Economic entities use EU quotas on only three types of products

Since the EU preferential trade regime with Moldova came into force on March 1, the Moldovan economic entities use the introduced export quotas only on three types of products out of the 12 authorized by the EU. Ineta Panurco, the head of the Economy Ministry’s Trade Regimes Division, has told Info-Prim Neo that the quota set on grape wines has been 73.11% used, while the quota on white sugar – 86.8% used. For 2008, the EU granted a quota of 600,000 decaliters of wine and of 15,000 tonnes of white sugar for duty free exports. The Economy Ministry authorized most of the well-known wine companies to export wine products within the set quotas. Vinaria Bostovan was issued with the largest number of authorizations. The sugar is exported by the two large sugar producers working in Moldova. Some companies, mainly from southern Moldova, started to export barley to the EU. The 20,000 tonne quota on barley fixed for 2008 has been 34.4% used. The economic entities want to export to the EU. Some of them have identified new business partners, the exports are increasing and their reorientation to the European markets is evident, Panurco said. Moldova’s exports go mainly to Romania, Poland and Germany as well as Slovakia and other EU countries. Asked if the companies could start to export other authorized products to the EU until this yearend, Ponurco said that determined effort and progress is made in fulfilling the export conditions for certain animal products, but there are slim chances. Exports to the EU have increased, totaling 361.2 million USD in the first half of this year. This is 51.6% of the total exports, as against about 50% in 2007. Imports from the EU over January-June 2008 added up to 1.2 billion USD.