Businessmen from 15 countries take part in “Invest in Moldova” forum

More than 40 foreign companies from 15 countries and about 150 local economic entities are taking part in the International Investment Forum 2013 “Invest in Moldova”. The event is organized by the Ministry of Economy, the Investment Attraction and Export Promotion Organization, in partnership with the World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (WAIPA) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), which forms part of the World Bank Group, Info-Prim Neo reports. In the opening of the event, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Valeriu Lazar said that Moldova’s objective should be to attract at least €1 billion to the economy annually. “This volume of investments would enable us to modernize the economy and to switch to a new development model, based on exports and competitive goods,” said the official. WAIPA executive director Carlos Bronzatto said the Association’s objective is to attract productive and long-term objectives to Moldova, while the MIEPO will be an interface between the Government and the business community. WAIPA brings together the similar organizations from over 140 countries. Tomasz Telma, IFC Director for Europe and Central Asia, said that since 1995 until present, the Corporation implemented in Moldova projects to the value of US$100 million. The IFC also provides consultative assistance. A project to improve the business environment was launched last year, with the support of Sweden, Austria, and the Netherlands. The Head of the EU Delegation to Moldova Dirk Schuebel said the presence of a large number of foreign companies at the forum shows that the international community trusts Moldova. He also said that the objective to sign the Association Agreement and the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement in Vilnius next autumn is still achievable. Within the forum, there were presented the investment opportunities of Moldova in agriculture and industry, the particularities of the investment climate and the privatization process, and public-private partnership projects. On March 6, fact-finding visits will be paid to the free economic zones, industrial parks and companies put up for privatization, at the request of foreign companies.