Türkiye and Moldova have reached an agreement to expand their existing Free Trade Agreement (FTA) to deepen economic cooperation and further boost bilateral trade. The decision follows high-level discussions held in Ankara, where Turkish Trade Minister Omer Bolat hosted a Moldovan delegation led by Defence Minister Anatolie Nosatii and Deputy Prime Minister Eugen Osmochescu. The talks, which also covered investment and defence industry cooperation, coincided with the inaugural Türkiye-Moldova Defence Industry Cooperation Conference.
The move to broaden the scope of the 2016 agreement comes as bilateral trade between the two nations surpassed $1 billion in 2025, signaling a robust economic trajectory. Both delegations emphasized the importance of cross-border investments as a primary pillar of their relationship. Currently, Turkish companies have invested $53 million in Moldova across 1,154 entities, while Moldovan investors have committed $2 million to Türkiye through 278 companies. Officials from both nations agreed to leverage their respective investment incentive programs to encourage further mutual capital flow.
Infrastructure and international contracting also remained central to the negotiations. Deputy Prime Minister Osmochescu encouraged Turkish contractors to continue their expansion into Moldova’s housing, retail, and infrastructure sectors. To date, Turkish construction firms have successfully completed 55 projects in Moldova, representing a total value of $756 million. Furthermore, the officials discussed plans to improve customs cooperation and increase the frequency of commercial flights to better facilitate business travel, tourism, and trade. The ministry noted that upcoming joint defence industry projects are expected to provide both economic and security benefits for the broader region. Looking ahead, Moldova is set to host the 11th session of the Türkiye-Moldova Joint Economic Commission.
