Moldovan premier's economic council takes stock of one-year work, outlines goals for next period

Chisinau, 9 April /MOLDPRES/ - The Economic Council of the Prime Minister today held its first meeting in 2015, and examined the results of the work carried out in 2014 and the priorities for this year. The event's goals was achieving the common goal of the government and business environment - economic development of Moldova, the government’s communication and media relations department has reported.

Prime Minister Chiril Gaburici noted that the Council’s meetings represented a platform for dialogue between the government and the business environment, needed to ensure constructive consultations on up-to-date topics in the economic sector and adopting decisions with utmost respect for the interests and needs of the private sector. "There must be continuity in this dialogue and it is important that we find the best solutions for creating friendly conditions for business development and investment attraction in Moldova," said the prime minister.

The secretariat of the Economic Council of the Prime Minister reported the results of the 2014 activity. Among the achievements, the representatives mentioned measures taken to simplify procedures for starting a business and issuing phytosanitary certificates for exports of food products by cutting related costs costs, removing the 1.5 per cent tax on exports of nuts, promoting electronic services to simplify reporting procedures and facilitating access to business financing.

The participants discussed  priorities for the Council's work for the next period and came up with proposals to improve the conditions for doing business in Moldova. The sides agreed that, by the end of the year, at least four meetings of the Economic Council should be held, and the next meeting should be entirely focused on aspects aimed at implementing the provisions of the Moldova-EU Association Agreement, with respect to the chapter on creating the Free Trade Area.

The Economic Council of the Prime Minister was created in December 2012 with the support of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, as an advisory body, and has the mission to facilitate dialogue between business representatives and policy makers to develop a favourable social and economic climate, as well as  and a nondiscriminatory, transparent business environment that is friendly to investments. The institution’s work is supported by the secretariat in charge of promoting and monitoring the decisions taken by the Council.

(Editor A. Raileanu)