PRESIDENT DODON CALLS RUSSIA THE MOST FAITHFUL INVESTOR AND TRADE PARTNER

Moldovan President Igor Dodon continues to regard the Russian Federation as Moldova's most devoted and faithful investor and trade partner over last 10 years, he stated in the context of the Moldo-Russian Economic Forum opening in Chisinau on September 21.

On the eve of the Forum, the President has analyzed the official data of the National Statistics Bureau and the National Bank on trade presented for last 10 years - between 3Q2008 and 2Q2018. According to the data, Russia is remaining Moldova's largest trade partner, maintaining lead in both exports and imports. At the same time, the Moldova-Russia trade relations are remaining perhaps the most balanced ones among all other large trade partners.

Another aspect of the bilateral relationship are direct foreign investments "that form the basis of economic growth, creation of jobs and the development of exports", wrote Dodon.

"Russia is remaining the largest foreign investor in Moldova, with a volume of investment exceeding US$716 million, which is twice greater a figure compared with the next country on the list of investors, which is in fact an offshore zone with capitals of an uncertain origin [As can be seen from the Table presented by the President, this is the Netherlands.]", wrote Dodon. According to him, over last 9 years of the governance of pro-European forces, such leading countries as Great Britain, the United States and Romania have withdrawn a total of US$160 million of their investments from Moldova. On the other hand, the Moldovan Government constantly stresses that over last few years the share of Russia in Moldova's external trade has been constantly shrinking, and of the European Union - growing. According to the official statistics, presently some 69% Moldovan exports go to European Union markets.