Tiraspol, 17 June. /Novosti Pridnestrovya/. Pridnestrovie does not intend to abandon the policy of protecting domestic manufacturers, the minister of economic development, Dmitry Boltrushko, said in an interview with the First Pridnestrovian TV channel. According to him, some measures taken in this area has helped to increase the country's agricultural production.
«We are not going to abandon the policy of protecting domestic manufacturers in the short run. Besides, there is certain progress in this area as for the production and sales growth," said Dmitry Boltrushko.
The minister noted that Russia is currently implementing the policy of import substitution. Neighbouring Moldova has recently adopted measures protecting the domestic manufacturer, as well. Countries impose protective duties. However, the ministry notes, it is still more profitable to import food products to Pridnestrovie.
«Grigoriopol's poultry farm had stood idle for a long time. Finally, the farm found investors and began to produce chicken, but unfortunately, it took retail chains a while to pay attention to them. Of course, it is easier to import goods. If we take a look at the neighbouring countries' price policy and compare how much this or that product costs in Moldova or Ukraine, we'll see it is, of course, more profitable for retail chains to import goods here," said the head of the agriculture development department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Dominika Frolova.
«Of course, we can, for example, open our market now and fill Pridnestrovie up with finished products, but this will be a short-term win. Because prices both in Moldova and Ukraine are steadily going up. If we kill the domestic manufacturer, we'll just increase our dependence on Moldova and Ukraine," underscored Dmitry Boltrushko.
According to statistics, Pridnestrovie has increased the production of chicken by 3.5 times and pork by 1.5 times since 2011. Besides, Pridnestrovian agrarians have long been capable of supplying the country's needs of corn and have been working to develop gardening and vegetable-growing. As is noted by the ministry, this has been achieved by protecting the domestic manufacturer. The import substitution policy as a whole promotes considerable growth in domestic production and new jobs.
