The number of Moldovan wineries able to export wine to Russia starting from December will soar to 81 compared with the current 36, Moldovan Agriculture and Food Minister Valeriu Cosarciuc told a news conference on 28 November.

The official said that during negotiations in Moscow, the sides discussed bilateral trade relations, with the main goal being to create conditions favourable for the sale of Moldovan wine on the Russian market.

Cosarciuc described the visit's outcome as successful, adding that six customs terminals will be opened in the Russian Federation soon in addition to the already existing one. This will allow local exporters to decrease transport spending and increase the amount of sales to 6-8 million dollars monthly, compared with three million dollars at present.

The minister said that all problems in the export of wine to Russia emerged because of the former authorities who introduced artificial norms in an attempt to hold exports and financial flows under control. "The removal of obstacles to wine exports will help improve the situation in the vine-growing and wine-making sector, create new jobs, sell wine stocks and amass money so that producers pay off debts to providers of raw material," he said.

Cosarciuc also said that according to the reached understanding, the first two customs terminals out of the six planned ones will be located in Bryansk and Sankt Petersburg.

MOLDPRES