However, this agenda has another strategic side. The same digital platforms can act as a channel for Moldovan producers to enter foreign markets. In most European countries, cross-border e-commerce policies combine import regulation with active support for the export presence of national companies on global marketplaces.
For Moldova, it is crucially important that the emerging regulation of cross-border trade takes into account not only the protection of the domestic market, but also the stimulation of the e-export sector.
For a country with a limited domestic market, exports are a key source of economic growth and currency stability. In 2025, Moldova’s merchandise exports amounted to $3.8 billion, with 67.5% of shipments going to EU countries. Traditionally, exports are formed by large enterprises and the agricultural sector.
However, a structural shift has taken shape in the global economy: thanks to digital platforms and standardized international logistics, exports have become accessible to small producers.
In a number of Central and Eastern European countries, it is small businesses that have become a fast-growing segment of cross-border e-commerce. For Moldova, this segment remains underdeveloped, although it is small exports that can become one of the fastest tools for expanding the export base and increasing foreign exchange earnings.
Small producers are not involved in the country’s exports
The development of marketplaces, digital payments and unified international delivery has significantly reduced the barriers to entering foreign markets. Small producers have been able to sell directly to consumers in the EU and the US through global and regional platforms.
Moldova has competitive niches for this format of trade – food and wine, textiles, wood products, handicrafts and natural products, souvenirs, groceries and others
In European e-commerce, it is precisely such categories that show a steady demand as local and authentic brands with a clear origin “Made in Moldova!”.
At the same time, the scale of small exports from Moldova remains limited and does not correspond to the country’s production potential.
Small and medium-sized enterprises form more than 98% of companies in the Moldovan economy and provide about 60% of employment. However, their share in exports remains significantly below the potential.
At the same time, the domestic e-commerce market has already been formed: according to industry estimates, e-commerce accounts for about 8-10% of retail sales.
Moreover, a significant part of online purchases are made on foreign sites. This means that cross-border digital commerce in Moldova today mainly works for imports – Temu, Amazon, Emag, etc., but not for exports. – but not for export.
Barriers for small exporters are systemic in nature
For small businesses, exporting is still associated with high institutional and logistical barriers:
- complex and lengthy customs procedures;
- high cost of international delivery of small consignments (compensation from the government may be necessary as a means of export development and trade balance equalization);
- lack of consolidation logistics;
- complicated and lengthy VAT refund procedures;
- lack of systemic support for access to marketplaces in China and Europe;
As a result, a significant part of producers do not export directly or work through intermediaries, losing a significant share of value added and export margin.
Experience of Poland and the Baltic States: mass small-scale exports are possible
Over the last 10-15 years, Poland and the Baltic States have significantly expanded their export base through small businesses integrated into cross-border e-commerce.
This has been facilitated by specific and comprehensive support measures on the part of the state:
- simplified customs regime for e-commerce shipments;
- programs for the integration of small enterprises into international marketplaces;
- preferential logistics tariffs for small shipments;
- a unified digital platform for exporters;
In Moldova, a small producer is actually left alone with international trade, which sharply limits the scale of exports.
The proposed support measures in the form of various grants and covering part of the costs of entering international markets are selective and unsystematic.
This may work in individual cases, but it does not have the necessary effect for the entire economy and all potential exporters, especially small and medium-sized enterprises.
What solutions can change the situation
The development of small exports requires institutional and logistical infrastructure rather than direct subsidies.
First, the creation of export full-field centers for consolidation and dispatch of small shipments, providing storage, packaging, export clearance and processing of returns.
Second, introduction of a simplified customs regime for e-commerce shipments with digital declaration and accelerated release of goods.
Third, a national program to integrate small enterprises into international marketplaces, including training, packaging standardization and certification.
In this matter, assistance can be sought from the Chinese government by proposing institutional cooperation with Chinese digital platforms and PRC specialized structures. This will help integrate Moldovan small producers into the largest cross-border e-commerce ecosystems.
Fourth, special international delivery tariffs for small exporters based on agreements with logistics operators.
In this context, it is advisable to consider the possibility of introducing a mechanism for partial compensation of logistics costs at the expense of government or donor export support programs. At the same time, it should be applied indiscriminately to all deliveries of small exporters.
Conclusion
Moldova objectively cannot compete with the scale of industry, but it can compete with the diversity and quality of small producers.
Global trade is becoming digital and distributed, and countries that have established small cross-border export infrastructure gain thousands of new exporters and a rapidly expanding export base.
The experience of Poland and the Baltic States shows that such growth is possible for economies of comparable size and structure.
The formation of an e-export system for small enterprises may become one of the most realistic and fastest tools for expanding the export base, increasing foreign exchange earnings and structural diversification of Moldova’s economy.
Mircea Baciu,
Moldovan entrepreneur
