Representatives of more Moldovan companies trained to benefit from DCFTA opportunities

Chisinau, 22 July /MOLDPRES/ - Representatives of about 1,300 Moldovan companies have been trained to fully benefit from opportunities of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (DCFTA) with EU. The training was carried out within DCFTA. Business people Informing and Capacity Building Project, financed by the Swedish government via the International Financial Corporation and implemented by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) and European Business Association.

The project was carried out in two stages. The first one, which lasted in July-December 2014, focused on informing fruit and vegetables producers, and the second one, carried out in January-June 2015, was dedicated to textiles industry and agro-food processing companies.

“A year after the DCFTA signing, the quota of exports to EU market increased by 10 per cent in the structure of the Moldovan export. The project, which we implemented, was a pilot one, which produced direct benefits. Business people understand now better what the European market means and benefited from contacts with European partners. Yet, the conclusion is a common one – in order to fully benefit from DCFTA, we have to increase our competitiveness both as to quality and costs and marketing prospect,” CCI Head Valeriu Lazar said.

Lazar added that seven study visits to the Baltic States, Italy, Romania, Belgium and Holland were also organised during the project and managers of Moldovan companies participated in a string of meetings with the mentioned states’ producers and importers, as well as in business forums, where they had the possibility to identify new partners.

Attending the event, Head of the EU Delegation to Moldova Pirkka Tapiola highlighted that the mentioned agreement was very important for Moldovan producers as it offered opportunities to expand exports to EU markets, as well as to create new jobs. 

Tapiola assured that the Moldovan private sector would further be supported by the European Union. 

CCI also launched Made in Moldova Catalogue, which includes the most modern local companies and competitive brands awarded at the contests “Trademark of year 2014” and “Prize for achievements in quality sector”. The next issue of the catalogue will be launched during the Moldovan Business gala due in January 2016, during which the winners of the mentioned two contests will be awarded.

(Reporter A. Mardare, Editor L. Alcaza)