The Premier’s economic adviser Octavian Calmic said they have serious reservations about the implementation of the Moldova – EU Association Agreement by the private sector. This subject is discussed and known insufficiently. The private sector needs to make big investments to align itself with the EU requirements, IPN reports.
Octavian Calmic said Moldova has the capacity to export primary agricultural products, textiles, semi-manufactured products in the automotive sector. “We want to switch over to products with a higher valued added. It is a difficult process of industrializing the country, but we must admit that we lost the industry,” the adviser stated in the program “Emphasis on today” on TVR Moldova channel.
According to economist Cornel Cosher, the private companies cannot cope with the serious challenges deriving from the Association Agreement. In particular, they cannot cope with the problems related to labor force and financial constraints that prevent them from making investments now. “At the same time, we see that the enterprises are more willing to accept changes,” he stated. According to him, the EU does not come only with financial assistance, but also with expertise that can help Moldova become more competitive.
Economic expert Viorel Chivriga said there are very good projects that were initiative in Moldova with EU support, but these are insufficiently promoted. “They are implemented in agriculture, industry, service sector, at local, regional and national levels. On the other hand, the expertise is good when a start is to be made and we want to modernize a sector and need international experience. But we should not exaggerate,” he noted.
The Association Agreement between Moldova and the European Union, which includes the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement, was signed on June 27, 2014.
