● MONDAY, December 22
Former, acting agriculture minister comment on EU fruit import quota
Today farmers in Moldova don't have the capacity to fully benefit from the fruit import concession afforded by the EU, think acting agriculture minister Vasile Bumacov and his predecessor Valeriu Cosarciuc. Speaking at a talk-show on Prime TV, Vasile Bumacov said it's unrealistic to think that Moldova will be able to export as much as 40,000 tonnes of fresh fruit to the EU markets in the near future. “Maybe we'll be able to fulfill this quota no earlier than in two or three years, at which point it will hopefully be increased. The European Union has increased the quota to encourage the farmers in Moldova”, said Bumacov.
Contract signed for Romanian gas supply
Moldova's Energocom and Romania's OMV Petrom Gas signed an agreement providing for natural gas supply from Romania, in a ceremony today attended by Moldovan acting Deputy Minister Andrian Candu and Cristian Turcanu, Deputy Head of the Romanian Embassy. Andrian Candu stated this was an important step towards fortifying Moldova's energy security. “We are grateful and thank the Romanian Government for their support and for making this important alternative possible for our country”, stated Candu. The agreement, taking effect on 1 January 2015, indicates a price of 1,010 Romanian lei, or $276.6 per 1,000 cu.m. Initially, small amounts will be supplied through the recently built Iasi-Ungheni pipeline, and once the system is fully tested, the contract will be adjusted for greater amounts.
● TUESDAY, December 23
Conditions exist for making gas cheaper for final consumers, Andrian Candu
There are conditions for reducing gas prices for the final consumers, stated acting Economy Minister Andrian Candu after the Government's meeting on Monday. Candu reminded that, effective on 1 January 2015, Moldova will pay $331.8 per 1,000 cu.m. of gas under a contract extension with Russia's Gazprom. “According to the formula that establishes the price of natural gas, we could get a price of $310-311 in the second quarter of 2015. In this respect, we've sent a letter containing the economic reasons to (the energy regulatory agency) ANRE to make the necessary calculation so that (the final consumers) can get a price change from 1 January 2015”, said Candu.
● SATURDAY, December 27
EBRD supports expansion of food retail chain
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is providing a US$ 5 million to support the expansion of the Moldovan food retail chain Unimarket Discounter SRL. The loan will be used to open new stores, a warehouse and a logistics center, the EBRD said in a press release. Unimarket's US$ 6.5 million investment plan includes the opening of 17 new shops both in Chisinau and smaller cities like Hincesti, Donduseni, Drochia, Edinet and Soroca. The company also plans to set up a new warehouse and a logistics center to service its retail network and improve cost efficiency.
