Major results of SEPIA project

Three Moldovan agricultural product testing laboratories have been prepared for obtaining ISO 17025 accreditation through an internationally renowned accreditation body, Philip Santens, manager of the EU-funded Support to Export Promotion and Investment Attraction in Moldova (SEPIA) Project, told a news conference. The new conference was centered on the main results achieved within this project that has been recently completed, Info-Prim Neo reports. Philip Santens said the seed laboratory already obtained the ISTA (International Seed Testing Association) accreditation. “The ISO accreditation obtained through an international organization will allow the given laboratories to certify the products in Moldova, while the test results will be recognized on the EU markets,” said Philip Santens. According to Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry Vasile Bumacov, the accreditation process would have been longer if the SEPIA Project had not become involved. The beneficiaries of the project were the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry and the Ministry of Economy, especially its Investment Attraction and Export Promotion Organization (MIEPO). There were formulated the databases “Service for Business Development” and “Access to Financing” that are available on the MIEPO’s website (www.miepo.md). Deputy Minister of Economy Octavian Calmac appreciated the events aimed at promoting the Moldovan exports that were organized with support from the project. As a result of these and other actions taken by the Government, exports in the first nine months of this year increased by 15% compared with the corresponding period last year. There have been identified 16 foreign investors that invested €5 million in Moldova and contributed to the creation of over 1,000 new workplaces. Ambassador Dirk Schuebel, the Head of the EU Delegation to Moldova, said the EU became one of Moldova’s main export partners. Currently, 50% of Moldova’s products are exported to the European Union, while the EU’s investments represent 70% of the total investments in Moldova. He also said that the Dutch Center for the Promotion of Imports from Developing Countries decided to continue the export promotion programs initiated within the project and by the MIEPO, especially those intended for the wine industry and fruit and vegetable growing. The €1.6 million SEPIA Project was launched in December 2008.