OREANDA-NEWS. May 20, 2011. Prime Minister Vlad Filat participated in the opening of a Moldovan-German economic forum in Hamburg, Germany, the government's communications and press relations department has said.

The forum was held at the headquarters of the Hamburg-based Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI). At the event, Vlad Filat made an inscription in the book for guests, in which he voiced hope that the Moldovan-German economic relations will further develop on the rise.

Attending the forum were numerous Moldovan and German business people, as the event's goal is to step up and develop the economic ties between the two states.

At the beginning of the event, the deputy head of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry from Hamburg, Jens Peter Breitengros, welcomed the large number of business people from Moldova participating in the forum, as well as the Moldovan government's wish to have a European economy.

The CCI deputy head specified that the initiative to organize this forum belongs to Moldova. He noted that the country should make its investment possibilities known better, especially in the agro-industrial sector.

Jens Peter Breitengros presented the economic situation in Hamburg city, stressing that the heart of this city is the port, which opens great prospects of economic development. He said that German companies already work in Moldova and their number might considerably increase, once the conditions of activity for investors become more attractive. Jens Peter Breitengros gave assurances as regards the support necessary to promote German investments in Moldova, as well as the assistance for Moldovan companies.

Vlad Filat said that over 160 companies with German capital are operating in Moldova and have made investments of 110 million euros.

"We have many things which get us closer, and I hope that we will be able to speak about a better rapprochement in the long run as regards the number of investors from Germany who will start business in Moldova," the prime minister said.

The prime minister emphasized that to turn Moldova more attractive in the eyes of foreign investors, we should work a lot. "We have to improve many things as concerns the business climate in Moldova; yet, it is important that we have a clear vision of the way we will modernize Moldova and we are backed by our foreign development partners in this process; Germany plays a very important role here and I am very grateful to you for this," Vlad Filat said.

The prime minister noted that Moldova is fully committed to the European path, and the government's objective is to foster this process as much as possible.

"We have achieved very many things in this field in less than two years since out coming to power. And this fact made Moldova the most EU-oriented country within the Eastern Partnership. Also, our citizens support the European values with enthusiasm and massively back us on our European integration. I would like to mention a thing which I deem as relevant in this context - the fact that over a half of Moldova's foreign trade is with the European Union," the prime minister said.

Vlad Filat specified that Moldova is in a dynamic process of negotiating the Association Agreement, which, once in force, will offer a framework of political association and economic integration into the EU.

"As for the macroeconomic and investment stability, I would like to mention the agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) meant to ensure the macroeconomic stability and boost the economy and the obvious progress in these issues. According to the IMF, the government will return to fiscal sustainability till 2012. Some days ago, the last IMF evaluation mission in Moldova ended, and the conclusions were that we fulfilled all our commitments, which tells a lot about the seriousness and responsibility we treat the country's development partners," the prime minister said.

Filat said that the Moldovan government sees a priority in the attraction of foreign investments. He stressed that the cabinet will further contribute to creating a more predictable and transparent business climate via fiscal predictability and macroeconomic stability, as well as by boosting the dialogue with the investors.

"I want to say that Moldova pays special attention to the development of relations with Germany, which it views as a particularly important partner in the process of the country's democratic and economic consolidation. As a matter of fact, the relations between our countries witnessed an unprecedented development during the last one year and a half, and I hope this is just the beginning. We are waiting for you with interest in Moldova, and I assure you that our country can offer very good business opportunities," Vlad Filat said.

Deputy Prime Minister, Economics Minister Valeriu Lazar presented the economic situation in Moldova. He stressed that, in 2010, the country managed to recover the damages inflicted as a result of the economic recession, and recorded a 6.8-per-cent economic growth. Lazar also referred to investment opportunities in Moldova. He said that the Giurgiulesti international port, southern Moldova, is an important point for the development of business in Moldova, albeit it cannot be compared with the Hamburg port.

The head of the Moldovan Chamber of Trade and Industry (CCI), Gheorghe Cucu, said that cooperation with German partners is very intense. He referred to projects launched by the CCI related to business quality, enterprise's management, shift to quality goods. Cucu urged the German business people to invest in Moldova, and assured them of openness of the organization he heads.

The forum's agenda also covered such topics as German entrepreneurs' experience in Moldova, transport and logistics, agriculture and food processing.