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A meeting of the Joint Commission on Transportation was held in Chisinau, where representatives of the Ministry of Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Regional Development of the Republic of Moldova decided to extend the agreement on liberalization of road freight transportation between the two countries until the end of 2027, which was the result of lengthy negotiations, analysis of the effectiveness of existing mechanisms and mutual understanding of the need to create stable conditions for carriers that allow planning logistics without unnecessary administrative barriers and financial costs for obtaining special permits. This so-called "visa-free transport" was initially introduced as a temporary measure, but practice has shown that it not only simplifies the movement of freight transport between the states, but also directly affects the growth of mutual trade, and contributes to the development of transit routes linking Ukraine with the markets of the European Union and other neighboring countries.
The essence of the extension of the agreement is that Ukrainian and Moldovan carriers will still be able to carry out bilateral and transit transportation by road without the need to obtain special permits, which in practice means a reduction in the time required to pass border procedures, a reduction in the cost of accompanying documents and the absence of the need to divert resources to formalities that often do not affect the safety or quality of transportation. For business, this is especially important in the context of an unstable economic situation and changes in logistics chains, because every time saved at the border directly affects delivery times, and therefore the competitiveness of the goods. Small and medium-sized companies get a real opportunity to expand the geography of supplies, enter new markets and plan flights without the risk of sudden delays, which in turn stimulates domestic production and export activity.
According to the Deputy Prime Minister for Reconstruction and Minister for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine Oleksiy Kuleba, last year the trade turnover between the two countries increased by twelve percent and reached approximately 1.1 billion dollars, and a significant role in this positive dynamics was played by the liberalization of road transport, allowing the delivery of goods without restrictions, which is especially valuable for companies working with products that require fast delivery. In this context, Moldova is considered not only as a trading partner, but also as an important transit corridor through which Ukrainian companies can provide access to the markets of Romania, Bulgaria, Greece and other countries, where goods are delivered in a short time due to the absence of additional bureaucratic procedures.
The extension of the agreement for two years ahead is not just a formality, but a strategic step that creates long-term guarantees for transport companies, investors and the entire logistics sector. Stable rules of the game stimulate investments in the development of vehicle fleets, construction of logistics centers, modernization of warehouse terminals, and also contribute to the introduction of digital services for registration of transportation and exchange of documents. Joint work of Ukraine and Moldova in this direction makes it possible to improve the infrastructure of border crossings, increase their throughput and reduce the burden on drivers, which ultimately affects the environment, since reducing downtime and reducing idling of vehicles leads to a decrease in emissions into the atmosphere. Thus, the extension of the "visa-free transport" is becoming an important element of sustainable economic cooperation, which brings tangible benefits to both businesses and states as a whole.