Chisinau hosts meeting of Russian-Moldovan commission for economic cooperation

The 11th meeting of the Moldovan-Russian intergovernmental commission for economic cooperation was held in Chisinau on 4-5 February. The meeting was co-chaired by Moldovan Deputy Premier, Economics Minister Valeriu Lazar and Russian Education and Science Minister Andrey Fursenko, the Economics Ministry's public relations service has said.

The commission analyzed the fall in trade exchanges between Moldova and Russia in 2009, which, according to official statistics, plunged by 35 per cent in January-November 2009 against the same period of the year before. Exports to Russia decreased by 11.2 per cent, whereas imports by 45.8 per cent.

The sides agreed on the need to take measures to spur trade exchanges, to develop relations of cooperation in production and subsequently to identify the causes of discrepancies between the two states' customs statistics. In this respect, administrative impediments are to be gradually removed.

The Russian side said it would assist Moldova's participation in the 17th edition of the Moscow-based international exhibition Prodexpo due on 8-12 February.

As concerns the export of Moldovan wine to Russia, the sides decided to speed up the opening of additional customs points for the export of Moldovan wine, to simplify the procedure of confirming the quality and safety of Moldovan alcoholic beverages, to continue to accredit labs testing the quality of Moldovan beverages, etc. The Russian side also took into consideration Moldova's proposal that the variety of Moldovan alcoholic beverages should be extended, including vodka, divine, wine, etc.

Referring to transport-related issues, the sides agreed on a joint meeting on cooperation in international road transport due in 2010. In the context, Moldova called on Russia to increase the number of transport authorizations.

The two delegations pointed out the importance of signing the cooperation programme between the Moldovan and Russian governments for 2009-20, which provides for cooperation in exchange of customs data, standardization, metrology and assessment of compliance, cooperation between the chambers of industry, etc.

The 12th meeting of the Moldovan-Russian intergovernmental commission for economic cooperation will be held in Moscow in 2011, the Economics ministry's public relations service said.