„Dear colleagues,.

Yesterday, together with Minister Bumacov, we met Moldovan apples, plums producers and processors, and fruit exporters. You are familiarised with the context - sanctions imposed by our Russian partners. We are further to discuss with them – I understand, Mr. minister, that you have received an invitation at the experts level to send another team of experts to Moscow, I hope these consultations will help us. We have already had two rounds, but I did not understand what the problems are, but if they are interested, certainly we must respond, to travel over there and discuss. I hope that our reasons might possibly change this attitude. Once more, it is their right to take certain decisions, but we must take care of this extremely important sector of the Moldovan economy.

The yesterday talk was a good and useful, but it was not an easy one. As, although we all expected - or at least, we took it into consideration – such a decision regarding fruits, vegetables, canned products on Russia’s behalf, it was taken and everybody now is waiting for the government to come up with miraculous solutions. From my point of view, what you need to do is to provide access to a predictable market, a market where politics do not influence on the trade rules. Thus, we have already agreed on how to advance. Certainly, we must reflect on some compensatory measures, nonetheless, losses will be inflicted, but as we agreed yesterday, we must attenuate these losses and help fruit producers. Mr. minister, those 20 million lei have already been allocated to the ministry. Sure, we will wait for another two days, if nobody disputes our decision. This means that on Monday you will have the money, but until then, I want us to have a mechanism. Together with the colleagues from the education, army, kindergartens, we will act this way, so that the apples harvested in this period reach those who need to consume them, as this is very important for them.

We will discuss how to supply the Subsidise Fund, as, unfortunately, what we have allotted, although it is much more than in past years, is not enough at present. We will find ways to supply it, based on very careful calculations. Today, we will have a meeting with the World Bank representative, to see how they might back us and tomorrow we will meet with the commercial banks, as a problem that persists among the fruit and vegetables producers, but also the wine makers are the historical and current debts. And if we could reach an understanding - how to reschedule these debts - I believe this would be of real support for those involved in the real economy. I talked to Deputy Prime Minister Candu to see how we can bring better Moldovan products on the stores’ shelves. The consumption on the local market should be directed to tasty, high quality and affordable products. And our products meet these criteria.

We must also discuss with Moldova-Gaz and Fenosa; I do not ask them not to get payments for the provided services, but possibly a more tolerant regime, there where the situations ask for one... And another request to this item - yesterday producers also underscored some problems with the control institutions. I do not know what happens in Moldova, as, usually, those who should be backed, are sometimes subject to these excessive controls, either at central or local level. I have already talked to the institutions subordinated to the Agriculture Ministry, as if, at a central level, the same agency usually works better, at a district level, documents are often delayed before reaching their destination. I kindly ask everyone to help now and to have a system to be later developed into an absolutely functional one, to help these producers.

I ask you to talk to all subordinate institutions, vertically and horizontally, so that their attitude to be correct and friendly, especially towards those who export Moldovan goods to the foreign markets. I will personally monitor that the attitude to be the right one. We will systematically meet with producers and hopefully find solutions.

I want to mention another topic, related to the activity of enterprises in the Free Economic Zone in Balti. Mr. deputy prime minister, I know you came up with the initiative, I am aware that the Environment Ministry got involved. But I have one request - do not transfer the responsibility to German or Austrian companies in this case. I have never made difference between investors. Our investors must be as protected as the foreign ones, but here I want to see this analysis, who is to blame – where do these emissions that create problems come from? We need a favourable attitude toward ourselves, but not one that creates problems and I was told that the emphasis was slightly reversed. So, please, mister deputy minister, further examine the problem, as it is important to do so that not have such problems in the future.

We want to attract investments to Moldova!

Thank you.”.