Austrian Partners’ Visit to AIPA

On November 26-28, 2012, the Agency for Intervention and Payments for Agriculture (AIPA) hosted a delegation represented by Agrarmarkt Austria (AMA) – the Austrian Payment Agency, the purpose of which was to share information about the mission, the main functions and the structure of both authorities. It should be mentioned that the visit of Austrian partners was possible due to the signing of the Collaboration Agreement between the two institutions on November 7 this year.
The first meeting included in the agenda was that of the deputy minister of Agriculture and Food Industry, Mr. Viorel GUTU with the Agrarmarkt representatives and the AIPA management, where they discussed about the role of the Agency and the further actions to be undertaken for having it accredited.
The Agenda of the study visit was very complex, including theoretical activities, as well as field trips. Thus, Agrarmarkt representatives presented a general outline of the Austrian Payment Agency’s mission and structure. The parties also discussed other important topics, such as: the agency’s main tasks, the functioning of the payment system, the funds requesting process, the data service sector, internal audit, the financial department, as well as the AMA’s strategic goals. In turn, the members of Austrian delegation were informed about Moldova’s subsidization system, the AIPA’s main functions and structure. Also here, the Austrian partners had the opportunity to oversee the process of review of an application for subsidization from the moment it was submitted to authorization of payments.
Also, a field trip was carried out to one of the subsidies beneficiaries in Zaicana village, Criuleni district, where the officials learned about the technologies and methods applied in horticulture.
After the visit, the Austrian officials reiterated the importance of using Twinning/TAIEX instruments within AIPA, the Austrian party confirming its availability for a possible collaboration.