Moldova and Bulgaria signed the Protocol of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation. According to the signatories, Minister of Energy of the Republic of Moldova Victor Parlicov and Deputy Minister of Economy and Industry of the Republic of Bulgaria Irina Shtonova, the protocol, as well as other agreements reached within the Intergovernmental Commission, will help develop the relations between the two countries.

Irina Shtonova noted that the agreements reached in the Intergovernmental Commission will help strengthen and improve the relations between the two states. The Commission discussed the possibility of expanding investment cooperation between the two countries. The signed memoranda are the result of the joint efforts made by Bulgaria and Moldova.

For his part, Victor Parlicov said that political and diplomatic contacts between Moldova and Bulgaria have reached their highest level in the past year. At the Intergovernmental Commission, he saw that there was a very broad portfolio of discussions, from tourism to investment. Bulgaria is the only EU country with which Moldova hasn’t concluded a Cooperation and Development Agreement so far. He is convinced that a new stage of the relations with Bulgaria is marked today and believes that this rapprochement and political dialogue will pave the way for more contacts in all areas, including business. He added that the cooperation between Moldova and Bulgaria should contribute to the development of a positive agenda and perception of the EU among Bulgarians in Moldova.

During the same event, there were signed an Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Moldova and the Government of Bulgaria on the establishment in Taraclia town in Moldova of a branch of “Angel Kanchev” University of Ruse, and a Memorandum of Understanding between the Investment Agency of the Republic of Moldova and the Investment Agency of Bulgaria.