● MONDAY, August 22
Apple growers expect lower yield this year, but say sales are a bigger concern
This year’s apple output is estimated at 485,000 tons. Due to this summer’s drought, the yield will be 180,000 tons lower than last year, Vocea Basarabiei quoted Iurie Fală, executive director of the Moldova Fruct Association, as saying. But growers are concerned not so much about the lower expected output as about the ability to find markets for their apples, kin light of the recent ban imposed by Russia on Moldovan agricultural exports.
Basarabeasca-Berezino railway line put into operation
A railway line connecting the Moldovan town of Bassarabeasca with Berezino in Ukraine has been put into operation after being built from scratch in two months. Originally intended for freight transportation, it could be used for carrying passengers as well in the future. Officiating at the inaugural, Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Spînu noted that the new section of the railway line will contribute to the development of the entire region, creating more jobs.
● TUESDAY, August 23
Sergiu Tofilat: Without Russian gas, Transnistria will face humanitarian crisis
If Gazprom decided to cut off gas supplies to Moldova, the Transnistrian region will face a large-scale humanitarian crisis, thinks energy expert Sergiu Tofilat. Tofilat says that Moscow’s next moves are impossible to predict. The best scenario would be if Gazprom continued to deliver gas to Moldova, until we switch to the winter formula beginning on October 1. Based on the calculation formula for the cold season, Moldova would pay about half of the spot market price. Another scenario considered by the authorities is a complete halt of gas supplies by Gazprom. Such a scenario would trigger a humanitarian crisis on the left side of the Nistru River, warns the expert.
July’s foreign exchange net supply exceeded demand
In July, the net demand for foreign currency from economic operators was covered at a rate of 125.9% by the net supply of foreign currency from individuals, compared to 101.8% in June, the National Bank of Moldova reported. The net supply of foreign currency from individuals decreased by 13.2 million dollars (-5.2%) compared to the previous month, while the net demand for foreign currency from economic operators dropped more significantly, by 58.3 million dollars (-23.3%).
● WEDNESDAY, August 24
Agriculture minister promises subsidies for irrigation system revamps
Centralized irrigation systems are becoming vital for Moldovan agriculture, while their rehabilitation and modernization is becoming a priority, says Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry, Vladimir Bolea. According to the official, farmers willing to invest in the reconstruction of these systems will receive support, with the Government providing 50% of the total investment.
More and more Moldovans use cashless payments
Overcoming the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the main metrics measuring cashless payments continued their upward trend in 2021. Data from the National Bank of Moldova show that last year the Automated Interbank Payment System (SAPI) processed 13.8 million transactions. The availability of the system was 99.9%, with no major disruptions recorded.
● THURSDAY, August 25
Grape growers concerned by Russian ban
The main problem for grape growers is the market which is affected by the war in Ukraine and a new Russian embargo, Gheorghe Gaberi, president of the Moldovan Association of Grape Growers and Exporters (APESM), said in an interview with the FRE/RL Moldovan Service. For the first time, the export ban imposed in early August by the Russian agency Rosselhoznadzor targets grapes too. In these circumstances, Gaberi says the decision of the European Union to increase export quotas for Moldovan table grapes is welcome, as it could assimilate about half of the fruit estimated for export.
Men still better paid than women
The average number of employees in 2021 increased by over 21,000 compared to 2020, show data of the National Bureau of Statistics, according to which the best paying jobs are in IT, but also financial and insurance activities. At the other end, the worst paid are the activities of accommodation and public catering, agriculture and forestry. The NBS data also show that women are paid less than men for the same jobs.
Men are privileged at work, they earn higher wages than women in most economic activities, the biggest differences being found in the fields of: finance and insurance - with 41.4% (8,953.3 lei) more to men; information and communication technologies – by 39.2% (10,366.7 lei) more; industry – by 20.0% (1,820.7 lei) more.
Stations concession contract terminated
The public-private partnership contract that was supposed to achieve the modernization of railway and bus stations has been terminated.The decision was reached after the Government, through a monitoring commission, ascertained the concessionaire’s failure fulfill the assumed investment plan. With the contract terminated, SRL Gările Auto Moderne is expected to hand over in good condition all the assets received in 2018 from the state company Gările si Statiile Auto.
