Republic of Moldova attracts partners to advance investment into its food and agriculture sectors

Ministers – including the Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu –, senior officials and private investors from across the European Union gathered in Chișinău on 5 March for the Agrifood Partnership Investment Forum, a high-level event organized by the Republic of Moldova with support from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The forum brought together over 200 participants, including also public- and private-sector representatives from European Union member states and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to strengthen investment in the country’s agrifood sector and advance its European Union accession process.

Prime Minister Munteanu set the tone for the forum with his opening remarks. 

“Every year, thousands of farmers across our country work in fields, orchards and farms to produce quality food. It is hard work, but indispensable. And the development of the agrifood sector depends directly on investment, modern technologies and solid partnerships. The Republic of Moldova is ready to attract more investment into this sector. For a fruit grower in our country, for example, a modern cold storage facility can mean access to European markets throughout the year. For a livestock farmer, modern technologies can improve productivity and product quality. For grain producers, irrigation systems can make the difference between a difficult year and a stable harvest.”

Ludmila Catlabuga, the Moldovan Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry, pointed to the forum’s concrete ambition: “Agriculture represents one of the fundamental pillars of the national economy, contributing significantly to economic development, supporting rural communitiesand ensuring social stability,” Catlabuga said. “At the same time, the agrifood sector is a domain with real potential for growth, modernization and integration into European value chains. The Moldova Agrifood Partnership Platform is a concrete and effective instrument for strengthening dialogue and attracting investments, facilitating cooperation between authorities, development partners and the business community.”

The forum produced tangible outcomes. Participating countries and institutions reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the Republic of Moldova via technical assistance. New partnerships were established between Moldovan producers and companies from participating countries. Concrete investment opportunities were identified in the fruit and vegetable, livestock and wine sectors, and agreements were reached on specific measures to accelerate the alignment of the country’s agricultural sector with European Union standards. All these efforts are built on the EUR 1.9 billion in European Union financial support secured through the Growth Plan for the Republic of Moldova, which places agriculture at the heart of the country’s reform agenda.

The forum is the latest milestone of the Moldovan Agrifood Partnership Platform, launched with FAO support in October 2023 by the Republic of Moldova and EU member states. The platform promotes the development of Moldovan agrifood systems and supports the country’s European Union integration through political and technical dialogue.

At the Agrifood Partnership Investment Forum, the day’s agenda combined high-level political engagement with practical business activity. Plenary sessions presented national investment programmes and export support instruments available to foreign investors. Three parallel technical sessions – on fruit and vegetables, livestock and wine – brought together government representatives, producers and private investors for focused panel discussions. A marketplace showcasing Moldovan products, including wine, apples and nuts, gave participants a direct opportunity to engage with local producers and explore export and business opportunities first-hand.

The European Union Ambassador to the Republic of Moldova, Iwona Piórko, highlighted the significance of the forum within the broader framework of the country’s European integration.

“The EU is fully committed to the Republic of Moldova’s agricultural transformation as part of its broader European path. Today’s forum demonstrated that this partnership delivers concrete results, bringing the right people together around specific investment opportunities.”

FAO has played a central role in facilitating the platform since its inception, providing both technical expertise and a neutral convening space for dialogue between the Republic of Moldova and its European partners. 

Raimund Jehle, FAO Representative in the Republic of Moldova and Deputy Regional Representative, underscored the value of that multilateral engagement.

“FAO is proud to support the Republic of Moldova in building the partnerships it needs for a competitive agrifood system,” Jehle said. “Today showed what can be achieved when governments, the private sector and international partners engage around a shared agenda.”

Agriculture is the backbone of the Moldovan economy. Farmland covers 75 percent of the country’s territory, the highest proportion in Europe. This underscores why the Republic of Moldova has placed agrifood transformation at the centre of its European Union accession agenda – and why today’s forum matters for the country’s long-term economic future.

© FAO/Dinu Bubulici