The Republic of Moldova obtained US$92 million grants and more than US$100 million loans in very advantageous conditions from Japan. Moldova is a small, but very polluting country. That’s why Japan provided assistance in biomass production, modernization of agriculture and other areas, Moldova’s new Ambassador in Tokyo Vasile Bumacov said in an interview for Radio Free Europe, IPN reports.

The diplomat stated that Japan is looking for countries with which it could cooperate so as to bring increased benefit to the planet and to be proud of this. Therefore, the attraction of Japanese investments must be a priority.

As to the areas that could be attractive for Japanese investments, Vasile Bumacov said the processing and promotion of agricultural products could attract investments. “Japan is a wine consuming country and wine consumption there rises every year. I assure you that the Japanese consumers, when they see a Moldovan wine made by a Moldovan-Japanese company, will purchase this wine. Surely we need to bring things in order in industry,” he stated.

The ambassador said he would like an increased quantity of Moldovan wine to be sold in Japan and more Japanese tourists to visit Moldova as the Japanese people travel through the whole world.

He is convinced that the Moldovan people change their mentality when visiting Japan. “I could send many people to attend training courses in Japan and most of the employees of the Ministry of Agriculture, who knew English and had possibilities, visited Japan. These people do not change their opinion about this country even after many years,” he stated.

Vasile Bumacov was minister of agriculture and food industry in 2011-2015. Until recently he served as the technical director of the Japanese project in Moldova 2KR.