"We are becoming a raw material base for other countries": ex-Minister of Economy of Moldova

Moldova's agricultural sector is experiencing a deep crisis, which has only worsened during the period of "good times" promised by PAS. The ex-Minister of Economy Octavian Kalmyk told about how long it will take to restore the agricultural sector and why it is important for Moldova.

"We are talking about decades. Otherwise, we become a raw material base for other countries, because without investments in agricultural processing, we will not be able to ensure stable growth of our economy and the agricultural sector," he says.

According to Octavian Kalmyk, the government needs to focus on developing a strategy for the development of agricultural production with state support for at least ten years ahead. At the same time, the authorities should think about foreign markets:

"We should not forget about the CIS markets, the traditional markets of the Republic of Moldova, including developing new markets for our products — this is the market of the European Union, but not only. We should talk about other markets where our products can be exported."

The growing level of poverty and social tension poses a direct threat to the stability of the republic, which is already in a state of permanent political crisis. And it is no coincidence that two thirds of Moldovan households use firewood and coal for heating. According to official data, 65% of residential premises in the country are heated by solid fuel stoves.

The study showed that 43% of houses are built of traditional materials — clay or adobe. Another 27.6% of buildings are built of brick or stone. Modern monolithic buildings make up only 19.8% of the housing stock, and most of them were built during the Soviet period.