● TUESDAY, April 28
New rules for entrepreneurs
A new obligation was imposed on economic entities. From 2017, these will have to use only computerized information systems and cash register software certified by the certification commission of the Ministry of Finance when keeping automated financial and fiscal accounts. In a communique, the Ministry says all the economic entities that design or supply information and computerized systems or cash register software systems will have to get them certified at the certification commission of the Ministry of Finance. The given measure will start to be implemented on January 1, 2017.
● WEDNESDAY, April 29
Cybersecurity program presented for public debates
The Ministry of Information and Communication Technology has presented the program on Moldova’s cybersecurity for public discussions. The document contains a set of measures aimed at ensuring the safety of processing, using and storing data in digital format. As a result of discussions, the program will be improved and submitted to the Government for approval, Minister Pavel Filip said in a news conference held within the Moldova ICT Summit 2015. Pavel Filip said the cyber-security of a state can be efficient only when the efforts are united and this is a very important element because the borders between the ordinary life and the virtual life tend to disappear nowadays. Attending the opening of the event, Prime Minister Chiril Gaburici said the ICT sector of Moldova is on the ascent and accounts for about 8% of the GDP, while the sales on the electronic communications market continue to grow. The Premier reiterated the necessity of the state institutions joining efforts to implement a cybersecurity program that would ensure the safe processing, usage, storage and accessibility of data in digital format. “This document must ensure an open and secure space, must meet the European practices concerning the security of electronic communications and information systems, must combat cyber-crime and must strengthen the national capacities to ensure cybersecurity. This way, Moldova will become more attractive for this business,” he stated.
Electronic reporting to national ICT regulator
From May 1 this year, the providers of public electronic communications and services will be able to send statistical reports on their turnover to the National Regulatory Agency for Electronic Communications and Information Technology (ANRCETI) in electronic format, through the information system “Online reporting”. This system has been tested by the ANRCETI during four months and will be launched on May 1. According to a communiqué of the ANRCETI, the sending of reports in electronic format will be to the providers’ benefit as the costs incurred and time spent by these on reporting the data will be minimized. The new information system will simplify the reporting procedures and will reduce the administrative burden and bureaucracy, contributing thus to improving the business climate in the ICT sector.
● THURSDAY, April 30
Road fund for 2015 up over 150m lei
The mayor’s offices this year will receive 450 million lei for repairing local roads. The money will be allocated from the 2015 road fund that is 1.52 billion lei. Under a decision approved by the Government, 1.071 billion lei will be provided for maintaining and repairing roads, 678.04 million lei of which for the national roads, while 393.7 million lei for the local roads. Minister of Transport and Road Infrastructure Vasile Botnari said that the access roads to schools, medical centers and other social facilities will be given priority this year too. Prime Minister Chiril Gaburici said control needs to be ensured at all the road construction and rehabilitation stages, from the beginning of the works until their end. Another priority is to ensure road security. “The lanes on the recently renovated roads must be separated and road signs must be set up,” he stated. Another issue discussed in a meeting centering on the utilization of the road fund, held before the Cabinet’s meeting on April 29, was the collection of road taxes. According to statistical data, over 40% of the vehicle owners do not pay such taxes. A solution is to monitor the vehicles by the national video surveillance system.
Investments in 26 regional development projects
Over 180 million lei will be allocated from the National Regional Development Fund and by the German International Cooperation Agency by the end of this year for financing 26 regional development projects included in the Common Program Document for 2013-2015. Such a decision was approved by the members of the National Coordination Council for Regional Development. The projects refer to the modernization of road infrastructure, water supply and sewerage systems, improvement of the environment factors and attractiveness of tourist destinations, support for the business sector, etc. Regional development policies will also be implemented in the development region Gagauzia. The financing will be directed to 23 projects initiated the previous years and to three new projects. Among the new projects is a project to build a drinking water supply and sewerage system in Parcani, Ocolina and Radi Ceresnovat village of Soroca district, to the value of 7.53 million lei. Another project is to create investment opportunities in tourism along the tourist route in nine settlements of Ialoveni district, to the value of 5 million lei. In the framework of the last project, the sewerage system in Nisporeni town and Varzaresti commune will be reconstructed at a cost of 10.2 million lei.
Efes Vitanta intends to produce cider
Efes Vitanta Moldova Brewery is ready to invest in a new project in Moldova. This is a project to produce apple cider, which is gaining in popularity all over the world. The intention was made public by the company’s director general Gökçe Yanaşmayan in a meeting with Prime Minister Chiril Gaburici. “We intend to develop a business in Moldova, which would enable to create new jobs, including in rural areas. We consider that the apples grown here are of a high quality and there is promising potential for launching a product that will be appreciated in the country and abroad,” said Gökçe Yanaşmayan. According to the company’s estimates, the cider made in Moldova could be exported to over 46 countries. Another objective of the project is to transform Moldova into a regional supplier of raw material for making this drink. Prime Minister Chiril Gaburici assured the investor of the support needed for implementing this project. “For us, it is important to ensure new opportunities for creating jobs, to increase exports and to promote the national products on foreign markets,” he stated.
Farmers can apply for loans from Polish loan
The Moldovan farmers can file applications to get loans from the loan of €100 million provided to Moldova by Poland. The loans will not exceed €2 million per project and are repayable in 12 years, at an interest rate of 2%. Director of the Agency for Payments and Intervention in Agriculture Petru Maleru told a news conference that the agricultural producers will benefit from loans in the form of equipment and infrastructure elements for projects in agriculture and agrifood industry, with repayment in installments. Applications can be submitted to the Polish Loan Implementation Union located in Chisinau, at 162 Stefan cel Mare Blvd, of. 1210. The Unit’s executive director Igor Gorashov said the applicants must file a set of documents, including the business plan, which is mandatory. The part of the project that will be financed with money from the Polish loan must be explained very well. A procurement contract must also be signed with the Polish partners. The potential beneficiaries must present documents showing that the company they manage does not have debts and the company registration documents.
Bank of America analyst: $1 billion cannot be siphoned out of Moldova in one day
$1 billion cannot be siphoned out of Moldova in one day, Vadim Khramov, analyst at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, says in an article published on eureporter.co. Among the reasons invoked by the analyst is the lack of reaction from the Bank of New York, which admission any U.S. dollar transaction around the world. “Whatever else may be the reasons for the decline of Moldova’s currency, but the withdrawal of $1 billion, announced by the government officials, from the state owned bank is simply not possible. This is not possible even in comparable countries like Georgia. The fact is that most of the former USSR countries have restrictions on single transactions above $150,000, which are subject to strict monitoring by government agencies in particular by the Central Bank,” said Vadim Khramov.
● SATURDAY, May 2
Moldova opens own pavilion at “Expo Milano 2015”
Moldova has inaugurated its first own pavilion at the universal exhibition “Expo Milano 2015” of Italy. The Moldova Investment Attraction and Export Promotion Organization (MIEPO) will present the investment and commercial potential of Moldova within a broad program of specialized events. According to the Ministry of Economy, thematic programs for winemakers, fruit growers, entrepreneurs from the textile industry, tourism and other sectors will be staged between May and October. A world conference of distributors of Moldovan wine will be staged in October. It will include a public presentation of the best Moldovan wines with a tasting event, their presentation for the specialized media outlets and a conference that will involve international distributors, networks of equipment producers and shop chains.
Premier’s Economic Council suggests reducing lab test costs
The costs of lab tests needed for obtaining quality certificates for export are high in Moldova and the small producers cannot cover them. As a result, there is the risk that monopoles will appear in different areas. The best long-term solution is to determine the business sector to open labs. However, a short-term solution suggested by the Premier’s Economic Council is to reduce the costs of tests needed for obtaining certificates for exporting wine products by 30% and for exporting other products by 20%. In a discussion with journalists, the head of the secretariat of the Prime Minister’s Economic Council Dumitru Alaiba gave the example of Germany, where the lab test costs are 20 times lower. “In Moldova, when a winemaker wants to export 100,000 bottles of wine, 3,000 lei paid on a certificate is not much and it is convenient in fact. But when you export only 100 bottles, 3,400 lei represents about 30% of the costs of export. The large producers would like these costs to be maintained as they want to keep the market for themselves,” said Dumitru Alaiba.
