The initialing of the Association Agreement between Moldova and the European Union and the unexpectedly high economic recovery are classed as successes of the national economy in 2013 by the Independent Analytical Center “Expert-Grup”. At the same time, the concession of strategic state assets to private companies and certain dubious operations in the financial system are regarded as failures in this sector, IPN reports.
In an analysis of the economic year 2013, the team of “Expert-Grup” says the Association Agreement envisions the establishment of a privileged connection between the EU and Moldova. The economic growth of 8.1% in the first nine months of this year was higher than expected. “Expert-Grup” says the GDP this year may be by 8% larger and this will be the highest economic growth in the country’s history. Another success is the creation of preconditions for strengthening the country’s energy security by joining the Romanian gas system and the Moldovan one by the Iasi-Ungheni gas pipeline. This pipeline may ensure 1/3 of the volume of natural gas needed for internal consumption.
The obtaining of unlimited access to the European market for the national wine products is another success. From January 1, 2014, the export quotas on wine imposed by the EU will be removed.
The top five economic failures in 2013 include the yielding of the majority shareholding in Banca de Economii and the concession of the Chisinau International Airport; the non-insurance of the investments security and performance of doubtful operations that came as a powerful blow to the financial sector of Moldova; the delayed adoption and implementation of the Law on the Local Public Finances, and the attempts to undermine the independence of the National Bank of Moldova.
The last major failure is the non-disbursement of foreign grants to the state budget in the projected amounts. According to the Ministry of Finance, on October 31 only 59% of the foreign grants planned for this period had been disbursed, by about 904.8 million lei less than projected.
The analysis of the economic year was made by the think tank “Expert-Grup” with the support of the Open Society Institute.
