Moldovan deputy PM says 49 per cent of exports Gagauz autonomy's companies go to EU

Chisinau, 1 October /MOLDPRES/ - Almost a half of the exports of the companies registered in the south Moldova Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia had the European Union’s market as destination in the first eight months of this year. On the other hand, the exports to Russia reached a quota of 2 per cent. Deputy Prime Minister, Economic Development and Digitalization Minister Dumitru Alaiba has unveiled figures to this effect.      
„Let us combat together one of the greatest myths from the southern region of the country.  Some surveys insinuate that up to 75 per cent of the residents of the Gagauzia region regard Russia as the principal economic partner of the region. A ( certainly, false) perception promoted both by pro-Russian politicians of the region and from Chisinau and the tireless pro-Kremlin propagandists. The reality is, however, quite different from what the people have been deceived to believe years in a row,’’ Dumitru Alaiba said.      
In these conditions, the deputy PM says that he asked for data from the Customs Service, which shows that, in the first eight months of 2024, the exports of the companies registered in the Gagauzia region had the following destinations: 49 per cent went to EU, 2 per cent – to Russia and 49 per vent to other countries. 
„In 2023 and 2022, the situation was almost the same. The difference is not ‘’big.’’ It is huge. The figures do not lie. In Moldova, Russia invests in propaganda, not in economy. In Moldova, Russia creates lies, not jobs, salaries and value added,’’ the deputy prime minister said.  
Statistics data shows that, while in 2009, 75 per cent of Moldova’s trade was oriented to Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States, at present, the situation is inverted – 70 per cent of Moldova’s commercial relations are with the countries of the European Union, EFTA, Great Britain and North America. The trade with Russia presently accounts for as little as about 3 per cent of the overall amount, according to official figures.