ECO-BUS WEEKLY DIGEST August 24 -August 31. Most important Economy & Business news by IPN

● MONDAY, August 24

Bill in support of farmers is coordinated with IMF

The bill to amend the legislation so as to support the farmers was remitted to the International Monetary Fund. This is to be approved by the Government on September 2 and will be later submitted to Parliament for adoption, Prime Minister Ion Chicu stated after the meeting of senior state officials. The package of legislative amendments allows for the refunding of the accumulated VAT for subsidizing fiscal payments related to salaries and the land tax. The procedure for obtaining assistance by farmers was simplified. A moratorium on fiscal inspections at business entities operating in agriculture will be instituted for the period until December 31, 2020. Also, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry will issue the farmers with force majeure certificates, but these could not be used in any situation.

Conditions for providing electoral advertising space to be made public by August 3

The providers of media services are obliged to publish the conditions for providing advertising space in the electoral period until August 30 inclusive. The providers of media services are obliged to make the conditions public during five days of the start of the electoral period, including the price per minute and details about other related services. The information is to be communicated also to the Central Election Commission, which will post it on its official website, in the division “Presidential Elections 01.11.2020”.

● TUESDAY, August 25

Igor Dodon: Moldovagaz will initiate reduction of natural gas tariffs

SA “Moldovagaz” will initiate the reduction of natural gas tariffs for end-users starting with this September, said President Igor Dodon, who had a meeting with the president of the Administration Board of Moldovagaz Vadim Ceban. “We considered the problems related to the supply of gas and, in general, Moldova’s energy security. We also discussed the initiation of negotiations with “Gazprom” concerning the signing of a three-year-contract for the supply of gas to our country. There are preconditions for reducing the natural gas tariffs for consumers in the fourth quarter of 2020,” President Dodon posted on Facebook.


Losses of winegrowing sector represent 25-30% of projected harvest, minister

The losses of the winegrowing sector constitute 25-30% of the anticipated harvest, said Minister of Agriculture, Regional Development and Environment Ion Perju, noting that this sector has been affected by two crisis this year – the pandemic crisis and the drought. “The major objective at present is to gather the harvest and to fully purchase the grape crop in optimal timeframes. We are taking measures to alleviate the consequences of the drought,” Ion Perju stated in the sixth national winemaking and winegrowing conference.

● FRIDAY, August 28

EBRD acquires stake in gas transmission company Vestmoldtransgaz

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is strengthening Moldova’s energy security with the acquisition of a 25 per cent stake in Vestmoldtransgaz, the gas transmission company that is operating the newly built Ungheni-Chisinau gas pipeline, the EBRD says in a press release. EBRD Vice President Alain Pilloux said this connection will enhance Moldova’s energy security by diversifying its gas supply sources, a prerequisite for the country’s successful development.