Conference “2 years of DCFTA”

On September 13, 2016, the Ministry of Economy, in cooperation with the Delegation of European Union to the Republic of Moldova and with the support of the EU-funded project “Support to the DCFTA implementation in the Republic of Moldova”, organized the conference “2 years of DCFTA”. The conference, attended by more than 100 participants from different institutions involved in the process of DCFTA implementation, was co-chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy, Octavian Calmac and the EU Ambassador to the Republic of Moldova, Pirkka Tapiola.

Deputy Prime Minister Calmac, informed the participants on the key results achieved in the economic sector since the EU-Moldova Association Agreement/DCFTA entered into force. Since the DCFTA implementation, the Republic of Moldova has exported products and goods to the European Union worth more than 2.2 billion USD. Moldovan exports to the EU reached a market share of 63.6% in 2016, which is 13% more than in 2014, in the period before signing the Agreement. The net inflow of direct foreign investments into the national economy for the first quarter of 2016 totalled 35 million US dollars, 1.1 times more than the fourth quarter of 2015. The Deputy Prime Minister also stated that the Government is currently planning the next three years of implementation for the Association Agreement and DCFTA component and will continue with the same diligence to implement the DCFTA as effectively as possible.

EU Ambassador to the Republic of Moldova, Pirkka Tapiola, reiterated the EU’s support towards the modernization of the Moldovan economy and institutions. He underlined that the DCFTA implementation is a success during a difficult time, pointing out that in this period the EU became the key trade partner for the Republic of Moldova. He also highlighted the importance of the trade facilitation mechanism being implemented in the entire territory of the Republic of Moldova which provides new dialogue opportunities.

Ms. Mihaela Gorban, Head of Trade Regimes and WTO Division – Ministry of Economy, presented the overall and sectoral DCFTA achievements during the past two years of DCFTA implementation. The statistical analysis shows a significant increase in exports by applying the anti-circumvention mechanism. During 2014-2016, the following key products were exported to the EU: barley – 117 000 tonnes (the established annual quota - 70 000 tonnes), maize – 312 000 tonnes (the established annual quota - 130 000 tonnes), sugar - 58 000 tonnes (the established annual quota- 37 000 tonnes), wheat – 421 000 tonnes (the established annual quota - 75 000 tonnes). Four EU Member States - the Netherlands, Cyprus, France and Spain – are among the top five countries of foreign investment in Moldova. Direct foreign investments worth 228.5 million USD were made in Moldova during 2015, which is 14% more than in 2014.

The Association Agreement entered into force on 1 September 2014.

Please find attached below the presentation made by the Ministry of Economy: