Publication: Moldova Trade Study: Note 3. Competitiveness in Moldova’s Agricultural Sector
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2016-03-03
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2016-03-03
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The agriculture and agri-food sector is a substantial driver of Moldova’s international trade and export competitiveness. Enhancing Moldova’s agricultural competitiveness is a key element in improving the access of Moldovan agro-food products to the European Union market and capitalizing on the potential benefits from the Association Agreement, including the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (DCFTA). The objective of this note is to examine the competitiveness of Moldova’s agriculture sector, and synthesize relevant research on drivers and recommendations on improving agricultural competitiveness in Moldova, for policy makers. This note examines numerous studies that have been done to date on Moldova’s agriculture sector and its export competitiveness, synthesizes the findings, and presents recommendations. In order for significant exports to the EU to become reality, Moldova’s famers and exporters will need to adhere to the high product quality standards and traceability required in these markets, improve the quality of packaging, and in some cases, adjust the grading specifications. Achieving this requires actions to improve practices during growing and harvest; improve post-harvest handling and infrastructure; and improve the flow of market information and requirements to producers.
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“World Bank. 2016. Moldova Trade Study: Note 3. Competitiveness in Moldova’s Agricultural Sector. © World Bank. http://hdl.handle.net/10986/24007 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”
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Publication Moldova Trade Study(Washington, DC, 2016-03-03)In 1995, Moldova introduced free economic zone (FEZ) legislation with the aim of accelerating socioeconomic development by attracting domestic and foreign investment, promoting exports, and creating employment. Since then, seven free economic zones offering tax and customs benefits have been established. This note assesses the static and dynamic economic benefits of the program in Moldova. The free economic zones have been successful in attracting investment from both domestic and foreign sources. The economic zones have become true export platforms, generating a five-fold increase in exported industrial production from the zones between 2004 and 2014. On average, employment in the economic zones had a robust growth in the last seven years and almost doubled since 2008. 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