​CZECHIA IS EU LARGEST CONSUMER OF MOLDOVAN WINES

The Czech Republic is the largest importer of Moldovan wines of 28 countries-members of the European Union. Czechia is annually buying around 10 million liters of wine from Moldova, said Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Czech Republic to Moldova Jaromir Kvapil in an interview to “Banks & Finances” Magazine.

There are several wineries in the South Moravia region. One of their winemaker studied in Chisinau and is interested in Moldovan wine importing. In general, Moldovan wines are highly appreciated by Czech consumers; also Moldova is known on the Czech market due to supplying of walnuts, plums and other fresh and canned fruit, the Ambassador said.

According to him, frequent changes in the country’s legislation do not contribute to coming of long-term investments to Moldova.

The Ambassador regards the situation in the Moldovan banking market as quite difficult, thus it is difficult to say when Czech banks in particular and banks of the European Union in general will show interest to it.

“However, I would like to mention that one of 5 members of the Mobiasbanca- Groupe Societe Generale Executive Committee is a Czech citizen, while Mobiasbanca President had worked for a long time in the Komercni Banka of Prague, which is Groupe Societe Generale largest daughter in Central and Eastern Europe”, he said.

Jaromir Kvapil said that Czech companies are working with Moldova mostly through mediating companies.

“Given a quite small sales market, there is no strict necessity to open subsidiaries. One of such mediators is DAAC Hermes - an official importer of Czech cars SKODA”, he said.

According to the Ambassador, the volume of trade operations between the two countries accounts for 40 million euros per year, while the supplying of Czech goods to Moldova prevail.

“I am sure we can considerably raise both the Czech export to Moldova and the Moldovan export to Czechia. Also I am sure that Czechia can help Moldova in such spheres like irrigating farmlands, waste treatment and decontamination of soils and in other development projects”, the Ambassador said.