Kishinev, 5 February. /Novosti Pridnestrovya/. More than four hundred enterprises, tens of thousands of visitors - this is an exhibition of light industry products at Kishinev's Moldexpo. The event, which traditionally opens the season of commodity fairs and exhibitions in the Republic of Moldova, has already been held for the seventeenth time. This year there are several Pridnestrovian companies among the participants.
Almost opposite the entrance to a footwear and garment pavilion is a show-case with a sign "Floare". But the first impression is deceptive. It is not Bendery's famous footwear manufacturer but its namesake company Floare-Carpet that exhibits its production here.
"Our products have been known since 1978. We produce pure wool carpets with a natural warp. Earlier we used to employ flower patterns in the design - it is in demand in the Russian market, and now we are trying new styles, we have begun to export carpets to Europe as well," says Cristina Gadjim, Floare Carpet's manager.
The enterprise is export-driven with about 75% of its output going abroad. In Moldova's domestic market, the demand is yet to grow. It is in order to facilitate this growth that Floare Carpet participates in the annual exhibition held at Moldexpo.
"We are here because we are producers from Moldova, and we want the residents of the country to know about us, to know that we produce high-quality products," notes Cristina Gadjim.
We finally find the Bendery shoemakers right next to the Kishinev carpet makers. But it not Floare, but Tellus. They are also here too to advertise their products in the Moldovan market. But unlike the carpet manufacturers, it is their first time here.
"We have a new collection. Earlier we had produced inexpensive winter footwear, and a year ago we decided to expand our range. Now we work with leather. We are interested to present a new line, to see how people will react. As we can see so far, the goods are in demand, they are simply bought up. Moreover, our products are cheaper than Turkish or Chinese," says Vladislav Rachkovsky, the company's commercial director.
In total, over 420 companies representing various industries - from confectioners to cosmetics and furniture manufacturers - are present at the exhibition this year, vice-president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Moldova Mihai Bilba says. The organizers expect that the number of visitors will break the last year's record. when 43,000 people came to the exhibition. This time, if the last day of the exhibition will attract as many guests as the first four, the number of visitors will exceed 50,000.
There are several Pridnestrovian companies among the exhibitors. By the way, Pridnestrovian enterprises do not use only this venue but also many others to promote their products abroad. Among them are both the "Business Russia" forum and Novosibirsk's "Technoprom" and a business forum in Tashkent.
Gagauzia companies occupy an entire row in one of the pavilions. The range is wide enough - from well-known not only in Moldova but also abroad, Gagauz wine, to the production of handicraft artisans, sheepskin and traditional national costumes.
By the way, the Comrat-based company "Tuscany-Yeri" exports processed sheep skins mainly abroad - to Russia, Ukraine and Turkey.
And a garment mini-factory located in the village of Macareşti, Ungheni district, works for the Moldovan consumer. The enterprise employs no more than three tens person; however, it is an appreciable quantity of jobs for a small settlement. They mainly produce children's clothes, including school uniforms.
"We are selling quickly today, but it is not our aim here. Participating in the exhibition is a good advertisement. People ask where they can buy our goods, and we tell them the names of the shops we work with," says Galina, Svibmagtex's accountant.
Participation in such events allows manufacturers to occupy their niche not only in the Moldovan market but also to find trade partners from other countries. The opening ceremony of the exhibition was attended by delegations from more than a dozen countries.
"There were representatives of diplomatic missions, foreign companies. In addition, the companies that did not have time to register and get their show-case, we have organized an international business forum in Cahul. Both the exhibition and the forum are such a big venue for establishing business contacts between entrepreneurs from different countries," notes Mihai Bilba.
By the way, Pridnestrovie's factory "Odema" did manage to find potential business partners. "A representative of a Holland company approached us; he wants to cooperate; the offer is very profitable," marketing manager Irina Bezyazychnaya told Novosti Pridnestrovya.
However, this issue requires a substantive discussion not at the exhibition but rather at the negotiating table in Tiraspol. Or in Amsterdam.
Alexey Kovalev
