Over 200 businessmen attend conference: Moldova – Romania. Investment, trade, financing

Chisinau, 12 July /MOLDPRES/ – Over 200 entrepreneurs from both sides of the Prut participate in conference: "Moldova – Romania. Investments, trade, financing". The conference, organised by Ziarul Financiar (Financial newspaper) by support of Banca Transilvania in Romania and Victoriabank, is the first initiative of this kind dedicated to business partnerships of companies from two states and comes in context in which Moldova becomes more attractive for Romanian businessmen.

The event takes place as Banca Transilvania, one of the largest financial institutions in Romania, made its first acquisition abroad, becoming, together with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, a majority shareholder of Victoriabank in Moldova earlier in 2018.

The conference generic is significant: "O suta de idei pentru crestere" (One hundred ideas for growth) and aims to create a platform with possibility of collaborations between the entrepreneurs of both sides of the Prut, said head of Ziarul Financiar, Cristian Hostiuc.

The strong Romanian companies such as Arabesque, Betty Ice (ice cream), Ion Mos (spices), Preţuri pentru Tine (Prices for you) (retail clothing), Teraplast (PVC carpentry) are just a few examples of Romanian businesses that have expanded in Moldova. Additionally, franchise of KFC chain of restaurants in Moldova is owned by similar entrepreneurs which control business in Romania. Petrom and Rompetrol are among leaders of fuel market, and Transgaz through daughter company in Chisinau will build gas pipeline Ungheni – Chisinau.

Romania is today the main trading partner of Chisinau, being the main market for the sale of Moldovan products, and holds the first place after the number of registered companies in Moldova, respectively 1,690, said Daniel Ionita, Romanian ambassador to Chisinau. He added that Moldova is a country which needs progress in sensitive areas such as judiciary, resilient institutions capable of meeting challenges and being able to apply the rules in such a way as to give confidence to potential investors.

Within entry of Transylvania Bank on Moldovan market, the access of Romanian investors to the left bank of the Prut will become easier, said Angela Sax, the director of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development for Moldova.

What is happening in the field of Romanian entrepreneurship, how do we make Moldova more entrepreneurial culture and business culture, how do we reach a healthy long-term economy – these are just a few of questions which have been tried to be answered at Chisinau conference.

According to the BNS's information and media communication service, exports of Moldovan goods on Romanian market increased by 35 per cent within first five months of 2018, and their weight in total exports of Moldova reached 25.77 per cent. The imports from Romania increased by 26.98 per cent and hold a 13.75 per cent share, the second consecutive year. The interconnection projects of the energy systems of Moldova and Romania, which cost rises to hundreds of millions of euros, are considered the largest projects in progress.

(Reporter V. Bercu, editor M. Jantovan)