● MONDAY, March 24
First three contracts for rehabilitation of national roads this year signed
The Ministry of Transport and Road Infrastructure on March 24 signed the first three contracts for road rehabilitation of the 14 planned to be signed this year. The contracts were signed with three international companies selected at a tender contest. The works on the R1 Chisinau-Ungheni-Sculeni road will be performed by a company from Azerbaijan and another one from the Czech Republic. The Azeri company EVRASCON will rehabilitate 17.6 km of road between the kilometres 6 and 24. The value of the contract is €23.1 million. The road will be repaired and extended. Another segment of the same road, between kilometres 24 and 68, will be rehabilitated by the Czech company OHL ZS. The cost of the works was assessed at €27 million. The company will also repair ten bridges. The same Czech company will build 8 km of road bypassing Ungheni town, together with a passage over the railroad, bridges and drainage channels. The works will cost €10.7 million.
e-Invoice service used by 500 economic entities over a month
The e-Invoice service launched in February has been so far used by over 500 economic entities, mainly from the municipalities of Chisinau (331) and Balti (31). According to the State Tax Service, the e-Invoice is a tax payment alternative introduced on a trial basis for six months. At this pilot phase, the State Tax Service aims to improve the service and to adjust the methodological framework so as to facilitate the procedure for submitting invoices online. The service enables to increase the speed of recording economic transactions and reduces the risk of falsifying fiscal invoices and the costs for printing invoices.
● TUESDAY, March 25
55,000 hectares of 930,000 planned sowed so far
As many as 55,000 hectares of the 930,000 planned have been sowed so far this spring. The largest part of the area was sowed with barley. Ivan Guci, head of the Phytotechnique Products Service of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry, has told that about 40,000 hectares have been sowed with barley, 8,700 hectares with pea, over 1,000 hectares with sugar beet, while 5,000 hectares with spring wheat and rape. Of the 930,000 hectares, 555,000 will be sowed with cereals and spring leguminous plants, 315,000 with such technical crops as sunflower, soybean and sugar beet, while 60,000 hectares with fodder crops, annual herbs, perennial herbs and corn for silage.
Moldova-U.S. working group on energy met in Chisinau
The members of the energy group between Moldova and the United States have held the first working meeting in Chisinau on March 24. They exchanged opinions on the implementation of the energy strategy of Moldova and the future priorities. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Iulian Groza told a news conference that the working group is an essential part of the Moldova – U.S. strategic dialogue that was launched in Washington at the start of this month, during Prime Minister Iurie Leanca’s visit to the United States. The first meeting centered on Moldova’s connection to the gas and electric power systems of the European Union through the agency of Romania and the United States’ role in the implementation of the relevant projects.
Modification of excises on cigarettes declared unconstitutional
The Constitutional Court ruled that the modification of excise duties on filter tip cigarettes is unconstitutional. The Constitution provides that the Government’s consent must precede the adoption of bills with budgetary impact in the final reading. But the changes concerning excises on cigarettes were passed by Parliament without the Government’s consent. According to a communiqué from the Constitutional Court, the bill drafted by Government stipulates a different method for increasing the excise duties on filter tip cigarettes than that adopted by the legislative body. Both the fixed component and the component expressed in percentage should be raised (“50 lei + 31%”). The Court held that the challenged amendments were adopted by Parliament without the preliminary consent of the Government.
Moldova, Poland to launch joint trademark
Moldovan and Polish businesses proposed working out a common brand name for the wine made in Moldova and bottled in Poland, with “Wodka Polska” ready to support the promotion of the trademark. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry, during a working visit to Poland there were established cooperation relations with the wholesale market “Bronisze”, which will soon present the list of 18 large Polish importers of table grapes that will cooperate with five groups of Moldovan producers constituted with the support of IFAD.
● WEDNESDAY, March 26
Moldovan-Russian commission to discuss export of Moldovan goods
The problems related to the export of Moldovan goods to Russia will be discussed in a meeting of the Moldovan-Russian intergovernmental commission on trade that will be soon held in Chisinau. The announcement was made by Russian Ambassador to Moldova Farit Muhametshin in a meeting with the administration of the Moldovan Chamber of Trade and Industry. The Chamber’s head Gheorghe Cucu said the economic entities must be informed about the specific features of the bilateral trade between Moldova and Russia. He asked for Russia’s assistance in organizing economic missions and business visits to the regions Omsk, Kostroma, and Nijnii Novgorod, which were scheduled for this year. The ambassador proposed setting up a working group consisting of representatives of the Chambers of Trade and Industry of the two countries. It will represent the economic entities at the meeting of the intergovernmental commission. The specialists will analyze the business climate and will formulate suggestions for removing the identified difficulties.
Moldova signs financing agreement on energy efficiency
Representatives of the Ministry of Economy of Moldova signed a financing agreement with the Eastern Europe Energy Efficiency and Environment Partnership (E5P) on March 26. Through the agency of E5P, there will be financed energy efficiency, environment, water supply, street lighting, waste management and recycling projects and projects to improve the heating system. Under the association rules, the countries that want to benefit from grants from E5P must make their own contribution. Moldova will contribute €1 million. The Ministry of Economy held negotiations with representatives of E5P on paying Moldova’s contribution over a five-year period.
● THURSDAY, March 27
New conditions for Chisinau retail outlets
When applying for an authorization to the Chisinau City Hall, the economic entities will be obliged to ask for a notice about the standard name format and the architectural design of the commercial unit that they intend to open, which will be issued free by the municipality. Such a provision will be included in the regulations concerning the posting of external advertisements in Chisinau municipality, which are being worked out. Senior specialist of the Social-Humanitarian and Interethnic Relations Division Angela Lubas said the regulations will specify the documents needed to obtain an authorization and to display ads. Now that the Code of Administrative Offenses was modified, the economic entities will have the right to place notices about the provided services, but will be fined if they post incorrect information and if they do not obey the conditions concerning the exterior of the retail outlet, etc.
Free Trade Agreement envisions periods of transition, Natalia Gherman
The Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement between Moldova and the EU includes periods of transition for carrying it out. “Nobody will start to fully implement its provisions the next day after its signing because periods of transition are envisioned in certain areas,” Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Natalia Gherman said. The minister said that transition periods will be provided for some of the areas where investments are needed in quality, certification of the origin and competitiveness of products. The periods are of 7 to 10 years. Natalia Gherman also said that Moldova accounts for a small portion of the internal trade of the EU.
Moldova negotiates loan for agriculture with Poland
The executive instituted a group for negotiating the lending agreement between the Government of Moldova and the Government of Poland for extending the Polish assistance loan. The group will be headed by Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry Gheorghe Gaberi. The negotiations will be opened during Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s visit to Moldova. Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry Viorel Gutu said the loan is intended for modernizing agriculture, especially such sectors as animal-breeding and the production, post-harvest, storage and supply of vegetables and animal products.
Consumers of distance financial services are better protected
The conditions of informing the consumers of distance financial services – before and after the signing of contracts – will be strictly regulated. Under a relevant bill approved by the Government, the regulations will govern the retail financial services, including bank, insurance, payment and investment ones, and the pension funds that are negotiated at a distance by any means that do not require the simultaneous physical presence of the sides. However, the providers of financial services and the consumers will have a meeting where they will sign the contract. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Valeriu Lazar said the bill stipulates clear requirements and standard conditions as regards the informing of consumers before the signing of distance contracts. This will enable the consumers to correctly choose the provider of financial services.
Moldova to cooperate with Georgia in improving budget-fiscal policy
The Ministries of Finance of Moldova and Georgia will sign a memorandum of understanding to share experience in formulating the budget-fiscal policy, managing public finances and improving accounting. The Cabinet endorsed a bill to this effect. Under the bill, the sides will exchange information on tax administration, decision-making and legislation drafting. There will be organized consultation visits, training programs, workshops and conferences involving specialists from both of the countries.
● FRIDAY, March 28
“Imobil” and “Celebration” opened at Moldexpo
Offers of new apartments are displayed in the exhibition “Imobil Moldova” that opened at Moldexpo on March 27. Marina Tiron, director general of Poliproject Exhibitions, which staged the exhibition, said the event is a dialogue platform between developers and potential buyers and contributes to promoting new apartments and houses. The exhibit involves homebuilding companies, banks and financial organizations that provide home loans. The companies offer discounts of up to 10% on apartments, special prices for a square meter of dwelling and other presents.
Electricity consumption rose 1.2% in 2013
The consumption of electric power in Moldova in 2013, without the Transnistrian region, was about 3.4 billion kWh, an increase of 1.2% on a year before, shows a report by the National Agency for Energy Regulation. The supplies of electricity in the area served by RED Union Fenosa rose by 1.6%, in the area served by RED Nord-Vest increased by 1%, while in the area served by RED Nord fell by 0.3%. RED Union Fenosa supplied its end-users with over 2.5 billion kWh of electricity, accounting for about 74% of the total volume of supplied power.
Consumer Protection Agency director dismissed
The director of the Consumer Protection Agency Alexandru Cuzimuc was dismissed by order of Minister of Economy Valeriu Lazar, at the suggestion of a disciplinary commission.Valeriu Lazar said the institution’s director didn’t cope with the tasks entrusted to him by the Ministry of Economy. “His dismissal is a reaction to the multiple notifications concerning acts of corruption at the Consumer Protection Agency,” he stated.
● SATURDAY, March 29
Polish businessmen to invest in Moldova
An intergovernmental agreement on tourism development was signed within the Moldovan-Polish Business Forum held in Chisinau on March 28. The event was attended by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk. Tourism Agency director Nicolae Platon said that Poland is an attractive tourist destination. “When the visa regime between the EU and Moldova is liberalized, the interest in Poland will definitely increase. We hope the Polish people will also express greater interest in the Moldovan historical and cultural monuments. Moldovan can learn from the rich tourist experience of Poland. We are waiting for Polish investors in this sector,” he stated. There was also signed a memorandum of cooperation between the representative of the UN Global Compact in Poland and representatives of the local authorities of Lublin Province and of the Chamber of Trade and Industry of Moldova. The document aims to establish a regional business cooperation platform between the two states, possibly involving other states from the region.
Authorities will amend legislation for state to be able to annul additional trading taxes
The central authorities aim to modify the legislation so that the state can annul the additional taxes introduced by traders. The initiative was put forward by the Ministry of Economy after representatives of a number of national associations of producers in a working meeting complained that some of the supermarket chains impose discriminatory taxes. The producers said that entrance, presence, shelf and even corner shelf taxes, marketing charges and other taxes are imposed on them, it is said in a communiqué of the Ministry of Economy. For their part, the representatives of supermarket chains invoked the incapacity of the Moldovan producers to ensure the continuous supply of products in the necessary volumes, the high prices and the poor quality and improper packing of the products and other problems that make them prefer the imported goods.
World Bank provides US$30m for spurring economic growth in Moldova
Helping Moldova enhance its structural reform agenda and spur growth, by supporting improvements in the business climate, promoting financial sector stability and development, and improving the equity and efficiency of public expenditures are the core objectives of the First Development Policy Operation (DPO), in the amount of US$30 million, approved by the World Bank Group Board of Executive Directors. According to a press release form the World Bank, the US$30 million supports the Government of Moldova’s National Development Strategy “Moldova 2020” and is a key component of the Moldova Country Partnership Strategy for 2014-2017. “Our support is fully aligned with the country’s national development priorities and aims to address key reforms that can contribute to spurring private-sector led growth, whilst making public investments work better and more equitably to reduce poverty and boost shared prosperity for all Moldovan citizens,” said Abdoulaye Seck, World Bank Country Manager for Moldova.
