President opened 46th Congress of International Organisation of Vine and Wine

President of the Republic of Moldova Maia Sandu officially opened the 46th Congress of the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV), held on June 16-20 in Chișinău, with the participation of over 300 experts, producers, researchers and officials from 50 countries.

In her speech, the head of state spoke about the significant role that vine and wine play in the history, economy, and identity of Moldovans: “In Moldova, wine is not just an agricultural product; vine and wine tell our centuries-old story. The vine carries the history of our traditions, our kinship ties, and a quiet yet firm resistance.”

The head of state also referred to the transformation of the Moldovan wine sector over the past two decades, the revival of local grape varieties, and the wine sector's contribution to the development of tourism.

“The fact that this year Moldova is hosting the World Congress of Vine and Wine is a recognition of the path taken by our small and large producers, of the tradition carefully preserved, and of the innovation courageously adopted. It is also a sign of respect for a sector that has withstood empires, prohibitions, embargoes, and crises, becoming stronger each time,” said Maia Sandu.

The Congress is held under the auspices of the International Organisation of Vine and Wine focused on shaping the future of wine: embracing resilience, increasing value, encouraging innovation. Participants will discuss sustainability, new consumption trends, technological innovation, and global challenges in the sector.

The event is also an opportunity to promote the Republic of Moldova, a wine-growing country with the largest vineyard area per capita in the world – about four hectares per 100 people. Over 80% of locally produced wines are exported, mainly to Romania, Poland, Germany, the Baltic States, Nordic countries, China and South Korea. The wine sector generates about 3% of the national GDP.

 

OIV is an intergovernmental organization headquartered in Paris, bringing together 51 member states and coordinating the scientific, technical and economic activities in the wine sector worldwide. The Republic of Moldova has been a member of OIV since 1992.