s
PM Natalia Gavriliţa.
On this occasion, the two officials analysed the
progress in implementing projects intended to support Moldova in areas like the
energy and gas sector, ensuring funding under the EUR 100 mln assistance
package provided by Romania and the EUR 10 mln direct budget assistance. According
to Nicolae Ciucă, developing trade and supporting investments are critical to
both the consolidation of the bilateral strategic partnership, and Moldova’s EU
accession.
Nicolae Ciucă: In the first 5 months of this year, bilateral
trade already went over EUR 1.2 bln, thus confirming the accelerated increase
in trade between our countries. This is good, but it’s not enough. We must make
joint efforts and send messages to the business communities in both Romania and
Moldova, so as to best put to use the potential of the 2 economies.
In turn, Natalia Gavriliţa emphasised that Moldova needs
a more active capital market and international investments. The Moldovan PM
said professionals are needed in Chișinău, such as insurance and pension fund
managers. Moreover, Natalia Gavriliţa explained that an investment in the R. of
Moldova should be seen as an opportunity to also access the Romanian market. As she put it, We know that for some
companies, the Moldovan market may seem too small to justify an investment. However,
given the linguistic and cultural proximity, many Moldovan companies tread the
Romanian market as an extension of the domestic one. This is why Romania is by
far the largest export market for our businesses, so when you assess Moldova, you
shouldn’t see it just as a small market of less than 3 million people, but rather
as an access point to a combined market of over 20 million potential consumers.
The 2 prime ministers also discussed the support
Bucharest is able to provide in the preparations for the start of Moldova’s EU accession
negotiations, and looked at the current progress made by Chişinău in this
respect, particularly in the field of the judiciary. (AMP)
