Trade between Moldova and Turkey rose considerably during the past few years, to about US$500 million. This is due to the Free Trade Agreement between Moldova and Turkey that took effect on November 1, 2016. The sides aim to increase the value of commercial exchanges to US$ 1 billion in the nearest future, co-chairmen of the Moldovan-Turkish intergovernmental commission for economic cooperation, Deputy Prime Ministers Octavian Calmic and Hakan Çavuşoğlu, stated in a news conference in Chisinau, IPN reports.
At the beginning of the news conference, the two officials signed the Protocol of the ninth meeting. Octavian Calmic said that Turkey is the seventh largest trading partner of Moldova. This year alone, Moldova’s exports to Turkey grew by over 50%. A lot is yet to be done for the Free Trade Agreement between the two states to be fully implemented.
The Moldovan official announced the intention to liberalize the service sector, especially the air and land transport services. As regards investments, Turkey ranks third by the volume of investments made in Moldova. These totaled over US$ 22 million during the last few years. The over 1 250 mixed companies created on Moldova’s territory will diversify not only trade in goods, but also range of services.
For his part, Hakan Çavuşoğlu said the bilateral commercial relations should be developed so as to contribute to the further rapprochement between the two states. At the beginning of 2000, bilateral trade amounted to US45 million. At the start of this year, the figure rose to almost US$ 500 million, but the potential is greater. The goal is to reach US$ 1 billion in the nearest future.
While in Moldova, Hakan Çavuşoğlu will have meetings with President Igor Dodon and Prime Minister Pavel Filip. On December 20, the official will go to ATU Gagauzia where he will visit a number of facilities renovated with Turkey’s assistance.
