The Ministries of Finance and of Agriculture and Food Industry will return to their talks with NGOs that represent the agricultural producers’ interests, in order to discuss the planned VAT increase, from 8% to 20%, and try to dissuade them from protesting. “We’re eager to provide our dialogue partners with all the factual information necessary, in order to reduce the antagonism that lingers and is not benefic even for the farmers”, stated Minister of Finance Veaceslav Negruta for Radio Moldova, cited by Info-Prim Neo. “We understand well that any tax modifications generate ripostes, but if we communicate, we may overcome the tension, because the protests that were announced will only distract people from their fundamental activities”, said the Minister. Veaceslav Negruta reminded that the difference generated by the 8-to-20% increase in VAT will be reimbursed to the agricultural producers after a 30-day period. The introduction of the 20% tax aims at creating equity among all production sectors. By collecting money from this standard VAT rate, the Government will be able to refund farmers higher sums through the subsidy fund, which will be oriented towards the support of the high priority programs of the agricultural sector, added the Minister of Finance. The councils of several agricultural NGOs have announced protests of the producers the former represent, as a response to the Government’s decision to increase the VAT on farm products.