● MONDAY, July 01
Gross external debt 1.4% down in first quarter
During the first quarter of this year, the gross external debt of the Republic of Moldova decreased by 1.4% due to the decline in both public and private debts. The ratio to the Gross Domestic Product decreased by 2.4 percentage points compared to December 31, 2023.
Holidays influence pump fuel prices up
The prices of gasoline COR 95 and diesel fuel will be by almost 0.20 lei higher. Thus, after the NAER set the highest selling prices, on Tuesday a liter of gasoline COR 95 will be sold at the pump for 25 lei, while a liter of diesel fuel for 21.77 lei.
● TUESDAY, July 02
Moldovagaz to buy gas from Energocom at higher price
Moldovagaz in July will purchase natural gas from Energocom at the price of €366.34 per thousand cubic meters.
In accordance with the contract for the purchase of natural gas signed by Moldovagaz and Energocom, the price will be €34.43 per MWh, the equivalent of 7,030.01 lei per thousand cubic meters (excluding VAT), resulting from the forecasted higher calorific value of 10.64 kWh per cubic meter and the exchange rate.
NBM will promote financial education in partnership with “Academia Ta” Holiday Club
The National Bank of Moldova (NBM) will join the Holiday Club “Academia Ta” organized by the Republican Center for Children and Youth “Artico” between July and August. The Bank will stage financial education workshops on the safety of cashless payments for the participants.
Moldova will have new Naval Code aligned with international standards
A new Naval Transport Code in the Republic of Moldova, which will include provisions of the EU legislation and of the international conventions to which the Republic of Moldova is a party, presenting real prospects for the development of the sector, will be designed with the support of the USAID Moldova Institutional and Structural Reforms Activity.
More safety for Giurgiulesti port
NATO countries in the Black Sea basin - Turkey, Romania and Bulgaria - have started a joint operation to search for and remove mines in the Black Sea, Bloomberg reported.
The initiative to secure the maritime routes in the Black Sea belongs to the Turkish government, which culminated in a joint agreement, signed on January 11, which allowed the naval forces of Turkey, Romania and Bulgaria to establish a joint fleet, intended for patrolling and removing mines near their coasts.
Romania can be a good generator of expertise in organic agriculture, experts
Nature is the best generator of fertilizers for agricultural products. Some Moldovan farmers are convinced of this, and have decided to do 100% organic farming. They believe that using chemicals degrades the soil, and consequently also the health of people. Romania can be a good generator of expertise in this field, because Romanian farmers are more open to organic farming. Such opinions were expressed by the participants in a press conference on Tuesday.
● WEDNESDAY, July 03
Sandbox bill on regulation and testing in energy sector approved
The Cabinet endorsed the draft law on innovative testing spaces in the field of energy regulation, which allows companies in the energy sector to test innovative solutions with derogations from particular provisions of the existing legislation, including in the field of taxation.
Six oil companies fined 480 million lei for anti-competitive agreement
Six companies operating on the retail market of petroleum products were fined 480 million lei for anti-competitive agreement. More specifically, they coordinated the marketing prices of gasoline, diesel fuel and liquefied petroleum gas between March 2019 and January 2021. Details in this regard were presented on Wednesday by the chairman of the Competition Council Alexei Gertsescu at a news conference.
Cabinet supports provisional licensing of imports of grain and oilseed crops
The Cabinet approved the legislative initiative regarding the provisional regulation by licensing of imports of grain and oilseed crops. The given measure will be applied until the end of 2024.
The need for regulation by licensing imports is explained by the fact that the flow of grain and oilseeds from Ukraine, imported into the Republic of Moldova, can cause significant losses to farmers as they will be put in the extremely complicated situation of not being able to sell their products or to sell them at prices lower than the production costs, given that the production is much lower than expected due to drought and floods.
Moldova to host IMF-World Bank Constituency Meeting
The Republic of Moldova will host the International Monetary Fund-World Bank Constituency Meeting on July 10-12. The meeting will be held in Chisinau, according to the principle of rotation, IPN reports, referring to a press release of the National Bank.
Energy Community Secretariat conditionally endorses certification of Vestmoldtransgaz
In an opinion published recently, the Secretariat of the Energy Community has endorsed, provided that certain conditions are met, the certification of Vestmoldtransgaz as an independent gas transmission system operator.
● THURSDAY, July 04
Dorin Recean: I regret that there are politicians who deny effects of war
The departure of Fujikura from the Moldovan market is the effect of the war in Ukraine, said Prime Minister Dorin Recean, who expressed his regret at the fact that there are yet politicians who deny the effects of the war in the neighboring country. According to the official, despite the state of uncertainty caused by the war, the authorities are trying to attract new investors. New foreign companies are expected to invest soon in Moldova, in the fields of energy, infrastructure and electronics.
Trade unions demand that increase in retirement age for women should stop at 61
The trade unionists consider it appropriate to examine the possibility of stopping the increase in the retirement age for women at 61 years or instituting a moratorium. The National Confederation of Trade Unions of Moldova drafted a bill in this regard and sent it to Parliament for consideration.
Direct Pharma Logistics comes to Moldova and Bulgaria
The group of Romanian pharmaceutical companies Direct Pharma Logistics is expanding its drug distribution operations in Bulgaria, and from this year also in the Republic of Moldova, Economedia.ro reports, quoting a press release of the company.
Germany offers €15 million grant for water infrastructure in central Moldova
The Government of Germany is offering €15 million in grant funding to improve water infrastructure in the central region. The money is provided to the project “Improvement of Water Infrastructure in Central Moldova” through KfW Development Bank. The additional grant agreements were signed at the Ministry of Infrastructure and Regional Development.
● FRIDAY, July 05
Provisional licensing of imports of grain and oilseeds adopted by Parliament
Chisinau (IPN)
The draft law that provides for the provisional licensing of imports of grain and oilseed crops was passed by Parliament after it had been given two readings. The provision will be valid until December 31, 2024. At the suggestion of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry, this term can be extended by a maximum of 12 months.
Solar panel system installed on Presidential Palace
A system of photovoltaic panels was installed on the roof of the Presidential Palace of the Republic of Moldova, with the support of the U.S. Agency for International Development. These panels will reduce electricity consumption by at most 15% at the first stage. Subsequently, the project will be extended and the reduction of energy costs will be around 45%.
Information platform piata-biomasa.md launched
The online platform dedicated to the development of the biomass energy market in the Republic of Moldova - piata-biomasa.md- was launched. This platform consolidates the necessary information for producers and consumers of biofuels, suppliers of briquetting, pelleting, and baling equipment, biomass heating plants, energy services, and other components of the biofuel market.
Nine lots of land situated in Chisinau sold for over 31m lei
At the land auction held on Friday, July 5, nine lots of land located in the municipality’s built-up area, out of the 12 proposed, were sold for a total price of 31.2 million lei. The Chisinau City Hall said that the most expensive lot was sold for 18 million lei.
Vatra Dornei hosts 18th Moldova Regional Economic Forum
The vice-president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Moldova, Mihai Bîlba, notes that the Republic of Moldova has a good cooperation with Romania, and the most recent example is the 4th edition of the "Republic of Moldova Presents" exhibition, organized in Piața Sfatului in Brasov city. During the event, more than 40 Moldovan companies presented their products and services to more than 15 thousand visitors. During the three days of the exhibition, more than 20 contacts and agreements of intent were initiated among businesses from the two states.
● SATURDAY, July 07
Official reserve assets over $65m down
The official reserve assets at the end of June amounted to US$5.288.61 billion, down $65.87 million compared to May 31, when they came to $5.354.48 billion.
Over 1,400 Ukrainian citizens found work in Moldova, ANOFM
Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine until now, 1,451 Ukrainian citizens managed to find a job in the Republic of Moldova. 986 are women and 465 are men. Most of them are employed in the municipality of Chisinau, ATU Gagauzia and Balti.
Customs Service is testing new transit system, first operations successful
The Customs Service announced that the first two transit operations within the New NCTS5-MD Computerized Transit System were successfully carried out. The implementation of the new system is an important step for the Republic of Moldova in the process of joining the Convention on a Common Transit Procedure. This modernized customs transit system allows for more efficient and transparent management of the flows of goods transiting the country, thus reducing the waiting time at the border and the related costs for economic agents, the Customs Service said in a news release.
