Over 200 entrepreneurs attend Moldovan-Turkish business forum

Chisinau, 6 May /MOLDPRES/- The intensification of Moldovan-Turkish economic relations by identifying new business opportunities and setting direct contacts between economic agents in the two states were the main goals of the Moldovan-Turkish business forum held in Chisinau today. Attending the event were over 200 entrepreneurs, as well as Prime Minister Pavel Filip and Premier of Turkey Binali Yildirim, who is on an official visit to Moldova, the government’s communication and protocol department has reported.

Filip welcomed the presence of the Turkish businessmen in Chisinau and described the economic relations between Moldova and Turkey as very good. In this respect, he noted that Turkey was among the top 10 foreign partners of Moldova, and improving the legal framework for cooperation by signing agreements in trade and investment would allow a qualitative leap in the area.

“Turning to good account the relations with Turkey is very important and not only in terms of increasing trade exchanges and attracting Turkish investments and technologies, but also from the perspective of taking over models, solutions, incentives that have led to the success of implementing structural reforms meant to develop the country’s economy and to improve the quality of citizens’ lives” Filip said.

The premier tackled the government’s efforts meant to improve the investment climate, including reducing the number of control institutions, permissive acts, as well as reports to be submitted by the economic agents. Also, he pointed out the facilities offered by the Free Economic Zones and opportunities of privatization process, to which important state companies are exposed.

In this context, Filip highlighted the successful experience of Turkish investors in Moldova, and urged the participants in the forum to set the capital in the country. “We are absolutely open to Turkish investments. We encourage Turkish companies to explore and actively participate in projects in strategic sectors such as infrastructure, telecommunications, transport and energy”.

For his part, Binali Yildirim underlined the importance of creating a more active platform for development of Moldovan-Turkish trade in order to turn to good account the reserves existing in the area, especially, in terms of the agricultural products.

In the context, the official voiced confidence that the Moldovan-Turkish business forum would open new horizons for businessmen in the two countries. “It is important to remove the barriers in the bilateral trade relations and the forum and other similar events will contribute to this”, he said.

According to official data, in 2016 Moldova’s foreign trade with Turkey amounted to over 334 million dollars. Over 1,200 enterprises with Turkish capital are operating in Moldova, the investments in the social capital amounting to about 378 million lei.