Moldova to negotiate free trade agreements with Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Iceland, Norway

Chisinau, 4 December /MOLDPRES/ - The evolution of the commercial relations between Moldova and the Member States of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), as well as the starting of negotiations on the signing of a Free Trade Agreement was tackled at a 3 December meeting of the joint bilateral committee.  

In the beginning of the meeting, a state secretary at the Economics and Infrastructure Ministry (MEI), Iuliana Dragalin, came up with a congratulatory message to EFTA, which includes Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Iceland and Norway, on the 60th anniversary of its foundation, in which she wished Association success and nice achievements. The official also referred to the social and economic situation in Moldova, impact of the pandemic on the business environment, as well as to measures with which the government intervened to back the sectors hit by the crisis.  

„This virtual meeting shows both sides’ interest in finding opportunities of strengthening the economic and trade relations, despite the current pandemic crisis. This year brought more challenges; yet, we will be able to overcome the economic crisis through consolidating efforts and diversifying the cooperation opportunities. To attenuate the impact of the pandemic on enterprises, the cabinet approved a string of economic measures and support programmes,’’ the state secretary said.      

The official noted that, to re-launch the national economy and improve the macro-economic situation, the government started developing a programme of post-COVID-19 economic measures for 2020-2021. Moreover, to stimulate the entrepreneurial activity regionally, the growth of the competitiveness, productivity and labour force employment, the cabinet approved a pilot programme for the setting up of Multifunctional Industrial Platforms in 18 settlements of Moldova.     

Dragalin also said that Moldova welcomed EFTA’s proposal on a 12-month term for carrying out the process of talks.

In January-September 2020, the commercial exchanges between Moldova and EFTA countries stood at 75.58 million dollars, down by 20.88 per cent against the same period of 2019. The main products exported by Moldova to the EFTA countries are: wheat, maize, sunflower seeds, ethylic alcohol, nuts, sugar products, bread products, malt beer, wine, etc. and the most important products imported by Moldova from the EFTA states are pharmaceutical goods, coffee, sugar products, chocolate, leave cigarettes, flour food products, mineral fertilizers, insecticides, herbicides, etc.