Moldova begins upgrading rail infrastructure to help Ukraine export grain

MOSCOW. Aug 17 (Interfax) - Chisinau has begun cooperating actively with Kiev, Bucharest and institutional donors to modernize Moldova's rail infrastructure in order to help Ukraine boost its agricultural exports to Moldova, the European Union, the Middle East and Africa, Moldovan Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Nicu Popescu said.

"Ukraine, Moldova, EU countries, the Middle East and Africa should not be dependent on the Black Sea export route alone. We must ensure that strong, developing infrastructure exists, which over the next 10 to 20 years will support Ukraine's economic interests, especially when it comes to the food market," Popescu was quoted by Ukrainian media as saying at the Visualizing Ukraine's path to the EU forum held in Kiev on Thursday.

Moldova is aware of the importance of Ukraine's grain export, but its infrastructure is "not so well developed," Popescu said. Moldova's government and national rail operator are working closely with Ukrainian Railways to upgrade Moldova's railroad system, he said. The next 10-20 years will see efforts to improve railway infrastructure and tracks, he said.

"We need to expedite all these processes. Moldova is doing all it can to facilitate exports via the Danube. We have the port of Giurgiulesti, which processes many export-import operations. There is the floating bridge, built with Romania. We will be able to speed up the movement of goods through Moldova, and most of these goods are Ukrainian," Popescu said.