OREANDA-NEWS. April 15, 2013. The heads of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) from Chisinau and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) from Tiraspol held a meeting in Chisinau, in order to discuss new collaboration opportunities and the joint development of business projects.

The chairman of the Moldovan CCI, Gheorghe Cucu, said foreign economic agents and partners were interested in companies operating in various economic sectors in the Transnistrian breakaway region. “However, the lack of information on these companies as well as administrative barriers obstructs investments and the business development,” Cucu said.

“Economic agents, who obey the European requirements, would be able to export their goods on the EU market without paying customs taxes, once the Moldovan-EU deep and comprehensive free trade agreement is signed. Both Moldova and the EU want Transnistrian companies to benefit from these advantages as well. Regardless of their destination market, Moldovan goods must comply with international standards in order to be promoted. Together we may help boost up exports via carrying out economic missions and business visits abroad. We could also participate in exhibitions and teach local entrepreneurs new business requirements, trends and innovations,” Cucu said.

For his part, the chairman of the Transnistrian CCI, Vasile Cojan, said economic agents were facing difficulties when carrying out export-import operations. The movement of goods from one bank of the Dniester River to another one was also a rather difficult task for them. “We currently do not know exactly how will the signing of the Moldovan-EU deep and comprehensive free trade agreement change the situation of Transnistrian companies. However, if Transnistrian economic agents are not able to export their goods on the EU market, they will probably export them on the Eastern one,” Cojan said.

The sides agreed to exchange information and elaborate a joint action plan that would help them develop projects meant to back the business and organise several exhibitions, including regional ones.