OPTIM participates in the round table on the New Free Trade Agreement (EFTA) together with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry

On July 11, 2023, over 70 members of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Moldova (CCI) participated in discussions with the representatives of the Ministry of Economic Development and Digitalization on the “New Free Trade Agreement between the Republic of Moldova and EFTA countries (Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway)”.

According to CCI President Sergiu HAREA, in recent years, the state has offered local entrepreneurs support for the promotion of Moldovan products abroad. “The Republic of Moldova has signed cooperation agreements with the EU, CIS, EFTA, Ukraine, Georgia, and Great Britain. The EFTA market is good for our country, only last year brought us, from export, over 60 million. Euro We hope that with the signing of the new agreement, the results will be better, ”said Sergiu HAREA.

Vadim GUMENE, State Secretary, Ministry of Economic Development and Digitalization and negotiator from the Republic of Moldova, provided detailed information about the New Free Trade Agreement between Moldova and EFTA countries.

“This is an important step in trade policy. The Republic of Moldova already benefits from a number of trade regimes. Based on the free trade agreements that are currently signed by our country, about 80% of the country's trade is carried out, and these agreements actually provide access to several markets with a potential of about 900 million consumers,” the State Secretary said.

The event was also attended by Ana Țibuleac, Deputy Director Optim Project – Opportunities through Technologies and Innovation in Moldova, supported by the Swiss Government and implemented by the Swiss organization Helvetas. Ana Țibuleac mentioned that OPTIM is an economic development project, whose objective is to stimulate certain sectors in Moldova (Agri and ICT) to generate better and sustainable economic opportunities. It should be mentioned that CCI has been cooperating with OPTIM since 2018, and for the next period, our institutions have outlined areas of collaboration such as: training managers through an exchange of experience with Swiss companies; Exporters Academy; promotion of the aforementioned free trade agreement; etc.

The meeting also discussed the developments in the implementation of the Free Trade Agreement between the Republic of Moldova and the Republic of Turkey and the Strategic Partnership, Trade and Cooperation Agreement with the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, etc.

Entrepreneurs present at the event asked questions about food export procedures, taxes, certification, etc.