ECO-BUS WEEKLY DIGEST February 28 – March 6. Most important Economy & Business news by IPN
● MONDAY, February 28
Essential products imported from EU exempted from national certification
The food and other essential products imported from the European Union, which have European certification, will be exempted from the certification of the National Food Safety Agency of Moldova, as the Commission for Exceptional Situations decided, IPN reports.
The authorities said this will simplify and shorten the period for placing products on store shelves and will simply the procedure for substituting products that were earlier imported from countries that are now affected by the striation in Ukraine with products imported from the EU member states.
The decision is valid during the period of emergency and is aimed at establishing an appropriate working regime for business entities.
Most important decisions taken by Commission for Exceptional Situations
The Commission for Exceptional Situations on February 27 decided to set up a common Crisis Management Center. Aid will be collected through the agency of four points whose addresses will be made known during the day, when they become functional, IPN reports.
|The authorities are supported in their efforts by the volunteer group “Moldova for Peace”. Those who want to become volunteers are urged to visit https://www.facebook.com/moldova4peace.
Employees of the National Food Safety Agency and the National Public Health Agency are to ensure mechanisms by which to confirm that all the goods taken to the Center’s storerooms are of a high quality and safe.
Business entities and private individuals can make donations in support of the Ukrainian people into the special account opened by the Ministry of Finance. Transfers can be made in Moldovan lei, U.S. dollars and euros.
As from March 1, 2022, the export of corn and its derivatives from Moldova, except for corn seeds intended for sowing, is banned.
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● TUESDAY, March 1
Ukrainians will be able to get employed without temporary stay permit
The citizens of Ukraine could find a job in Moldova without applying for temporary stay permit for employment purposes. During the state of emergency, they will be hired based on an individual work contract for a definite period of time, on the identification number allotted to the citizens of Ukraine when they cross the border and on the copy of the ID. Such a decision was taken by the Commission for Exceptional Situations, IPN reports.
“There is no need to go to the Bureau for Migration and Asylum for becoming employed. We received a number of applications from refugees and also from business entities that offer them employment. That’s why, during the state of emergency, the citizens of Ukraine are exempted from these provisions and can directly go to business entities, to sign an individual work contract and start work,” Minister of Economy Sergiu Gaibu told a news conference. The only obligation for the employer is to notify the National Employment Agency during five days of the employment day.
● WEDNESDAY, March 2
“Agrocereale” Association asks to unblock corn exports. Ministry’s comment
The Association of Grain Exporters “Agrocereale” calls on the Government to unblock corn exports. After the Commission for Exceptional Situations banned the export of corn, many famers suffer losses, the Association’s chairman Igor Grigoriev stated for IPN.
“10% of the corn harvest is yet in the fields and this corn can start to sprout. The corn harvested last autumn and this January and February has a high level of humidity and this is the biggest problem. When exports were stopped, internal purchases also stopped and the farmers sustain losses. A large part of these kept the corn for selling it so as to gain money for performing spring works, while others have to repay loans. The exporters and farmers realize that the Government takes such measures to ensure the country’s food security, but the decision does not take important aspects into account. The corn now has a humidity level of over 18% and cannot be stored. To be preserved, the humidity level should be 13-14%. Conditions for keeping corn in stores need to be created for at least three-five months. We do not have such capacities,” stated Igor Grigoriev, noting that if measures to dry the corn are not taken, 1.5 million tonnes of corn will go rotten.
Prices of gasoline and diesel fuel continue to rise
Fuel prices go up further. A liter of gasoline “95” on Thursday will cost 24.73 lei, up 0.20 lei. A liter of gasoline will be by 0.25 lei higher and will be sold for 21.51 lei. These are the price ceilings set by the National Agency for Energy Regulation, IPN reports.
For comparison, a liter of gasoline “95” at the start of last September cost 20.23 lei, while a liter of diesel fuel –16.42 lei.
According to the National Agency for Energy Regulation, the increase in fuel prices continues to generate a rise in the highest selling prices of gasoline and diesel fuel.
● THURSDAY, March 3
Gross average monthly salary rose to 9,767 lei in last quarter of 2021, NBS
The nominal gross average monthly salary in the real sector units with four and more salary earners and in all the public sector institutions in the fourth quarter of 2021 was 9,767.6 lei, up 10.2% compared with the same period of 2020 and up 6.5% compared with the third quarter of 2021, IPN reports, quoting data of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
The highest pays were recorded in the ICT sector – 22,335.3 lei, financial and insurance activities – 18,666.9 lei, production and supply of electricity and heat, gas, hot water and conditioned air – 14,085.2 lei. The lowest values were reported in accommodation and food service activities– 5,723.8 lei, agriculture, forestry and fishing – 6,850.4 lei, arts, entertainment and recreational activities – 6,903.5 lei.
Agricultural year off to a dry start
The start of the current agricultural year doesn’t look bright, with precipitation being scarce and crops coming up unevenly. Compounding the situation are rising fuel prices and a nearly threefold increase in fertilizer prices, IPN learns from Vasile Șarban, state secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry.
“After gas prices rose, many nitrogen fertilizer plants shut down and there was a risk that those manufacturers wouldn’t be able to sell their products. Russia and Ukraine are the largest producers of fertilizers. Russia had certain export quotas, but these exports will no longer happen due to the war in Ukraine. Fertilizer suppliers turned to Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan, countries from which at least 20,000 tonnes of fertilizers were imported into Moldova, in addition to 88,000 tonnes that were in stock as of December 31, 2021”, said Vasile Șarban.
● FRIDAY, March 4
12 TIR trucks blocked at Bachevsk customs post taken away
Representatives of the customs authorities allowed the TIR trucks that got stuck at the customs posts “Troebortnoe” in Russia and “Bachevsk” in Ukraine to go back to Moldova and returned the confiscated goods to the drivers, IPN reports, with reference to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration.
Eight of the 12 trucks could move on through Russia’s territory, while four are yet near the Bachevsk customs post because they were vandalized and cannot be towed away. The authorities keep in touch with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia so as to identity solutions for the four remaining trucks.
The Moldovan drivers who are now at the Troebortnoe customs post want their trucks to be towed away from the territory of the Russian Federation so as to repair them and to bring them to Moldova.
Tiraspol calls on international community to recognize Transnistrian republic
Tiraspol made a call to the international community to recognize the Moldovan Transnistrian Republic that has existed for over 30 years, to ensure the observance of the Transnistrian people’s right to self-determination and to establish diplomatic relations with Transnistria. A statement on the issue was published on the website of the self-styled Transnistrian foreign affairs in reaction to the submission by Moldova on an application to join the EU, IPN reports.
“Given the new circumstances, including those created by the actions of the Moldovan administration, we call on the Moldovan side to initiate a dialogue with Transnistria so as to discuss a final civilized settlement based on peaceful and good neighborhood coexistence of two independent states by signing a comprehensive interstate treaty,” runs the statement.
In another development, it is noted that Tiraspol considers the Moldovan administration’s application for EU membership is a geopolitical decision that leads to the modification of the international borders and spheres of influence in the region and fundamentally changes the final arrangement of the Moldovan-Transnistrian relations.
● SATURDAY, March 5
Mission chief of IMF for Moldova to come to Chisinau
The price of vegetal oil will not grow during the state of emergency declared in Moldova, as the administration of the Bălți-based sunflower oil company “Floarea-Soarelui” assured, IPN reports.
In a meeting with grain producers and exporters at the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry, “Floarea-Soarelui” director general Stela Ostrovetski said the decision was taken due to the difficult situation in the region and out of the wish to make common cause.
The company urged other national business entities to follow its example.
