Alexander Gozun, Natalia Bezhan
It is not easy for Moldovan companies to enter the Ukrainian market today not only because of competition. There are many bilateral issues that complicate economic activity. For example, export of cement from Moldova is prohibited. Therefore, a certain level of political dialog is necessary to ensure that Moldovan business can participate in the process of Ukraine’s reconstruction.
In total, 150 companies from the three Benelux countries operate in Moldova with investments of $525 million. The Netherlands has invested most of all – $488 million. It is the fourth largest investor in Moldova. Cumulatively, investors from the three countries occupy the third position in this list. “However, the Benelux countries are only in 13th place in terms of exports, which indicates a serious potential for growth,” says Natalia Bejan, director of the National Investment Agency. – Although the last four years have seen an 18% growth in foreign trade, this is not enough.”
Most of the goods and services produced by companies from these countries are for export. Several industrial enterprises from the Benelux region operate in Moldova. Thus, for 25 years the company Spamol, created by the famous Alpha Industries from Belgium, has been producing saunas for export. About 20 companies operate in the sphere of information technologies”. A number of logistics and construction companies are also registered.
The interest of businesses from Benelux countries in our country has increased in terms of the implementation of the roadmap for economic growth and the absorption of the EU monetary support of 1.9 billion euros. “It is already known that large infrastructure projects are planned, for the implementation of which Moldova does not have enough potential in terms of experience and personnel,” continues Natalia Bejan. – Their interest concerns Ukraine as well. In Moldova, the construction materials sector is one of the six sectors included in the state aid scheme.
They are also interested in logistics opportunities, including port logistics. Companies from Belgium and the Netherlands are interested in cooperation with the Giurgiulesti port, the potential of which is not fully utilized. Today, there are no concrete plans for the reconstruction of Ukraine, but such ties are already being established. Last year, companies from Germany and Romania opened representative offices in Chisinau. Their interests, apart from Moldova, also extend to projects in Ukraine. But they need certain guarantees. So far, there is no discussion with Ukraine about this”.
In this context, a certain level of political dialog with Ukraine, the EU and the USA, as well as in the region is necessary, believes the chairman of AmCham Moldova Alexandru Gozun. First of all, to provide our companies with opportunities to enter the Ukrainian market.
“We have been communicating on this topic for two years, but there is no holistic vision,” he says. – We need access to information about projects that our companies could get involved in. And also about areas in which to invest. Where Ukraine, because of its losses in the war, may not have the capacity to cover. For example, medical services, which it will not be physically able to provide. Or in view of the serious destruction of infrastructure and housing, the production of construction materials. We need to determine what is needed and in what quantities. Structure the potential and provide incentive tools – tax, financial incentives or guarantees. They can be from international financial institutions that work with such instruments. And the state, in turn, should offer public-private partnerships in infrastructure projects. All this needs to be discussed. Our contribution may be small in percentage terms, but for us it may be significant.
