UNEP has led a meeting of Moldovan Ministers and Deputy Ministers of Environment, Economy and Agriculture as well as international and national stakeholders to raise awareness on the benefits to Moldova of a Green Economy.

The high-level national roundtable was held back-to-back with the opening of the country's largest exhibition for enterprises, ‘Made in Moldova,’ which featured organic agriculture as its main theme.

International organisations and business and civil society representatives also took part in the roundtable, held on 3 February in the country’s capital Chisinau.

In his opening statement, the Moldovan Minister of Environment Mr. Munteanu stressed that environment protection had to become an opportunity for businesses and not an obstacle.

Supporting this, the Minister of Agriculture Mr. Grama highlighted that organic agriculture was indeed an added-value process, which not only protected the environment but also increased the quality of products and farmers’ revenues. New subsidy schemes will in the meantime be developed to support organic agriculture in Moldova, he revealed.

During the event, more than 100 participants took part in constructive discussions among government, NGO and business representatives on the gaps and needs for the country's transition to a Green Economy.

Following presentations on the country's draft Green Economy roadmap and success stories on the topic from business representatives, the round table concluded with recommendations for Green Economy actions to be introduced into the country's draft Roadmap.

These included new regulations on organic agriculture subsidies, improved certification processes or the stimulation of the domestic organic market through the supply of schools and kindergartens with organic products.

The high-level round table was organised under the EU-funded ‘Greening Economies in the Eastern Neighbourhood’ project, which is jointly implemented by UNEP, OECD, UNIDO and UNECE.  

Through the project, UNEP provides support to the EU's Eastern Neighbourhood countries to develop national Green Economy and Sustainable Consumption and Production policy frameworks - including the Green Economy Roadmap in Moldova.

For more information on the event or UNEP’s work on Green Economy please write to nina.schneider@unep.org