The first container of Moldovan apples from the 2022 harvest has been shipped to India, and four others will reach their destination by the end of January. The container crossed over 7,500 km by sea and reached its destination in 40 days.

“The export of five containers of apples to India was supported by the economic diplomacy efforts of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, combined with those of the National Food Safety Agency, which provided the necessary assistance so that India’s existing phytosanitary requirements could be met”, the Government said in a press release.

According to Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilița, facilitating the access of Moldovan exporters to new markets is one of the strategic priorities of the Government, especially after the disruption of supply chains and the closure of some markets considered traditional.

“We aim for long-term cooperation with India, which is a huge market, and exporting apples is a first step. India imports more than 430 thousand tons of apples annually and we enjoy the demand for quality products from our country. We appreciate the very good cooperation with the Indian authorities in this regard”, says Nicu Popescu, Deputy Prime Minister/Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration.

The first shipments to India were made by two agricultural producers that are members of the Moldova-Fruct Association.

In 2020, Moldovan apples were exported to 11 countries, and last year they reached 30 destinations.