Pridnestrovie seeking to reorient its export to Russian and Eurasian markets

Pridnestrovie's MFA also considers that the enterprises which want to continue trading with the EU must have such an opportunity

According to Minister of Foreign Affairs Nina Shtanski, Pridnestrovian exporters have been deprived of the opportunity to determine product markets on their own.

Before Moldova imposed the blockade in 2006, Pridnestrovie's turnover with the Russian Federation had reached 50%, Nina Shtanski said during the press conference.
"Today, only 14% of products go to Russia's market," remarked the minister.

According to her, to survive the blockade, Pridnestrovie's businesses had to seek "the easiest way for sale" such as the EU's autonomous trade preferences for Pridnestrovie, which will expire in 2016.

"However, the EU's export regulations are constantly changing, and nobody knows in advance how these regulations will be changed," underscored the minister.

She also points out that the Association Agreement on Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area signed by Moldova and the EU affects Pridnestrovie's businesses exporting products to both the EU's and Moldova's markets.

"We need to realize that Moldova has entered into this agreement under unresolved conflict, which is entirely disrupting the system of our interrelations. We are interested to retain the possibility of trading with the EU for those enterprises which want to implement their activity in this direction," said Nina Shtanski.

Under risks the agreement between the EU and Moldova bears, Pridnestrovie is seeking to reorient its export to "the Russian and Eurasian markets". Nina Shtanski noted that there are no problems in exporting Pridnestrovie's products to Russia today, besides those related to the export clearance in Moldova and movement of cargo via Ukraine.

"There is freedom of choice in business, and the enterprises which want to retain the opportunity of trading with the EU must have it," concluded the minister.

Nina Shtanski said this is the second year that Pridnestrovie has been discussing with the European partners the possibility of creating a special mechanism of trade between the sides "as the agreement signed by Moldova is unacceptable for Pridnestrovie."