● MONDAY, January 26
National exhibition “Made in Moldova” waiting for visitors
More than 255 companies have announced their intention to take part in the 14th national exhibition “Made in Moldova” that is traditionally organized by the Chamber of Trade and Industry in cooperation with its partners. The Chamber’s head Valeriu Lazar told a news conference that 25-30 more companies are yet ‘in reserve’ and they are looking for areas to allow these companies to also take part. The participating companies work in different areas of activity and represent most of the country’s districts, including Transnistria. The exhibit includes 26 events that will enable the economic enteritis to discuss first of all the opportunities generated by the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement with the EU. On the first day of the exhibition, on January 28, there will be launched the Local Business Agenda. The Institute for Development and Social Initiative “Viitorul” is promoting the National Business Agenda whose goal is to intensify the public-private dialogue. In this respect, the Chamber of Trade and Industry will sign a cooperation agreement with “Viitorul” in extending the agenda at local level.
● TUESDAY, January 27
Valeriu Lazar: Stability of exchange rate is important for exporters, as for all producers is
The stability of the exchange rate is important for exporters, as for all the producers is, said the chairman of the Chamber of Trade and Industry Valeriu Lazar, noting that he does not agree with the assertion that the depreciation of the leu is for the exporters’ benefit. “We cannot say that the depreciation of the ley is advantageous to the Moldovan exporting companies. Most of these companies import raw material and different accessories for production and this import component has an impact on the structure of costs,” Valeriu Lazar told a news conference.
● WEDNESDAY, January 28
Concessions granted to applicants and holders of entrepreneur’s patent
The State Tax Service said that in the first quarter of this year, the applicants for the entrepreneur’s patent as well as the holders, which are obliged to pay mandatory health insurance premiums, can benefit from a 50% reduction in the premium calculated in fixed amount. Currently, the mandatory health insurance premium calculated in fixed amount is 4,056 lei. Thus, the applicants for the entrepreneur’s patent, as well as the holders, will pay 2,028 lei, which is 50% of the insurance premium. The payment can be made at the post offices of the state-run company “Posta Moldovei” and at the local agencies of the National Health Insurance Company. When the Law on the Mandatory Health Insurance Funds for 2015 takes effect, the obligatory health insurance premium will be paid in accordance with the new provisions.
Road transport preferred for trips and haulage
Though the number of passengers who travelled by road transport in 2014 decreased by almost 10% compared with a year before, the Moldovans preferred yet to use namely this type of transport, IPN reports, quoting the National Bureau of Statistics. Thus, the people who travelled by minibuses and buses last year totaled 108.08 million. The number of passengers who used air transport in 2014 rose by 897,800, while of those who used fluvial transport – by 141,600. This is 137.1% and, respectively, 121.6% on 2013. The number of passengers in railroad transport was 3.33 million, 78% compared with 2013. The volume of freight transported last year was 14.4 million tonnes, an increase of 4.0% on a year before. The companies operating in the municipality of Chisinau accounted for 47.3% of the road freight traffic, those from Balti municipality – for 6.8%, while from the districts Sangerei, Floresti and Ialoveni – for 10.0%, 6.6% and 5.1% respectively.
Price of pork down 30%
The price of a kilogram of pork fell by almost 30%. As no such meat has been exported for several months, there is a surplus of pork on the home market, executive director of the National Farmers Federation Vasile Mirzenco stated. “Producers phone us daily and tell us that they sustain losses of thousands of lei. They produce the meat at a loss already,” stated Vasile Mirzenco. The losses of the producers with thousands of pigs amount to millions of lei. According to him, the price of a kilogram of pork was 80-85 lei, but now it is less than 60 lei. “The producers ask us to intervene and to remedy the situation. But we do not have a support policy to be applied in such a situation,” said the Federation’s executive director.
Electricity charges are not expected to rise over next few months
Given the current political situation in Moldova, the electricity charges will not be increased at least over the next two months, considers Sergiu Aparatu, economic expert of the Institute for Development and Social Initiative “Viitorul”. The expert said the request to adjust the electricity tariffs is justified by the situation on the currency market as the electric power is bought in dollars or euros. However, Sergiu Aparatu believes that the National Agency for Energy Regulation has enough instruments to delay the rise in electricity charges for end-users. If the rise is yet allowed, the charges will increase by about 30%.
National Business Agenda extended at local level
The Chamber of Trade and Industry and the Institute for Development and Social Initiative “Viitorul” on January 28 signed an agreement of cooperation by which they launched the Local Business Agenda. In November 2008, “Viitorul”, with the support of the Center for International Private Enterprise, launched the National Business Agenda, which is a platform of over 30 entrepreneurial associations and local subdivisions of the Chamber of Trade and Industry. “Its objective is to influence public authorities’ policies and practices aimed at developing the private sector in a move to create an attractive and equitable business environment. In this respect, the National Business Agenda annually formulates proposals for ministries and other authorities and monitors how these are implemented,” said “Viitorul” director Liubomir Chiriac.
● THURSDAY, January 29
Priorities for Chamber of Trade and Industry
The priorities of the Chamber of Trade and Industry’s presidency of the Business Council of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization (BSEC) include the stimulation and diversification of exports of the member states, with the development and promotion of national brands being an efficient instrument for increasing value added. “We aim to launch new initiatives and joint projects by applying to the relevant EU programs on industrialization and economic development so as to intensify information exchange and increase productivity,” the Chamber’s head Valeriu Lazar said in an economic forum entitled “Commercial and investment opportunities in the Black Sea Basin countries” that was staged within the national exhibition “Made in Moldova” on January 28.
Wine producers take part in “Made in Moldova” exhibit with common stand
The legend of Moldova’s wine is being transmitted also at the 14th exhibition “Made in Moldova” in which over 20 wine companies, alongside six producers of cognac and bandy, are taking part with a common stand under the country wine brand “Wine of Moldova. A living legend”. Until February 1, 2015, the visitors of the exhibitions center “Moldexpo” in Chisinau will be able to taste Moldovan wine of a high quality, made according to century-old traditions and by implementing the latest innovations in this field. The participation of the wine companies in the most important exhibition of the year was organized by the National Office of Vine and Wine with the support of its strategic partner - USAID CEED II Project. The Office’s director Dumitru Munteanu said the exhibition “Made in Moldova” represents an important platform for promotion and communication between winemakers, business partners and consumers.
Vasile Bumacov considers there are real preconditions for resuming fruit export to Russia
The fruit became much dearer in Russia, with prices of over 50 euros per apple being reported there, and this situation creates real preconditions for the export of Moldovan fruit to Russia to be resumed. Acting Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry Vasile Bumacov has told that after an agreement to resume at least the talks was reached with the Russian authorities, these already contacted the National Food Safety Agency of Moldova. On the initiative of Russia’s Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor), the administration of the National Food Safety Agency of Moldova had a telephone discussion with the Russian counterparts concerning the resumption of the export of apples to Russia. The Agency expressed readiness to officially guarantee the safety of fruit and the use of good practices by the Moldovan producers. The sides agreed that Rosselkhoznadzor should perform an audit of the national system for meeting the federal and international phytosanitary norms.
Local production acquires new face, opinions
Many participants and visitors of this year’s exhibition “Made in Moldova” reached the conclusion that the Moldova products have acquired a new face. This opens new opportunities for promoting them. Director of the Organization for the Development of Small and Medium-Sized Companies Iulia Iabanji said the exhibited articles and products are pleasant for the eye. “It is evident that a lot of work is being done on the external appearance, not only on the quality and diversification of production. Now our task, of the competent state institutions, is to join efforts with the producers and to identify export markers in the EU, the CIS and other parts. We already have such examples, but exports should be sustainable and regular, not single only,” she said.
Moldovan area of the Danube has high investment potential
The Moldovan area of the Danube River, which includes Cahul, Cantemir, and Taraclia districts and the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia, represents an area with high investment potential, considers the Association for the Development of Tourism in Moldova, which identified a number of investment opportunities there, including the improvement of transport logistics, rehabilitation or construction of accommodation units and extension of the health spa services. The Association’s head Viorel Miron told a news conference that this area is very attractive because it is situated near the largest European river and is one of the biggest natural reserves. It also contains the richest ethnic and cultural diversity in the country. More than 184,000 tourists annually cross this area, but not all of them stop to explore it. “The main problem is not the lack of attractions, but the lack of an offer that would motivate the tourists to stop,” noted Viorel Miron.
World Bank prepares recommendations for Moldova’s new Government
After several months of campaigning and negotiations, Moldova’s new Government is about to take shape. The World Bank is looking forward to hearing the new Government’s plans for reform, said the WB Country Manager Alex Kremer. On the World Bank Voices blog, the official writes that this time in Moldova the World Bank has joined up with other international organizations to write the Briefing Book - a collection of policy notes with ideas on how the country could do better and how reforms can translate into sustainable and inclusive growth. Alex Kremer says they look forward to discussing it with the new Government. According to him, the three most important points of the World Bank’s main messages when it meets the new Government are: the banking sector needs a clean-up. The regulators and the courts need to make banks follow the rules - without interference from politicians to protect invisible interests. As acting Prime Minister Leanca said, these scandalous events must not be allowed to repeat themselves.
● FRIDAY, January 30
The Bat! wins silver at ‘Trademark of 2014” contest
In the award ceremony of the contest “Trademark of the Year 2014”, which was held in the evening of January 29, the IT company “Ritlabs” SRL was offered silver in the nomination “Export” for the trademark The Bat!. The contest is annually staged by the Chamber of Trade and Industry and the State Agency on Intellectual Property of Moldova. “Ritlabs” director Maxim Masiutin said that 2014 turned out to be a good one for the company, which ended the year with significant rises in sales, especially abroad. This type of sales rose by 36% compared with 2013, including in Poland by 66%, in Germany by 39%, and in Russia by 8%. The company also maintained the position of leader against its main rivals on the market of Russia and of other CIS states and increased the organic traffic on the website of “Ritlabs” from web search engines by 5%.
Companies awarded at contests within “Made in Moldova” exhibit
A number of 57 economic entities became winners of the contest “Trademark of the Year” that is organized by the Chamber of Trade and Industry and AGEPI. The contest results were announced in the Moldovan Business Gala staged within the national exhibition “Made in Moldova”. The new awardees joined the about 1,000 winners of the previous contests. “Trademark of the Year” aims to promote the corporate image of companies and to highlight the role of brand names in identifying products and services. As many as 73 applications have been submitted this year and the presented trademarks competed for awards in 11 categories. The 15 companies that won gold at the previous five contests were nominated for “Established Trademark”.
Igor Gorashov named director of Unit for Implementation of Polish Loan
Igor Gorashov was appointed as the executive director of the public institution Unit for Implementation of the Assistance Loan Provided by the Government of Poland. He was presented in a news conference by the director of the Agency for Payments and Intervention in Agriculture Petru Maleru. Igor Gorashov said that he will take up his duties on February 2. During two weeks, all the bank accounts will be set and the conditions for submitting loan applications will be worked out. Afterward, they will immediately start to accept applications. In 2000-2006, Igor Gorashov served as director general of the Consolidated Unit for Implementation and Monitoring of Projects in Agriculture, financed by the World Bank. “I know exactly what the unit must do and what every staff member must do. I know to set the task, to monitor the work and to assess the results” he stated.
International company selected to conduct investigation in banking sector
The National Bank of Moldova chose a renowned international company to carry out a special investigation at the three banks that are under the central bank’s management (Banca de Economi, Banca Sociala and Unibank), National Bank governor Dorin Dragutanu said in the program “Public Space” on Radio Moldova station. According to the governor, the company was selected at a contest out of four contenders. At the first stage of the investigation, which will last for four weeks, the company will analyze the suspect transactions at these banks, will determine the persons involved and where the money was transferred and will formulate proposals for working out a long-term strategy that will allow Moldova to recover this money.
Economic entities and local authorities assisted in developing entrepreneurial capacities
Representatives of local public authorities, entrepreneurs and members of nongovernmental organizations on January 30 took part in a national workshop staged within a project to develop entrepreneurial capacities. The Business Advisory Center, which is implementing the project, presented the results of a stage that covered three settlements of three districts. The Center’s executive director Anatol Palade said the general goal of the project is to strengthen the entrepreneurial and administrative capacities of local key players so as to increase social, informational and commercial cohesion at local level. They thus want to encourage the authorities to extend the cooperation opportunities and to ensure the synergy of efforts towards a better life in the Black Sea Basin Regions.
● SATURDAY, January 31
Transnistrian administration takes over controlling shareholding in Rybnitsa plant
The controlling shareholding in the Moldovan Metallurgical Plant located in Rybnitsa was purchased by the Transnistrian administration. Such a step was taken in the region for the first time. So far the local authorities only conceded public property to private economic entities. No data about the transaction, price and number of shares have been yet made public. The Transnistrian leader Evgheny Shevchuk said they will make everything possible for the plant to continue to work in a normal regime and to avoid layoffs. The local press reported that the plant employs over 2,500 people.
Moldovan producers invited to promote their goods in China
National producers and representatives of a Chinese delegation led by the head of the Ningbo Trade Office Yu Haidong discussed the commercial opportunities existing on the market of the People’s Republic of China. The delegation invited the Moldovan economic entities to take part in the China-Central and Eastern European Countries Investment and Trade Fair (CEEC Fair 2015) and to benefit from the promotion opportunities offered by it. According to a communique of the Chamber of Trade and Industry of Moldova, the fair will take place in the city of Ningbo on June 9-12, 2015. It is an international event specialized in consumer goods, which offers 16 countries from the Central and Eastern Europe the possibility of promoting their products and services in China. The deputy head of the Chamber of Trade and Industry Vladimir Didilica welcomed the presence of the Chinese partners, underlining the importance of the support provided by them. He called on the representatives of the national business sector to make use of the offered possibilities.
