Marketing plan for wine export presented

A group of experts of the Import Promotion Center announced they finalized the Sectoral Marketing Plan for Moldova's wine industry and submitted it officially to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry and the Ministry of Economy on February 18, Info-Prim Neo reports. During the presentation of the plan, Deputy Agriculture Minister Gheorghe Arpentin said it was a pity but Moldova did not draw conclusions after Russia imposed a ban on the import of its wines. “Our country remains dependent on the Eastern market that includes Russia and Belarus. 77% of the exports are directed to this market, while the European markets remain non-penetrated by the national wine producers,” said Arpentin. He stressed that the plan is designed to increase Moldova's presence on the EU markets with high value added products. The authors of the plan said the document was the result of the active cooperation between the public and private sectors and includes three stages aimed at reanimating exports - detailed analysis of the wine sector, identification of target markets for the Moldovan wines, and promotion of exports. The experts consider Moldova must produce more dry and semi-sweet wines. Institutional expert Jan Wilhem Rochelman said four key European markets are recommended for Moldova: Romania, Poland, Germany and the Czech Republic. “Though the export quotas provided by the EU to Moldova are not very attractive, the government should ask that they be increased the next years,” the expert said. The Sectoral Marketing Plan also includes strategies for entering the European markets. They are based on the analysis of the retail outlets and prices in them, potential clients and internal consumption.