Some 45% of Moldova’s wine exports last year went to the EU member states, 20% to countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States, while 17% to China. The sales totaled 14 million dekaliters of wine to the value of over UD$ 125 million. The data were presented in public hearings centering on the situation in the wine industry that were held by the parliamentary commission on agriculture and food industry, IPN reports.

Director of the National Office of Vine and Wine Gheorghe Arpentin said the supplies of wine in wineries during the past five years have decreased. Some 65% of the costs incurred by the institution are associated with the promotion of the export of wine products. In 2017, the wines were promoted to 15 countries through the agency of over 100 promotional campaigns and 27.396,8 million lei was spent for the purpose, which is 76% of the projected costs.  

Vasile Luca, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Agriculture, Regional Development and Environment, spoke about the state policies on winemaking and winegrowing, including subsidization, and the measures taken by the authorities and producers and the proposals to improve the legislation in the field.

Among the current measures the official enumerated the setting up of mother plantations at the Scientific-Practical Institute of Horticulture and Food Technology, which will create the basis of cuttings produced in Moldova. The initiative, which is implemented by the Ministry together with the National Office of Vine and Wine and the development partners, is at the final stage.