Investment accelerates resilient and sustainable agrifood sector in Republic of Moldova

Agriculture is the main source of income for more than half of the population in the Republic of Moldova. To spur investments into the sector and provide a better life for Moldovan rural people, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food of the Republic of Moldova organized a special event on investment in the republic in the framework of the Global Forum for Food and Agriculture in Berlin, Germany, within the Agrifood Partnership Forum of the Republic of Moldova launched in October 2023. 

The investment forum marked an important step in facilitating the cooperation of Moldovan and German business communities as well as from other participating EU member countries.

With the presence of the Deputy Prime-minister, Minister of Agriculture and Food of the Republic of Moldova, Vladimir Bolea, and co-organized by the German Agribusiness Alliance representing Germany’s agribusiness community, the event featured a panel discussion with high-level speakers and also provided an opportunity for relevant public and private sector players to meet with the overall aim of helping the development of sustainable measures for a more resilient and competitive agrifood sector in the Republic of Moldova in line with European Union (EU) accession objectives. 

Speakers presented investment opportunities in the agrifood sector, including private-public partnerships in the fruits and food processing sub-sectors, discussed the results of the ongoing reforms on agrifood transformation, and provided recommendations on the sustainable and resilient development of the agrifood sector in line with EU best practices.

“Despite the multiple security and economic challenges that the country is currently facing, Republic of Moldova remains a territory with a fertile soil, generous people, and a long tradition in agricultural production,” said Raimund Jehle, FAO Regional Programme Leader and Representative for the Republic of Moldova. “Moreover, it is very close to obtaining the European Union membership and subsequently the access to the common market.”

Jehle mentioned that in the last two years, FAO has invested over USD 4 million in the capacity building of people involved in agriculture to ensure a smooth transition to an innovative and dynamic agriculture sector.

“The process of aligning with European standards is complex and hard to achieve without the support of the EU and development partners through existing instruments and funds,” stated Bolea. He also thanked participants for supporting the sustainability of the country’s agrifood sector through investments and sharing of good practices through which they are contributing to the realization of agricultural and rural reforms.

At the panel discussion, representatives of foreign companies in the private sector shared their perspectives and recommendations on working with Moldovan agrifood partners. 

As Per Brodersen, Director of the Agribusiness Alliance underlined, the main criteria and requirements for attracting foreign investments include stable and predictable frameworks and conditions, a collaborative approach of partners to achieve common goals, and, if needed, the potential to access profits generated in the country. Private sector representatives of the panel discussion had, in general, a positive experience of investing in the agriculture and food sector and encouraged other companies to consider following in their steps. They believe that new investors will probably be positively surprised when starting agribusinesses in the Republic of Moldova.

The Agrifood Partnership Forum for the Republic of Moldova in Berlin was the follow-up event of the Agrifood Partnership Platform meeting organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry and supported by FAO on 6 October 2023. The work continues as the next meeting is planned to take place in May in Chisinau, on the sidelines of the Thirty-fourth Session of the Regional Conference for Europe.