The first container with Moldovan apples from the 2022 harvest has arrived in India and another four ones will reach the destination in the end of this month, due to the joint efforts of the cabinet, exporters of fruits and development partners. The container crossed more than 7,500 km by sea and reached the destination in 40 days.

The export of five containers with apples to India was backed through efforts of the economic diplomacy of the Foreign Affairs and European Integration Ministry (MAEIE), joined with the ones of the National Food Safety Agency (ANSA), which provided needed assistance for the meeting of the phyto-sanitary requirements existing in India.   

"The facilitation of the Moldovan exporters’ access to new sales markets is one of the strategic priorities of Moldova’s government, especially following the disturbance of the logistic chains and closing of markets regarded as traditional. The opening of new markets for Moldovan apples is a success of the coordinated efforts between the public and private sectors,’’ Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilita said.    

The delivery of those 100 tons of apples is part of the government’s efforts to include Moldova into the Order on plants’ quarantine from India, which represents the list of countries authorized for the export of apples.     

"We are set to have a long-term cooperation with India, which is a huge market and the export of apples is a first step. India annually imports over 430,000 tons of apples and we are happy with the demand of quality products from Moldova. We appreciate the very good cooperation with the Indian authorities in this respect,’’ Foreign Affairs and European Integration Minister Nicu Popescu said.  

The first exports to India were made by two agricultural producers, members of the Moldova-Fruct Association.  

More events dedicated to the promotion of exports to India take place in Mumbay and Chennai on these days, with the participation of a delegation from Moldova, made up of representatives of MAEIE, private environment and development partners.

While in 2020, Moldovan apples were exported to 11 countries, this year, they reached 30 destinations. Earlier, the great majority of the exports of apples have been focused on a single market; instead, at present, the export to far away markets by sea has become a frequent practice. This diversification implies higher standards of quality, a more complicated logistics and the knowledge of the specific feature of the new markets.     

In 2022, the government created better conditions for the Moldovan agricultural exports on the European Union’s market as well, establishing the Green Corridor for the export of perishable products, by signing the agreement on facilitation of the road transport of goods and getting the doubling of quotas exempted from customs duties for apples, sweet cherries, plums, tomatoes, garlic, tables grapes and grapes juice.