OREANDA-NEWS. October 25, 2012. At briefing the Deputy Economy Minister noted that within 8 months of 2012 the trend remains of less intensity of foreign trade in Moldova, but there are no visible signs of the crisis in its economy. Within 8 months of 2012 Moldova exported goods at a sum of USD 1 bln. 361.4 mln., 0.1% down as compared with the same period of the past year.

Domestic goods were exported at a sum of USD 826.8, mln., which was 60.7% of the total export and 16.2% more than in the same period of 2011. Re-export made up USD 534.6 mln. , 39.3% of the total amount of export and 17.9% down as compared with the same period of 2011. At the same time, as compared with the same period of 2011, import to Moldova increased 2.3% to USD 3 bln. 283,9 mln.

According to the Deputy Minister, the decline in the export was determined by the drought which caused the general decline in agriculture by 22% approximately and the decrease in some categories by 33%. Goods were not exported from June, and even from April, for example, crops and sugar were not exported. The export findings were influenced by the decline in production at the Metallurgic Plant of Rybnita.

One adverse factor more was the crisis and the low demand in Europe, the Deputy Minister says. This especially struck at the textile industry, which works on the basis of contracts with European companies. Octavian Calmic also pointed out less amounts of re-export, caused by the changed methodology of calculation. The Deputy Minister mentioned such export-encouraging measures as elimination of trade barriers, simplification of issuing certificates for exported products, simplification of customs procedures, elimination of bans on Moldovan trade in markets of third countries.

Besides, the Ministry of Economy takes measures to raise competitiveness of domestic commodities and adopts European quality standards. One more encouraging measure for production and export is the law initiative to exempt economic agents form duties and VAT if they import inputs to produce import-replacing and export-oriented commodities. The document is planned to come into effect till the end of 2012 after public debate.