Moldovan premier-designate meets farmers' associations

Chisinau, 30 December /MOLDPRES/ - Prime Minister-designate Ion Sturza and representatives of farmers' associations discussed the potential of developing Moldova's agriculture and measures to settle current problems in this sector at a meeting today. 

"The agriculture is a branch with a major impact on the country's economy, yet those acting in this field work in difficult conditions. Moldova needs to modernise the present infrastructure, so that specialists be prepared for the changes coming from abroad. We must maintain good relations with the foreign partners and set a roadmap of all necessary actions for modernising this sector," Ion Sturza said.

The head of the Union of Agricultural Producers' Associations, Alexandru Slusari, said the agricultural sector needed a new development strategy.

"The agriculture branch presently faces major problems. The governance is irresponsible for the agricultural sector, everything boils down to statements, and less and less things are done for farmers. We believe that it is necessary to analyse the experience of the neighbour countries. Today, we will present concrete measures for the government's action programme, which we hope will be enforced in the near future," Slusari said.  

Also today, the prime minister-designate had a meeting with representatives of the Local Authorities' Congress. The sides discussed the administrative and territorial structure of Moldova and ways the reforms are implemented in this sector.  

So far, Ion Sturza has had meetings with representatives of the Liberal Democratic Party, Liberal Party, European People's Party of Moldova, Parliament Speaker Andrian Candu, Chisinau mayor Dorin Chirtoaca, Balti mayor Renato Usatii, management of the Balti-based Free Economic Zone, representatives of the National Employers' Confederation, civil society, rectors of universities and representatives of the Education and Science Trade Unions Federation. 

The Democratic Party and Party of Socialists refused to discuss with the candidate put forward for the office of prime minister. 

The prime minister-designate is to present the government's action programme and list of the new cabinet of ministers in parliament on 4 January. 

(Reporter A. Plitoc, editor M. Jantovan)