Moldovan PM says Francophonie provides more opportunities to turn to account potential in innovation, research, creative industries

Chisinau, 27 May /MOLDPRES/ - Opportunities of multidimensional cooperation in the French-speaking area were discussed at a today’s meeting between Prime Minister Pavel Filip and Secretary-General of the International Organisation of La Francophonie (IOF) Michaelle Jean, the government’s communication and media relations department has reported.    

The prime minister stressed that the visit by IOF Secretary-General was of great importance, as Moldova marks the 20th anniversary of its accession to IOF in 2016. Also, Pavel Filip said that, for Moldova, the affiliation to this organisation offered opportunities of cooperation with the member states on various dimensions.  

“During time, we had a fruitful cooperation with IOF, the country being an active promoter of the Francophonie regionally. So far, the principal component we have developed was the education one; yet, the Francophonie gives us many opportunities to turn to good account the country potential in the sectors of innovation, research and creative industries, entrepreneurship for women and young people,” Pavel Filip said.    

In the context, the prime minister said that Moldova was interested in participating in IOF programmes not only as beneficiary, but also to share it own experience with other member states. 

For her part, Michaelle Jean said that, in Chisinau, she had made sure of the fact that Moldova was a pole of Francophonie in the region, and the capacity of member of the organisation gave the country an optimum space for achieving the development goals. In this context, the official noted that IOF had its own regional action plan, focused on economic, cultural development, strengthening capacities in the fields of youth and women’s entrepreneurship, tourism and hotel services.    

“The organisation is interested in the development of networks of entrepreneurship for young people and women, for the creation of new jobs. Presently, we carry out numerous projects in the agricultural sector, textile industry in African countries, which may be interconnected to Moldova too. For instance, an interesting project might be the production of textiles of African cotton or Indian silk, according to a Moldovan design. I would like to bear a Moldovan blouse made of cotton of Mali or Benin, i.e. of Francophone goods,” the IOF secretary-general said.   

At the end of the meeting, Michaelle Jean invited Pavel Filip to participate in the summit of the Francophonie dedicated to the economic sector, due in Madagascar in next November, in order to share with other countries Moldova’s experience in diversifying economic policies.   

(Editor L. Alcaza)