The Republic of Moldova does not possess an appropriate institutional framework and capacity needed to protect its economic interests at external level, considers expert Valentin Lozovanu,. In a public debate staged by the Institute for Development and Social Initiative “Viitorul” and Radio Free Europe, he said that the development of economic diplomacy is a precondition for attracting investment, IPN reports.
According to Valentin Lozovanu, actions were lately taken to strengthen economic diplomacy. The economic advisers working at some of Moldova’s embassies abroad were brought together at training courses. Moldova also became more active in its dialogue with the diaspora. An office was set up under the Prime Minister to attract investment.
“However, these actions do not change much the situation, if only in the CIS states, Romania, Poland and Belgium. We do not have appropriate economic advisers at embassies. I mean persons with experience and training to collect information and establish relations between the private sectors of our country and other states,” stated the expert.
Valentin Lozovanu considers the Moldovan Investment Attraction and Export Promotion Organization managed by the Ministry of Economy does not carry out these tasks and there is no organic connection between this and the embassies. There is no well-defined state policy concerning the role of economic diplomacy.
Expert Ion Tornea said the official documents, including the investment attraction and export promotion strategy that was adopted by the Government in March, make reference to economic diplomacy and its role. “We have expectations of economic diplomacy, not yet accomplishments. In Moldova, there is no clear policy on the role of economic diplomacy,” he stated.
The experts noted that the goal of economic diplomacy should be to actively promote Moldova’s image as an attractive destination for business and investment and as a producer of competitive goods and services at international level. Many officials announced that Moldova wants to change the consumption-based economic development model into a model based on investment attraction and export growth, but the achievements in this respect are modest.
