Two Chinese companies to invest in development of Moldova's agriculture

Chisinau, 13 September /MOLDPRES/ – Two Chinese companies will invest in the development of agriculture and food industry in Moldova. Chinese companies’ representatives discussed collaboration prospects today at a meeting with officials of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry (MAIA).

According to MAIA’s press service, the cooperation between Moldova and China will target areas of processing food products, organic goods' production, developing agricultural infrastructure ,etc.

At the meeting, Agriculture and Food Industry Minister Eduard Grama said that negotiations at the level of the two governments for signing a free trade agreement between Moldova and China had been initiated this year, in order to encourage the developing progress.

Ar the same time, the minister said that there was an over-production of chicken eggs in Moldova, but it was needed to produce egg powder. "Also, the sector of of breeding sheep and goats is well-developed, but there are no points for washing and processing sheep wool. At the same time, Moldova has potential of producing fruits and vegetables in greenhouses", said Eduard Grama.

The Chinese side showed interest in possibilities to rent agricultural lands in Moldova; they appreciated Moldovan wines and noted that "collaboration relations could be developed in this sector as well."

In 2015, according to MAIA’s statistics, the export of agricultural products from Moldova to China increased by over ten per cent, amounting to 6.3 million dollars. The main exported product is wine, with the export increasing by 37 per cent on this period. At the same time, China exported food products worth 8 million dollars, and the main products imported by Moldova are cigarillos of vegetables and fruits make etc.

(Reporter P. Beregoi, editor A. Raileanu)