Trade between Moldova and Japan last year followed a positive trend despite the challenges generated by the pandemic crisis. Foreign trade grew by 9.5% compared with 2019, while exports rose by 18.27%, secretary general at the Ministry of Economy and Infrastructure Lilia Palii stated in a meeting with Japan’s Ambassador to Moldova Yoshihiro Katayama, IPN reports.

In the discussions, the officials conferred on the agenda of the bilateral relations. In particular, they discussed the development of the commercial and economic relations between the two states and within the development assistance. Lilia Palii said Japan is a strategic partner of the Republic of Moldova. In this connection, it was noted the technical cooperation framework for supporting the SMEs and agriculture and for strengthening the institutional capacities of public functionaries. It was reiterated the importance of the activity of the Japanese investors in Moldova.

The officials exchanged opinions on the opportunities of extending the investment and commercial activities. The secretary general invited the Japanese investors to benefit from the opportunities created in the Republic of Moldova and to invest in the new instruments, such as the Multifunctional Industrial Platforms. For his part, Yoshihiro Katayama said that he banks on as dynamic cooperation with Moldova, including with the Ministry of Economy directly, in continuation.