Retail sales over the next seven years will increase by 5-10% a year, while the imbalance between the trade infrastructure in rural areas and the one in urban areas will decrease by about 15%. This is stipulated in the internal trade development strategy for 2014-2020 that was approved by the Government, IPN reports.

The commercial network will be extended by 500 units annually. The share of the modern trade in the volume of retail sales will increase to 45%, while of distance trading by 2-3% a year.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Valeriu Lazar said that by this document the Ministry of Economy changes its view on trading. Trade will include not only the sale of goods, but also the sale of services, such as repairs, lending, cleaning, washing, public alimentation, accommodation, trips. “Thus, trade becomes an industry of services provided for the population,” he stated.

According to him, among the strategy’s objectives are to improve the regulation of domestic trade, to increase the competitiveness of products and services, and to modernize the distribution and sale of products. Emphasis is put on ensuring the rural and urban population’s access to modern commercial infrastructure that will satisfy consumers’ needs. Workplaces will be created for the people from villages through the agency of the commercial network, including agricultural products collection points, processing points and service provision units.

The National Participation Council that represents about 30 civil society organizations considers that such a document is necessary and that the problems experienced in internal trade are well defined in the strategy. But the analysis of these problems does not help perceive the specific features of the situations, while the proposals of solving them are often superficial.