Moldova and Israel have a common interest in opening negotiations on a free trade agreement. The responsible teams are working to prepare the talks, Minister of Foreign Affairs Nicu Popescu stated in a press briefing given on the occasion of the visit paid to Chisinau by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Israel Eli Cohen, IPN reports.

According to the Moldovan official, trade with Israel in 2022 came to US$42 million, up 70% on 2021. This points to the existence of unrealized potential. Respectively, they aim to increase the figures in mutual trade.

Moldova is interested in increasing the exports of grain, fresh and dried fruit, walnuts, carpets and to purchase mineral and other kinds of fertilizers, noted Nicu Popescu.

A number of 408 enterprises with Israeli capital operate in Moldova at present. They made investments totaling about 67 million lei.