MOLDOVA GAINS FROM WESTERN SANCTIONS AGAINST RUSSIA – EXPERT

Moldova has managed to get its gain from the embargoes imposed on Russia by Western countries, believes Dr. Mihai Poisic of the National Institute of Economic Researches (INCE).

In his interview with the international Sputnik news agency of Russia he said that Moldova recently resumed its exports of fresh fruit and vegetables and of meat products to the Russian Federation, and these supplies are gaining momentum.

“Moldova does not export even a kilogram of its meat or dairy products to the West. Moldova has machine-engineering produce, and it also goes only to the East. If the Republic of Moldova had assumed a politically neutral position, it would gain very much from it. So far, however, only President Dodon is working in this direction, trying to promote his country’s interests. In reply, Russia has turned a blind eye to many unfriendly acts [made by the incumbent Moldovan pro-Western authorities] and has re-opened its market slightly for the republic”, said the prominent Moldovan economist.

Earlier, President Igor Dodon wrote in the social networks that thanks to the accords he had reached with President Vladimir Putin, Moldova is building up its exports of fruit and vegetables to the vast Russian market.

“In 2015, the exports of Moldovan apples to Russia dropped 9-fold against 2013, but in 2017 they grew 11-fold. The exports of vegetables in 2016 fell down 24-fold against 2013, but in 2017 they went up 11.5-fold. The year 2014 was marked with diminished exports of Moldovan wines to Russia, but the following year they went up 6.6%, in 2016 – up by 42.5% , and in 2017 – up 15.4%. In 2015, the exports of Moldovan grapes dropped by 90%, but in the following year they went up 65% and in 2017 the grape exports nearly doubled”, wrote President Dodon.