Four years after the start of the implementation of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (DCFTA) between the EU and the Republic of Moldova as part of the Association Agreement, very good results are witnessed both in the growth of the bilateral trade and in the doing of the reforms related to the DCFTA. Its potential is yet to be realized by structural reforms and economic integration, said the EU Ambassador to Moldova Peter Michalko, who transmitted a message centering on the benefits of the Free Trade Agreement and the opportunities that this opened up for the country, IPN reports.

“Almost 68% of Moldova’s exports now go to the market of the European Union. This is a growth of almost 23% of the 2017 level. Bilateral trade in the course of the past year rose to €4 billion. We are glad to see a similar positive trend and in 2018 too, including for the Moldovan exports. The balance of trade of agricultural products, especially walnuts, grains, sunflowers seeds and wine, has improved considerably in favor of the Republic of Moldova. Moldova’s vegetable export to the EU almost doubled the past two years to €406 million,” stated the ambassador.

Peter Michalko said that besides agricultural products, the trade in plastic materials, textiles, cars, ceramics and toys also increased considerably. Similarly, the EU became an important market for Moldova’s information and communication technology services.

“With the adoption by Moldovan companies of the EU technical standards for industrial goods and of sanitary and phytosanitary measures for agricultural and food products, new markets will be opened worldwide and greater diversification and improvement of the safety of products for domestic consumers will be obtained. The EU supported the Republic of Moldova in this regard and will continue to do so in the future. The Free Trade Agreement also brought more money, more jobs and better salaries,” stated the diplomat.