Sixty-eight per cent of Moldova’s exports now go to the European Union, the Head of the EU Delegation to the Republic of Moldova Peter Michalko has said in a message released to mark four years since the implementation of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) between the EU and the Republic of Moldova.
In his message, Peter Michalko said: "there are good results both in increasing bilateral trade and in implementing reforms related to the Free Trade Agreement."
"Almost 68% of Moldova's exports are now going to the EU market. This represents an increase of approximately 23% in 2017. The bilateral trade in the last year reached €4 billion. We are glad to observe similar positive trends in 2018, including for Moldovan exports. The trade balance of agricultural products, especially nuts, cereals, sunflower seeds, wine, have improved considerably in favour of the Republic of Moldova. Moldovan exports of plant products to the EU almost doubled in the last two years and reached €406 million,"the head of the EU Delegation in Chisinau said in a video address.
Peter Michalko said that, besides farming, trade in plastics, textiles, metals, cars, as well as ceramics and toys increased considerably. Similarly, the EU has become an important market for the information and communications technology services of the Republic of Moldova.
"With the adoption of EU technical standards for industrial goods and sanitary and phytosanitary measures for agricultural and food products by Moldovan companies, new markets will open up worldwide, greater diversification as well as safety improvement of products will be achieved for household consumers. The EU has supported the Republic of Moldova in this respect and will continue to do so in the future. With the Free Trade Agreement came more money, more jobs and better salaries,"said the EU ambassador to Chisinau.