Results of 2020 vine, wine year in Moldova considered at national conference

Chisinau, 2 April /MOLDPRES/ - The National Office of Vine and Wine (ONVV) today organized a national conference titled, The 2020 vine and wine year. Priorities in the sector’s development. The participants in the event unveiled the activities in the field, the vine, wine policies and situation, peculiarities of the harvest, trade’s and export’s indicators, challenges and impediments in the field, as well as the solutions to remove them.    

According to the information presented at the conference, the starting of the pandemic, as well as the drought recorded in the summer of 2020 hit the vine and wine sector, with the poorest harvest of grapes and the lowest productivity registered in the last ten years. ‘’Thus, the grapes’ harvest decreased by 39.2 per cent and the quantity of wine produced - by 42.2 per cent. At the same time, due to the policies promoted, active involvement of its participants and a consistent strategy in the sector, the industry preserves its competitive potential for the subsequent development,’’ the event’s report reads.   

Despite the pessimistic forecasts, according to statistic data, in 2020, the exports of vine and wine production dropped by only 12 per cent in volume and 7 per cent in terms of value. Instead, the export of bottled wines grew by 9 per cent, with the increase recorded in most export countries. Nevertheless, the red wines produced from the 2020 harvest are highly qualitative, with a high potential of maturity.   

The participants in the event confirmed that, to maintain the progress of the exporters of Moldovan vine and wine products, as well as to facilitate the access to new sales markets, major investments are needed in the promotion of the vine and wine sector. Under a strategic plan, in 2021, activities of consolidating the positions on the neighbour markets, as well as actions of conquering alternative markets were initiated. At the same time, in 2020, decision-makers plan to extend the activities also on emerging markets, such as the USA, Canada, China.   

“The vine and wine sector represents a priority, strategic branch of the national economy and its importance is obvious, proceeding from the sector’s share in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the value of more macroeconomic indicators and the results pertinent for this valuable segment – which became a visiting card of Moldova. Proceeding from the sector’s importance in the country’s economic and social development, the government positioned it on the agenda as a priority, focusing on consolidated policies, which will contribute to the dynamic, balanced and sustainable development of all components: vine and wine nursery, vine growing and wine making,’’ Agriculture, Regional Development and Environment Minister Ion Perju said.    

For her part, the director of the National Office of Vine and Wine, Cristina Frolov, said that ‘’the 2020 showed that the development vector chosen by the vine and wine sector and namely the diversity of the export markets and wine products, ensured the sustainability of the sector in conditions of drought and pandemic.’’ ‘’The challenges of the 2021 year make us be more efficient and more transparent as to all sides interested. Thus, all ONVV activities will be focused on the identification of new opportunities of export, sustainable development of the sector and enhancement of the fame of the Wine of Moldova country brand. We rely on the continuation and extension of the strategic partnerships and we will active take over the good global practices both for the operational work of ONVV and at the level of vine and wine production and vine and wine tourism,’’ Frolov said.           

“We are proud to be one of the development partners of Moldova’s vine and wine sector, backing the Moldovan wine-makers in the last 15 years. Along with the government of Sweden, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is focused on the development of a resistant and competitive industry, in order to provide an alternative to migration in the rural zones. USAID will continue cooperating with the competent ministry and ONVV to support the initiatives of quality, marketing and elaboration of policies which open the way to a competitive vine and wine sector internationally. As part of the Cooperation and Development Strategy, USAID is set to remain a strategic development partner of Moldova,’’ the head of the USAID Mission Moldova, Scott Hocklander, said.     

Moldova is the country with the biggest density of vineyards in the world, being included in the list of the first ten countries producing and exporting wines in the world. With a considerable result in over 60 countries, the Moldovan wine holds 2 per cent of the world wine export, being distributed on all groups of markets. Statistics show that each fourth person from the rural areas works in the vine growing and wine making sector – about 150,000 people in all.

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