Agriculture is the cornerstone of the Moldova's economy. After 1990, the country carried out one of the most ambitious agricultural reform programmes among the countries of the former Soviet Union. However, it could not avoid a crisis in this sector. As a result, the sector was starved of resources and productivity plunged. Despite all the efforts made in the reform of this sector, the chronic lack of long term investments persisted, and was especially visible in the necessity to replant in a short period of time the fruit and vegetable farms of the area. Foreign investments also play an important role in the process of national economic reforms promoted by the state authorities and so their absence hindered many positive efforts.

The project aimed to achieve a set of objectives through the implementation of three main events. The first project activity aimed to facilitate contacts between Italian and Moldavian agricultural operators through the realisation of an Italian stand and participation of Italian agro-firms in a MOLDAGROTECH fair in Moldova. This event was coupled with a dedicated conference/ workshop for the Moldavian stakeholders. Secondly, the project allowed a group of Moldavian beneficiaries to pay a visit to Italy. Twelve agricultural operators, one researcher and two government representatives took part in a one-week study tour to agricultural sites in Verona and Faenza. Lastly, the project attended to the drafting of a Handbook containing guidelines related to the start up and functioning of Centres for Marketing and Services in agriculture.

The project allowed to present Italian know-how and to acquaint Moldavian agro-operators with modern technologies, in particular in the area of fruit and vegetable processing. It also created a platform for developing partnership and business agreements between Italian and Moldavian agro-firms. The latter one turned out difficult due to limited liquidity and investment capacities of Moldavian companies. Eventually, the project opened a discussion with the Moldavian Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry on the possibility of establishing of a Service and Marketing Centre for agriculture.