Moldovan economics minister, German, U.S., Polish ambassadors discuss bilateral cooperation priorities

Chisinau, 10 February /MOLDPRES/ - Deputy Prime Minister, Economics Minister Octavian Calmic has had meetings with the ambassadors of Germany, USA and Poland to Moldova. The sides discussed the bilateral cooperation agenda for 2016 and continuing projects initiated with the support of these countries, the Economics Ministry’s press service has reported.  

The economics minister said the government’s short-term priority was the signing of a memorandum with the International Monetary Fund, de-blocking the financial assistance on behalf of the European Union and development partners, in order to resume the financing of the investment projects underway, as well as fulfilling the commitments provided for in the Association Agreement/Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (DCFTA).

Also, Octavian Calmic said the major goals were to speed up the transposition of the EU acquis into the national legislation, continue reforms to improve the business environment and investment climate, via implementing the regulatory reform, launch a single office for authorizations in constructions and trade, optimize the mechanisms of controls and state inspections, introduce the moratorium on controls for six months, etc.

German Ambassador to Moldova Ulrike Knotz said her country further backed the effort of Moldova’s economic revival and the process of reforms carried out in the light of DCFTA. At the same time, the diplomat showed interest in the investment opportunities offered by Moldova to German entrepreneurs and the units included in the privatization agenda for this year.

In this context, the economics minister said units from the energy and industrial sector, as well as power distribution networks (REDs), the stock company Tutun CTC, stock companies Barza Alba, UNIC, etc. would be put to international tender. Also, the energy and thermal electric infrastructure remain a sector for investments.  

At the meeting with U.S. Ambassador to Moldova James Pettit, Octavian Calmic referred to the social and economic situation in Moldova, boosting the trade and economic cooperation with the USA, on the platform of the inter-governmental Moldovan-American commission.  

“We are determined to press ahead with the reforms and take decisions for citizens. Therefore, we will accelerate the implementation process. We have a list of priority projects in the energy sector and business environment for the spring parliamentary session. As for ensuring Moldova’s energy security, we will maintain an intense dialogue with the Romanian side on energy inter-connection projects, in order to diminish the dependence on a single provider. Also, to give an impetus to foreign trade, we will continue removing the tariff and non-tariff barriers, signing new free trade agreements, and in cooperation with Russia and Ukraine, we will negotiate the resumption of exports to this market,” the economics minister added.    

At the meeting with Ambassador of Poland Artur Michalski, the officials discussed the organisation of the Moldovan-Polish inter-governmental commission in Chisinau in next May, aspects on turning to account a 100-million-euros-worth Polish loan.

(Reporter A. Mardare, editor L. Alcaza)