IFC Helps Improve Food Safety in Moldova to Boost Exports and Agribusiness

IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is launching a new initiative to help Moldovan food producers enhance their food safety management practices, develop the country’s food processing industry, and open doors to new export markets.

On Friday IFC brought together over 50 policy makers, industry experts, food producers and retailers to a workshop in Chisinau, the first educational event on modern food safety management systems in the country. The workshop emphasized the importance of good food safety regulations, presented current and emerging trends on food safety, and discussed the issue of third party certification for producers.

“Agriculture is a key sector for the Moldovan economy. Food-processing accounts for about two-thirds of our exports,” said Sergiu Ghetiu, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry. “We want to increase exports and open new markets for our producers. We hope that with IFC’s help we shall learn from the experiences of our local neighbors and colleagues around the world.”

IFC Advisory Services have supported the Moldovan government in streamlining the business regulations for the agribusiness since 2011. The advisory teams will now also work at an individual company level, offering in-depth analysis on how to improve food safety management systems, and will support educational events to raise awareness on the issue.

“We are expanding our advisory work on food safety in Moldova,” said Sarah Ockman, head of IFC’s Agribusiness Standards Advisory Program in Europe and Central Asia. “We will work with individual food producers and retailers to help them reduce costs and drive sales. That work builds on our experience in other countries in the region where we helped small local players to grow and create new opportunities.”

Moldova is aspiring to open its agribusiness sector to European Union markets. Over the past several years the World Bank Group’s Investment Climate team has supported the government in reforming and simplifying the food safety legal and institutional framework. IFC also helps client companies to implement HACCP, an internationally recognized food safety management system, and works with governments and industry experts to build local capacity through training programs and workshops.

IFC’s advisory work on improving food safety practices, reforming regulations, and improving the business environment in the agribusiness sector is supported by Austria, the Netherlands and Sweden.

IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is the largest global development institution focused exclusively on the private sector. Working with private enterprises in more than 100 countries, we use our capital, expertise, and influence to help eliminate extreme poverty and promote shared prosperity. In FY13, our investments climbed to an all-time high of nearly $25 billion, leveraging the power of the private sector to create jobs and tackle the world’s most pressing development challenges. For more information, visit www.ifc.org. click