Several companies with joint capital are actively engaged in the import of Moldovan wines to Japan, which indicates mutual interest and opportunities to increase the supply of Moldovan wines to the Land of the Rising Sun. This was stated by Sergiu Harya, president of the Moldovan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, during the Moldovan-Japanese business forum. He noted that this is the first forum of this level in Moldova, where Moldovan and Japanese businessmen could discuss the possibilities of bilateral cooperation during bilateral meetings (B2B).
The forum was attended by 50 entrepreneurs and investors from Moldova and 20 from Japan. The event took place on Saturday, October 25, in Chisinau, with the aim of strengthening bilateral economic relations and identifying new investment opportunities.
It was organized by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Moldova, as well as representatives of two embassies of Japan – in Moldova and Romania. It was a return visit after the Moldovan delegation visited Tokyo two months ago within the framework of the World Exhibition “Osaka 2025”. The business forum was a continuation of bilateral contacts, giving Moldovan business entities the opportunity to establish them directly with Japanese companies from various fields of activity.
The Moldovan Grape and Wine Office was inaugurated two months ago, within the framework of Prime Minister Dorin Recean’s visit to Japan on August 30 – September 2, 2025. During the visit, an agreement was signed with JICA, Japan’s state agency for international cooperation, as well as Keidanren, a key business association in Japan.
According to Acting Minister of Economic Development and Digitalization Doina Nistor, the forum in Chisinau has become an important platform for promoting Moldova’s economic potential. And thanks to the Memorandum of Understanding signed in August between the Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Moldova and Osaka, cooperation in such sectors as information technologies, green energy, agro-food industry, production of components for the automotive industry, pharmaceuticals and health care was intensified.
“The example of the work in Moldova of the largest Japanese company Sumitomo Electric Bordnetze is a serious sign, and the presence of representatives of the Japanese state agency for international cooperation JICA is a signal of confidence for other Japanese companies about the opportunities to invest in Moldova and further enter the European market,” Nistor said.
Japan has invested 42 million euros free of charge through JICA in Moldovan healthcare, support for farmers, photovoltaic systems and digitization of the National Library. Moldova’s trade turnover with Japan currently stands at $113 million, up 19% year-on-year, with a negative trade balance for Moldova. Among exported goods are textiles and wines, while among imported goods are cars, agricultural and medical equipment.
