President Maia Sandu today welcomed Markus Söder, Minister-President of the German state of Bavaria, at the State Residence during his first official visit to the Republic of Moldova. Bavaria is Germany’s largest federal state by area and one of Europe’s strongest industrial economies, TRIBUNA reports.

The talks focused on Moldova’s European integration, Germany’s support for the country’s security and resilience, and the development of economic ties between Moldova and Bavaria.

During the visit, the two sides agreed to establish an Intergovernmental Commission for Economic Cooperation between the Republic of Moldova and Bavaria, creating a permanent framework for bilateral economic relations.

“Today we also discussed how we can turn the already strong relationship between the Republic of Moldova and Bavaria into more investments, jobs, and business opportunities,” President Maia Sandu said.

The President noted that the decision is based on solid economic foundations: more than half of Moldova’s exports to Germany are destined for Bavaria. In 2025, exports to the state increased by more than 50% compared to the previous year, reaching approximately €73 million.

“We want more Moldovan companies to become part of Bavarian value chains and more Bavarian companies to discover the advantages of investing and producing in the Republic of Moldova,” the President said, inviting Bavaria’s business community to explore investment opportunities and engage with Moldovan entrepreneurs.

President Sandu also thanked Germany for its strong support in strengthening Moldova’s security and defense capabilities, modernizing the economy, overcoming the energy crisis, and firmly backing the country’s European path.

“We continue to count on the support of our partners in Berlin and Munich to ensure that this process advances at a steady pace,” she said.