Moldova and Austria sign cooperation protocol

Moldova and Austria have signed a protocol to intensify their cooperation in agriculture, wine-making, tourism, energy security, regional development. The protocol was signed at the reunion of the second intergovernmental commission for economic cooperation held in Vienna on June 8, Info-Prim Neo has learnt from a communique of the Economy and Commerce Ministry. Special attention has been granted to create the prerequisites to enlarge the number of joint companies and to attract Austrian investments into Moldova's economy. Moldova and Austria have concluded 4 bilateral accords, as the Accord on external and bilateral economic relations, the Accord on promoting and protecting investments, the Accord on avoiding the double taxation and preventing tax evasion. In 2008, Moldova's trade with Austria reached $87.1 million, up 27.7% year on year. The export during this period was $12.5 million, dropping 59.5% compared to 2007. Importing goods reached $74.6 million, doubling compared to 2007. There are 35 companies with Austrian capital in Moldova, as the amount of Austrian investments by 1 January, 2009, was $215.1 million lei, that is 1.23 % of the total amount of foreign investments made into Moldova's economy.