Prime Minister Vasile Tofan has paid a working visit to Fălești and Ungheni, where he toured three companies operating in the garment manufacturing, automotive components and construction materials sectors. Discussions with business representatives focused on expanding production, addressing labour shortages and reducing administrative burdens, TRIBUNA reports.

“Moldovan industry can compete in Europe through quality. I saw this today in factories producing for Fiat, Mercedes, the Audi-Volkswagen Group and European fashion brands. When a garment sewn in Fălești ends up in a store in Milan, and a wiring harness manufactured in Albinețul Vechi becomes part of a European car, we see what Moldova is capable of,” Prime Minister Vasile Tofan stated.

Idea Moda: Quality and expansion despite labour shortages

Idea Moda, an Italian investment employing 260 people, produces more than 70% of the German brand MEYER’s trousers sold worldwide.

The company’s founder, Dario Fasson, noted that Moldova cannot compete with Asia or the Maghreb countries in terms of price and production volume, but can distinguish itself through quality.

The company is expanding production to serve new clients, including Moncler, and has welcomed recent fiscal measures designed to encourage employment and investment, including a zero tax on reinvested profits.

However, finding additional employees remains the company’s main challenge.

Kab-lem: High production standards and bureaucratic obstacles

The second company visited was Kab-lem, which manufactures wiring harnesses for Fiat, Peugeot, Chrysler, BMW and Audi. The company operates in a highly competitive market, including competition with Tunisia, where wages are reportedly half those in Moldova.

Of the six million wiring harnesses produced last year, the company recorded just one complaint, highlighting its emphasis on quality control.

However, company representatives pointed to bureaucratic requirements that complicate operations. Under current regulations, each employee must submit an individual application to work on Saturdays.

“Quality, discipline and local engineering are outstanding. Bureaucracy, on the other hand, remains a problem. Of our four human resources employees, three deal with reporting and paperwork. There is room for simplification here,” the prime minister said.

Aedificator: Investment in more durable roads

In Ungheni, the prime minister visited Aedificator, a local company operating a modern asphalt plant with a production capacity of 160 tonnes per hour.

The company also operates a concrete plant whose capacity is expected to increase fourfold, reaching 120 cubic metres per hour.

Aedificator is preparing investments in technologies that will enable it to produce asphalt better able to withstand freeze-thaw cycles and high summer temperatures. These improvements are expected to support the construction of more durable roads and reduce maintenance costs.

Moldova’s industrial sector grows by 7.7%

According to data presented during the visit, Moldova’s industrial sector has grown by 7.7% this year. The prime minister described the result as positive given the challenging international economic environment, while emphasising the need to accelerate the pace of development.

“At all three companies, I met skilled people and entrepreneurs who want to invest. They need a well-trained workforce, favourable investment conditions and less bureaucracy. This is where we must do our job. That is what we are working for: ensuring that more and more good things are produced here, at home,” the prime minister concluded.