● MONDAY, October 3
Moldovan-Belarusian commission meets in Chisinau
The 17th meeting of the joint intergovernmental commission for commercial-economic cooperation between Moldova and Belarus will take place in Chisinau on October 3. Prime Minister Pavel Filip welcomed this event in a meeting with his Belarusian counterpart Andrei Kobyakov, who came to Moldova on an official visit. Pavel Filip said this is a good platform for dialogue for identifying optimal solutions to joint problems and for adopting mutually advantageous decisions. He noted the constructive and open dialogue between Moldova and Belarus, expressing his conviction that there is great potential for developing the bilateral relations.
Businessmen expected at Moldova Business Week 2016
Moldova Business Week 2016, which will take place in Chinua and other towns on October 4 -7, aims to become a platform for promoting the country’s image abroad and for identifying new possibilities of attracting investment to the national economy. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Octavian Calmac told a news conference that the Government’s partners in organizing this event include the Chamber of Trade and Industry, which will stage a day dedicated to the business sector, with recommendations concerning brokerage and customs administration, the Moldova Business People’s Organization, and the Economy Ministry’s subdivisions – Moldova Investment Attraction and Export Promotion Organization and the Organization for the Development of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises. The latter will launch a new project called “Women in Business” that is financed by the EU.
Moldova and Belarus diversify economic cooperation
New relations of cooperation are planned to be established at the Moldovan-Belarusian business forum that is taking place today, October 3, in Chisinau. The event involves over 70 representatives of Moldovan small businesses and more than 35 Belarusian companies. Prime Minister Pavel Filip, who took part in the opening of the event, said the bilateral economic relations develop dynamically. All the economic cooperation initiatives will be supported by using all the available platforms. “The Republic of Moldova is interested in implementing new projects with prospects and in supporting the existing ones such as the joint assembly of tractors, trolleybuses and buses,” he stated.
Andrei Kobyakov: Belarus remains important consumer of Moldovan food products
Belarus remains an important consumer of Moldovan food and wine products, Prime Minister Andrei Kobyakov stated in a press briefing held in concert with Pavel Filip. “This year bilateral trade rose by 10% to US$150 million. The major goal of the current negotiations was to really intensify the bilateral commercial-economic relations and there are solid preconditions to ensure this,” stated the Belarusian official. According to him, Moldova and Belarus aim both to step up the bilateral actions and this is the most important thing. This means that maximum effort will be made to intensify cooperation at all the levels.
Belarus to supply 20 trolleybuses to Chisinau in 2017
Twenty trolleybuses will be supplied from Belarus to Moldova in the course of 2017. The Chisinau Electric Transport Company exchanged contracts with the company “Belkommunmash” in the presence of Prime Ministers Pavel Filip and Andrei Kobyakov. Chisinau Electric Transport Company director Gheorghe Morgoci said Moldova will pay 60-70 million lei for the 20 trolleybuses, depending on the exchange rate. The sides also signed an agreement for the assembly of trolleybuses that are independent from electric power lines.
National Wine Day festivities attracted over 100,000 people
The National Wine Day festivities brought together more than 100,000 people in the Great National Assembly Square of Chisinau on October 1 and 2. Another 12,000 people visited the eight wineries included in the Wine Road. About 115,000 bottles of wine were consumed during the two days, with 22 new products being launched. The preliminary data were presented by the director of the National Office of Vine and Wine Gheorghe Arpentin in a news conference. Gheorghe Arpentin said the first conclusions show that the holiday was a success. There are positive comments about the organization of the event, including on the part of foreign tourists. The Wine School that taught consumers how to drink rationally was also popular.
● TUESDAY, October 4
Order about actions of inspection bodies following moratorium expiration
The inspection bodies between October 3 and November 3 will plan state inspections based on risk factors, without going to the scene. Deputy Prime Minister Octavian Calmac, Minister of Economy, signed an order to this effect. In a press release, the Ministry of Economy says the order provides that the administrative authorities managed by the Ministry that were empowered with inspection duties will adopt decisions about state inspections at the scene only if they possess truthful and substantiated information about the existence of an imminent danger to the population’s life and health, to the economic security of the state, if the given situations cannot be remedied outside an on-the-spot inspection. The inspection will be carried out only after the Ministry is notified beforehand.
Gasoline and diesel fuel prices modified again
The National Agency for Energy Regulation set the price ceilings for gasoline and diesel fuel for the next two weeks. From October 5, the price ceiling per liter of gasoline will be lower, while that per liter of diesel fuel will be slightly higher. A liter of gasoline coded 95 will be sold for at most 16.24 lei, down 0.01 lei compared with the ceiling for the previous two weeks. Diesel fuel will cost 14.03 lei a liter at most, as opposed to 13.82 lei until now.
“Expert-Grup” reacts to assumption of responsibility for seven laws by Government
The Independent Analytical Center “Expert Grup” made public its position on the conversion of the emergency loans provided by the National Bank to three commercial banks in 2014-2015 into state debt. The experts underline a number of problems associated with the nature and way in which this decision was taken and the lack of transparency in the decision-making process or the nondemocratic character of the given decision. In a report, “Expert-Grup” says the decision was taken amid the modest progress made in alleviating the consequences of the banking fraud, while the conversion of the guarantees issued by the Government into state bonds implies also an increased moral hazard. The effective interest rate of 5% on the issued bonds for a period of 25 years does not have economic justification and is ultimately an evident act of social injustice. According to the experts, the banking fraud is the result of the shortcomings in the corporate governance of some of the banks, the dysfunctions in state institutions, including those responsible for ensuring financial stability and of ill-intentioned decision-makers of state institutions and banks.
Pavel Filip: Moldova Business Week places Moldova on map of international investors
“Moldova Business Week places Moldova on the map of international investors and shows that we want serious businesses and transparent investment, not arrangements made from behind. It is the week when we speak loudly about the advantages and accomplishments of our economy, but will also be ready to answer for the shortcomings and failures at the level of policies and implementation,“ Prime Minister Pavel Filip stated in the launch of the 2016 Moldova Business Week. Pavel Filip said the reforms needed to ensure an attractive business climate must start from the quality of the public policies, which influence the business environment and the management of these policies. ”I will make effort for this idea to be accredited at all the public maturities – the economic entity is the primary source of the people’s welfare. That’s why the economic entity must be treated with the greatest care,” stated the Premier.
Economic recovery is yet far, study
The economic recovery after the declines witnessed last year will not take place as smoothly as it was hoped, experts of the Institute for Development and Social Initiative “Viitorul” say in a study presented on October 4. “Viitorul” programs director Viorel Chivriga said this is due to the negative events that happened in 2014-2015, especially in the financial banking sector that had an impact practically on all the spheres. The limited access of the Moldovan products to foreign markets, mainly owing to the low demand on the CIS market, is another problem. Also, the opportunities provided by the DCFTA to Moldova are insufficiently used. Industrial production declined even in the sectors where progress has been made in the last few years, like the electrical harnesses industry. In agriculture, many products are noncompetitive and not only on foreign markets. The rise in stores is a problem that became more evident in time and this is influenced by the situation in Ukraine.
● WEDNESDAY, October 5
Octavian Armasu: We spared people from big problems
Minister of Finance Octavian Armasu said that by assuming responsibility for the repayment of the debt to the National Bank of Moldova, the Government spared the population from a lot of big problems. He made such a statement in the program “Moldova live” on the public TV channel Moldova 1. “We assumed responsibility. This was a precondition imposed by the IMF. Otherwise, we cannot unlock external financing. By unlocking external financing, we spared the people from much bigger problems. Or else we wouldn’t be able to pay salaries, pensions, agricultural subsidies, etc. This would be a too serious blow,” stated the minister.
Wizz Air launches new flights from Chisinau International Airport
The low-cost airline Wizz Air is launching new flights from the Chisinau International Airport, to Berlin and Barcelona, which will be operated two times a week, with prices of minimum €30 for one way, IPN reports, quoting the company’s commercial director George Michalopoulos, who made the announcement in a news conference. The tickets are already on sale and can be purchased online from the website of Wizz Air. George Michalopoulos said that Wizz Air will now operate seven flights from Moldova to four countries. In 2017, the number of tickets on sale will rise to 315,000, an increase of 41% a year.
● THURSDAY, October 6
Romania to finance technical project for Ungheni-Chisinau gas pipeline
The Government of Romania will offer Moldova €550,000 worth of grant for designing the detailed technical project for the construction of the Ungheni-Chisinau gas pipeline. Under a memorandum approved by the Romanian Government on October 5, the money will be allocated based on an agreement signed by the Governments of Romania and Moldova in 2010, concerning the implementation of a technical and financial assistance project with non-reimbursable financial assistance of €100 million. The money will be disbursed when the 2016 cooperation program between the Governments of the two states is updated, based on the agreement signed in Bucharest in April 2010, by including the elaboration of the detailed technical project for the construction of the Ungheni-Chisinau gas pipeline.
Best entrepreneur in SME sector to be chosen based on new criteria
The best entrepreneur of the year in the SME sector will be selected based on new criteria. The Cabinet approved changes and supplements to its decision of 2005 concerning the holding of the contest. Alongside the best entrepreneur in the production sphere and service sector, there will also be chosen the best implementer of the green economy model, the best entrepreneur in the business consultancy sphere and the best entrepreneur in the rural tourism sector.
Program to support women in business
More than 400 women from Moldova, especially from rural areas, who want to start or develop a business will be able to access grants and to benefit from entrepreneurial assistance within the program “Women in Business” that was launched by the Organization for the Development of Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (ODIMM) on October 6. ODIMM director general Iulia Iabanji said the women who start or develop businesses in all the sectors of the economy can apply to the program. Priority will be given to innovative businesses, with export potential, non-agricultural businesses from rural areas, creative industry, agritourism and handicrafts, and to enterprises operating in the production and ICT sectors, which provide services to large companies.
Russia bans import of pork from Moldova
Russia banned the import of pork and pork products from Moldova. Russia’s Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary and Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor) announced that the decision was taken following the detection of the swine fever virus in Moldova and due to the lack of information about the measures taken by the Moldovan side to localize the hotbeds. On its official website, Rosselkhoznadzor says the restrictions, which are temporary, refer also to the transit via the Russian Federation. The import of pigs that transited Moldova’s territory is also banned.
Eduard Grama suggests creating office of Rosselkhoznadzor in Chisinau
Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry Eduard Grama proposed opening a representative office of Russia’s Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary and Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor) in Chisinau. The minister had a meeting with his Russian counterpart Alexander Tkachev in Moscow within a working visit to Russia on October 3-7. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry, the representative office in Chisinau will facilitate the commercial relations between the two states and will simplify the logistics procedures for Moldovan producers. The presence of Russian experts in Chisinau will also guarantee the quality of the Moldovan products exported to Russia.
● FRIDAY, October 7
Economic distancing between sides of the Nistru continues, study
The process of economic distancing between the economies from the two sides of the Nistru River continues for the fourth consecutive term. The rapprochement level in the second quarter of 2016 was 97%, while in the third quarter this decreased to 94%, shows a study carried out by the independent think tank “Expert-Grup”. According to experts, the involution was caused by a more profound deterioration in the economic situation in the Transnistrian region compared with that on the right side of the Nistru. The study shows that after a difficult economic year in 2015, the economic situation in Transnistria continues to worsen in 2016. The volume of industrial production, which directly influences the dynamics of the Gross Domestic Product, in January-August fell by 2.3% compared with the same period last year. Experts say the reduction is mainly associated with the contraction of export activities amid the reduced competitiveness of Transnistrian exporters owing to the depreciation of the foreign currencies of the region’s trading partners and artificial maintaining of the exchange rate of the Transnistrian ruble.
Pork from right side of the Nistru banned in Transnistrian region
The Transnistrian administration banned the import of pork from the right side of the Nistru River into Transnistria following the detection of swine fever in two villages of Donduseni district. A similar restriction was announced by Russia one day earlier. According to the local press, the ban applies also to private individuals, who cannot import pork at least for personal consumption.
● SATURDAY, September 8
Romania bans import of pork from Moldova
After Russia, Romania also banned the import of pork and pork products from Moldova. The announcement was made by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development of Romania Achim Irimescu. According to the official, the Romanian authorities took such a measure after cases of African swine fever, for which there is no vaccine, were confirmed in Moldova and Ukraine. The ban on imports, including by small traffic, is a mandatory measure, but it does not fully prevent danger. “The virus can enter by two ways: transported by people in food that contains infected pork and by wild boars. Regretfully, the wild boars pose about 70% of the risk,” stated Achim Irimescu.
Incomes collected into national public budget on the rise
Incomes of 2.4 billion lei were collected into the national public budget this September, an increase of 239 million lei compared with last September. Consequently, the income collection plan was 101.9% fulfilled. According to the State Tax Service, 1.1 billion lei was collected into the state budget, 236 million lei into the local budgets, 812 million lei into the state social insurance budget, while 253 million lei into the mandatory health insurance funds.
Drivers providing taxi services could be obliged to have taximeters
The drivers who provide taxi services and transport passengers on a distance shorter than 300 km should be obliged to have taximeters so as to check if they indeed cover the legally allowed distance and do not commit irregularities. The proposal was submitted in a meeting of the joint working group on the combating of illegal passenger and freight transportation over Moldova’s borders. In a press release, the Ministry of Transport and Road Infrastructure says the meeting also discussed the situation of drivers with motor vehicles with up to nine seats who take passengers and parcels from Moldova abroad. Most of these drivers provide services without having certificates of compliance and this endangers the lives of passengers. Also, these do not pay taxes into the state budget.
