OREANDA-NEWS. April 21, 2014. The relevant agreement was reached at the 5th sitting of the Moldovan-Czech intergovernmental committee on economic cooperation, held in Prague on April 15/16 and co-chaired by Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic Vladimir Bertla and Deputy Minister of Economy of Moldova Octavian Calmic.

The members of the committee discussed the outlook for further bilateral cooperation of the two countries in industry, energy sector, agriculture, agribusiness and other areas, the press service of the Economy Ministry reports. The party of the Czech Republic confirmed the willingness of export-upholding bodies (Czech Export Bank and the Company for Export Insurance and Guarantee) to help Czech businessmen implement export-oriented and investment projects in Moldova. Czech members of the committee highly appreciated goals set in Moldova's 2030 Energy Strategy and expressed willingness to render Moldova assistance in its implementation and to share the best Czech practices with regard to energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.

Besides, the government of the Czech Republic has promised to support harmonization of Moldova’s energy regulating legislation with the European directives. The 6th sitting of the intergovernmental committee is to be held in Moldova in 2015.

According to Czech statistics, in 2013 bilateral trade between Moldova and the Czech Republic made up USD90.7 million, up 11.5% year-on-year. Moldova exported to the Czech Republic goods amounting to USD 59.6 million (-1.7%), importing from the Czech Republic commodities at an amount of USD 31.1 million, (+50.1%). According to the National Bureau of Statistics of Moldova, in 2013, Moldova’s export to the Czech Republic was USD 25,6 million, Moldova’s import form this country making USD 69.3 million.