JCC hosts Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Digitalization of Moldova

On the occasion of the signing of the Moldova-EFTA Free Trade Agreement, June 27, 2023, JCC welcomed a top-level governmental delegation from Moldova at a business roundtable organized in partnership with the Embassy of Moldova in Switzerland and Swissmem on June 26, 2023.

The event on the topic “Moldova-EFTA Free Trade Agreement: A New Era for Trade and Investment in Moldova” had as keynote speakers H.E. Mr. Dorin Recean, Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova and H.E. Mr. Dumitru Alaiba, Minister of Economic Development and Digitalisation of the Republic of Moldova. Also appearing as speakers were Irina Tolstousov, Investment Agency of Moldova, Krsztina Bende, Trade Relations Division, EFTA; Marin Ciobanu, Director, Free Economic Zone “Balti”; Andreas Ragaz, Co-Director, SECO Start-Up Fund and representatives of Schöni Fine Food, its CEO and found Daniel Schöni and board member Bernhard Metzger who described the opportunities and challenges of operating in Moldova.

Dr. Stefan Brupbacher, Director, Swissmem which hosted the event welcome the guests. Iurie Moraru, Vice President, JCC expressed his hope for and optimism about the newly concluded FTA, while Stefan Barny, Director Global Network and Institutional Relations, SGE emphasized Switzerland’s export agency’s support for this milestone development.

As event moderator Dorit Sallis, Managing Direct, JCC noted, over the past few years, JCC has worked actively to promote Swiss trade and investment in Moldova with the chamber’s partners in Moldova, including the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Moldova, Invest in Moldova, the Swiss Cooperation Office in Moldova, Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), and as, importantly, the Embassy of Moldova in Switzerland.
 
The signing of a free trade agreement between EFTA and the Republic of Moldova is of great significance in this ongoing process. It marks a landmark development in the relations between our countries and will expand economic opportunities in trade and investment for both sides. The conclusion of the FTA while an essential step, is only the beginning of the next leg of our journey together. In order to benefit from the free trade agreement, companies must understand what the new opportunities and incentives for business as a result of the new Agreement are, and how to make use of them. This is where JCC can step in to clarify and support companies interested to leverage the favourable conditions offered by the FTA.