Learn about barriers to market entry and local requirements, i.e., things to be aware of when entering the market for this country.
Last Published: 11/29/2017

Although the government declared its commitment to reform, pervasive corruption remains an obstacle for investment and business development in Moldova.  Vested political and economic interests coupled with the prevalence of informal relationships, weak governance, particularly in the financial sector, and a corruption-prone court system have been stalling progress.

Moldova is struggling with the legacy of a large bureaucracy, which enjoys significant discretionary power. Corruption and bureaucracy stifle entrepreneurship and the demand for economic reform that would come from a vibrant private sector.  The government has taken steps to introduce laws and regulations in harmony with EU legislation, but more remains to be done to make the local legislation and practices fully compliant with EU standards.  Businesses still face cumbersome licensing procedures and excessive authorization requirements.

A persistent challenge over the years has been an aging population and dwindling labor force.

While intellectual property rights (IPR) legislation is quite advanced, IPR enforcement remains weak.

The large inflow of remittances has led to consumption-based growth, which exposes the economy to risks during regional downturns.  Dependence on Russian energy imports and an economy that is still inefficient in energy use are challenges.  Weather-related events such as drought and flooding pose a constant risk to the agricultural sector.

Another challenge is Moldova’s relatively small market size.

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