OREANDA-NEWS. April 01, 2014. The Moldovan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) continues a campaign of raising the awareness of business environment representatives in terms of provisions and opportunities of the Moldova-EU Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement.

In the context, informative seminars are held in Cahul, Soroca and Hincesti this week. Earlier, such events have been organised in Taraclia, Comrat, Edinet, Balti and Ungheni.

The head of Cahul-based CCI branch, Simion Platon, said the initialling of the Association Agreement and the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement had changed the status of Moldova, which became an equal partner. The EU market has over 500 million buyers, clear-cut rules, it is stable and predictable. In this context, to face competition with European companies, the Moldovan economic agents must implement the international standards.

Economics Ministry and CCI experts Inga Ionesi and Dumitru Postovan reasoned for the entrepreneurs attending the seminars the need to have competitive and quality products, due to meet certain standards.

After the agreement’s provisions enter into force, the customs duties on import/export of certain categories of goods will be cancelled. At the same time, transition periods of three, five or ten years are scheduled for some sectors in the national economy. On this period, customs duties will be paid on import of agricultural products, textiles, furniture, construction materials, carpets and footwear. The national companies will have opportunity to adapt to the new circumstances.

The cycle of informative seminars was launched by the Moldovan CCI, with the support of the Economics Ministry, International Finance Corporation and the Swedish Embassy in Chisinau.