The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry proposes creating a public-private partnership-based Agency of Vine and Wine, in which the state and wineries will participate equally, Info-Prim Neo reports. Minister Vasile Bumacov told a roundtable event that Moldova has demonstrated over the years that it has experience and talent in making wine. But presently the wine-making sector lacks an efficient administration model that would allow Moldovan wines to gain popularity on foreign markets and compete with wines form other traditional countries. This model, according to the Minister, can be offered by the Vine and Wine Agency. “Someone would say that we want to revive the Moldova-Wine Agency. But that body took on some of the Ministry's duties, including in policy development. We, however, need a functional body that allows winemakers themselves to decide, with the state lending a helping hand. The partners' contributions should be equal when in comes to funds, but also to responsibilities”, said Vasile Bumacov. According to him, the creation of a Vine and Wine Agency would be in line with the Memorandum on the re-invigoration of the wine-making sector, which was signed in October 2008 with relevant professional associations. At the first stage the new Agency will concentrate its efforts on promoting Moldovan wines. No later than at the end of this year, a national umbrella brand – “Moldovan Wine – will be created to be used in the sale of all Moldovan wines. Also, four geographically designated wine trademarks are to be registered. “I've read some opinions that promoting our wines under a common brand would be detrimental to some already popular trademarks. But I beg to differ. First, we should do everything so that people recognize Moldova as a country with wine-making traditions and then we should advertise each area where wine is produced”, suggested Vasile Bumacov. Expert Veaceslav Stirbet noted that the practice of promoting wines under a common national brand exists in many countries. Particularity successful was Australia, which has earned global recognition several decades now. The roundtable meeting was organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry, professional associations and the USAID's 2nd Competitiveness Enhancement and Enterprise Development Project.