The Public Property Agency has granted the Cricova Wine Combine agricultural land with a total area of 672 hectares.
At the press conference, Roman Cojuhar, the Director of the Agency, said that this initiative is very important for the business and the wine sector: "There are over 20 thousand hectares of vacant lands with high potential in Moldova. The Agency has set itself the task of utilizing all assets to the fullest. We are actively working on land registration and utilization, to maximize management. One of the solutions we have found is to transfer them to strategic enterprises that will be able to use them as efficiently as possible." The Public Property Agency Director also highlighted the good results of the Cricova Wine Combine, whose turnover has increased by 20% in 2022 and is expected to double its profits this year. According to Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry Vladimir Bolea, the announced initiative represents an innovative approach to the management of state-owned assets, sound management and curbing attempts to steal land. "Winemaking is an ambassador of the country, contributing 3% of GDP. It requires quality raw materials to produce high quality. We need thousands, tens of thousands of hectares of quality vineyards. Gold medals are golden raw materials. We must support this formula for success. The Cricova winery is our wealth and a successful company. We will advocate for at least 100 hectares of the transferred land to be organic. Today we are already producing organic wines that are being highly praised. In 3 years we will have another 100 hectares of organic vineyards. Cricova has no problems with management, they are pioneers and innovators in many decisions," the Minister said. In turn, the Cricova Wine Combine Director Sorin Maslo noted that the company currently owns and uses vineyards with a total area of about 630 hectares out of the required 1,000 hectares, and the expansion of vineyards fits perfectly into the development program of the winery for 2022-2027. "In recent years, there has been an increasing demand from consumers both on the domestic market and abroad for wine products made from local varieties ("Feteasca Albă", "Feteasca Regale", "Viorica", "Rara Neagră"), while the areas occupied by these grape varieties in Moldova, including at our mill, are relatively small, and, as a consequence, the amount of raw materials needed is insufficient," Sorin Maslo noted. "Obtaining these lands for management will allow to partially solve the problem of raw material procurement, which will directly lead to an increase in production volumes, sales volumes and, accordingly, exports, including to new markets. Sustainable principles of vine cultivation will be applied on these areas after their reclamation. We will be able to plant little-known local varieties, such as "Floricica", which determine the profile of Moldovan wines both locally and internationally," the Cricova Winery Director said. It is also noted that the provided lands are located near the Cricova Combine and will allow creating a unique landscape ensemble for the formation and development of a unique attraction. //20.10.2023 - InfoMarket.
