On the main trade indicators of Pridnestrovie
Pridnestrovie has reduced the volume of foreign trade for three consecutive years. According to the Ministry of Economic Development, trade turnover in 2016 fell from $2.3 billion to $1.4 billion compared to 2014. The decline chiefly affected exports.
Since the beginning of this year, as was in 2016, the export structure is dominated by food and raw materials, fuel and energy products, textiles, footwear, metal and metal products. In the meantime, Pridnestrovie chiefly trades with the EU and Moldova, with only 10% accounting for Russia. The ministry believes this decline is the result of the devaluation of the national currency in 2014, as well as with the fall of the activity of Pridnestrovian exporters.
The Ministry of Economic Development was assigned to help our exporters. To do so, the ministry began to draft a road map — a set of measures which would help to expand the access of Pridnestrovian to foreign markets and remove all barriers on this way.
The presentation of that very road map was conducted by the minister of economic development, Sergey Obolonik, during the panel session of the Pridnestrovian International Economic Forum.
He noted that export activities were the main lifeline of the Pridnestrovian economy as a whole. To promote it, measures are planned to remove customs and administrative barriers, to improve the competitiveness of products and to develop export support infrastructure. This plan was discussed and agreed upon together with the management of exporting enterprises.
«To stimulate the export of Pridnestrovian products and to reduce the cost of products exported to Russia, reducing the costs of enterprises related to the issuance of the certificate of origin CT-1 was considered. This instrument is used very efficiently in a number of countries and is the most important export promotion measure," noted the minister.
On measures promoting Pridnestrovian measures
Foreign minister Vitaly Ignatyev also spoke about the development of trade relations of Pridnestrovie. He noted that today we produce goods which are popular and competitive in world markets. Besides, it is very essential for Pridnestrovie, which is in a special geopolitical environment, to establish a dialogue with external partners for the development of the export component.
«The main thing here is to develop and expand cooperation with the Russian Federation. This task is based not only on the need to balance the economic security of the country. It is also due to the fact that the level of mutual systemic Russian-Pridnestrovian trade must correspond to the political, diplomatic, cultural partnerships existing between our states. We focus on Russia, developing comprehensive ties with Russia in the economy through a number of actions, but, unfortunately, we have not reached so far the proper level of communication," underscored the Pridnestrovian diplomat.
Ignatyev noted that the share of Pridnestrovian goods in the Russian market was growing, albeit at a small rate. In order for this positive rate to further increase, the state should provide substantial support to exporters.
According to the minister, one of such steps is to work out a mechanism for the segregation of Pridnestrovian products from Moldovan ones, «which would enable our products to be removed from the sanction list, certain protection measures imposed by the Russian Federation.»
«Taking into account Russia's international commitments, such a mechanism could be the approval of a register of industrial and agricultural enterprises, which would impose Pridnestrovie's economic jurisdiction over these enterprises. «Taking into account the launch of the customs information exchange mechanism between Russia's Federal Customs Service and the Pridnestrovian customs agency, this mechanism could be a good basis to grant Pridnestrovie separate preferential export regime with Russia," Ignatyev believes.
Another way to promote mutual trade could be providing economic agents with incentive benefits, as well as creating export platforms.
«At the same time, it is necessary to complete the opening of the branches of Potrebnadzor and Rosselkhoznadzor, which would partially eliminate the problem of obtaining certain permissive documents for the export of products to the Russian market," the minister added.
The strengthening of the partnership of Pridnestrovian manufacturers with individual regions of Russia within the framework of early bilateral agreements and memorandums can also be an important step. This work is already active in Pridnestrovie.
