● MONDAY, February 17
Agriculture minister announces priorities for this year
The solving of the pledge problem of beginning farmers is one of the three top priorities of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry this year, Minister Vasile Bumacov announced in a news conference on February 17. The minister said the banks ask for pledges of 300% for the loans released to farmers. Thus, access to loans for those who want to start a business in agriculture is limited. “Most of the requests for subsidies refer to the purchase of agricultural machinery and irrigation systems, but the number of requests for subsidies for starting businesses in agriculture remains low,” said the minister, underlining the necessity of diversifying the categories of beneficiaries. Vasile Bumacov added that starting with February 18, the Ministry’s administration will pay field trips to inform the people about the subsidies provided in agriculture and to convince the people about the attractiveness of agricultural businesses. In 2014, the agriculture subsidization fund represents 500 million lei, up from 400 million lei in 2013.
Businessmen informed about benefits of association with EU
The customs duties on the export of national products to the EU will be eliminated immediately after the Association Agreement with the EU, which includes the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement, takes effect. The subject was discussed in the first seminar held at the Ministry of Economy to inform businessmen about the benefits of the given document. The Ministry of Economy said that after the agreement comes into force, the Moldovan entrepreneurs will benefit from preferential conditions as regards the products’ access to the EU market. Moldova will gradually remove the customs duties on the selected agricultural products. This objective will be achieved within a longer transition period, of 10 years. The national producers from the sensitive sectors will have more time adjust themselves to a more competitive environment. In the period, the consumers will be offered a wider range of products of a high quality at low prices.
● TUESDAY, February 18
Moldova to benefit from development assistance from Slovakia
Slovakia will include Moldova in the list of recipients of development assistance during five years within the programs implemented by the Slovak Government. The announcement was made by Ambassador of Slovakia in Chisinau Robert Kirnag in a meeting with Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Tudor Ulianovschi. The diplomat urged the national and local public authorities to submit applications for getting financing for projects of primary importance.
● WEDNESDAY, February 19
Currency exchange facilities selling euro for 18.68 lei
The currency exchange facilities and banks today buy the euro for 18.44 - 18.54 lei and sell it for 18.58 - 18.68 lei. The currency exchange rate set by the National Bank of Moldova for February 19 is 18.54 lei per euro. It is for the first time since 2001, when the euro was put into circulation, that the exchange rate of the euro against the leu is so high.
Export of goods in danger owing to internal misunderstandings at AITA
The more intense internal disagreements at the International Association of Road Haulers of Moldova (AITA) can affect the export of goods covered by the TIR system. In a meeting with members of the association, Minister of Transport Vasile Botnari said an amicable solution should be identified in order to avoid possible export blockages. Vasile Botnari said the haulers should not be affected by an internal conflict at the association. He will submit an official notification to the International Road Transport Union (IRU) to inform it about the steps taken by the authorities to ensure the functionality of the system for issuing TIR Carnets.
Importers of raw material exempted from VAT
The companies importing raw material used to make products intended for export will not pay VAT and customs duties when the production and export processes will last for less than 180 days. Relevant regulations were approved by the government. The provisions apply to the import of materials, accessories, primary containers and important complementary articles. According to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Valeriu Lazar, the decision is aimed at fluidizing the production of industrial goods in Moldova and at facilitating tax administration. The executive also approved the regulations on the size and criteria for determining the costs incurred by employers for transporting, feeding and training employees.
● THURSDAY, February 20
Monolit complains about pressure exerted by authorities
The administration of the group of companies Monolit and Monolit Construct and representatives of the employees call on the National Confederation of Trade Unions and the Ministry of Labor, Social Protection and Family to strop exerting pressure on the two companies. Director of Monolit Construct SRL Petru Burduja, in a news conference said that State Labor Inspectorate employees carried out 12 unplanned inspections at the company last December alone. Thirty inspections were performed at the company last year. Ten inspections were carried out at SA Monolit. According to Petru Burduja, the State Labor Inspectorate over the last three months has ‘terrorized’ the group Monolit and its employees through numerous inspections that affect the companies’ image. The director of Monolit Construct said the number of inspections increased after operational and personnel changes were made at the company in 2012-2013, including at administrative level. He added that namely the former colleagues launched a campaign to terrorize the group through the agency of the Sate Labor Inspectorate.
Farmers criticize agriculture subsidization regulations
The Government of Moldova continues to ignore the needs of farmers, said Valeriu Cosarciuc, chairman of the National Farmers Federation of Moldova. In a news conference Cosarciuc said the agriculture subsidization regulations for 2014 disadvantage the small farmers as their access to financing and subsidies is limited. “We proposed that 50% of the subsidies should be allocated to small farmers that represent 70% of those running agribusinesses. But the authorities didn’t approve this initiative,” said Valeriu Cosarciuc. He added that the National Farmers Federation of Moldova has been actively involved in the process of improving the regulations, the main goal being to eliminate discrimination against peasant farmsteads. Regretfully, only a small part of their proposals were included in the regulations.
Autoclaved cellular concrete to be produced in Moldova
Autoclaved cellular or aerated concrete will be made in Moldova for the first time. The production process starts next week at a company based in Chetrosu village of Anenii Noi district, which has worked in Moldova for ten years. In the period, it produced siliceous-calcareous bricks. In a meeting with Prime Minister Iurie Leanca, the company’s director said they already have orders for making cellular concrete for two years ahead. The autoclaved cellular concrete is a lightweight, precast building material that simultaneously provides structure, insulation, and fire- and mold-resistance. The company will produce annually 40,000 cubic meters of cellular concrete. It can satisfy 20% of the internal demand.
● FRIDAY, February 21
Presentation of false information when applying for loans will be punished criminally
The persons who will provide false information for obtaining loans or insurance benefits and will cause damage of over 10,000 lei will be fined 30,000 to 60,000 lei or jailed for two to six years. A bill to this effect was passed by Parliament on February 20. If the caused damage is considerable, the punishment for private individuals will be 40,000 to 60,000 lei and three to eight years in jail, while for legal entities – a fine of 60,000 to 120,000 lei. The persons who will provide a loan or insurance benefit by breaking the lending rules face a fine of 20,000 lei to 40,000 lei, if the damage caused will exceed 10,000 lei.
Monolit Construct backs creation of employees’ trade union, director
The administration of the group of companies Monolit and Monolit Construct is open for a transparent and objective dialogue and supports the formation of a trade union organization at the enterprise, if employees put forward such an initiative. The announcement was made by the director of Monolit Construct Petru Burduja in a news conference in reply to the accusations that he intimidates the employees who want to found a trade union. Petru Burduja said he supports the creation of a trade union organization if this thing is based on voluntary principles. But he is definitely against if these actions are taken through pressure exerted on the company’s administration and employees. Last October, he received a document from the Federation of Trade Unions from the Constructions and Building Materials Industry “Sindicons” by which he was informed that employees of SRL Monolit Construct in a meeting decided to set up a trade union.
“Sindicons” reacts to statements of Monolit Construct
The Federation “Sindicons” calls on the administration of Monolit Construct not to pressurize the employees into leaving the company’s trade union and to draw up individual work contracts in accordance with the labor legislation, for an indefinite period. It also asks negotiating a collective work . According to “Sindicons”, at the start of last December, a number of employees of Monolit Construct, together with the trade union leader, submitted a complaint, seeking help in stopping the pressure exerted by the director. Representatives of “Sindicons” asked the Government of Moldova, the Ministry of Labor, Social Protection and Family, the parliamentary commission on social protection, health and family and the National Confederation of Trade Unions of Moldova to intervene and ensure the observance of the rights of trade union members and to hold accountable the director of Monolit Construct. Only the National Confederation and the parliamentary commission have so far reacted.
● SATURDAY, February 22
New conditions for electronic service providers
The providers of electronic communications services will lose the license allowing using channels, frequencies or numbering resources if they do not use it for over 12 months. A bill to this effect was passed by Parliament in the first reading. The bill provides that the technical permit can be annulled if the allocated radio resources remain unused for more than 12 months. The bill aims to ensure the protection of personal data and the confidentiality of end-users of public electronic communications services.
Moldova takes out loan to help farmers adjust themselves to climate change
The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry of Moldova signed a lending agreement for about US$25.8 million. The money will be used to implement the Inclusive Rural Economic and Climate Resilience Program (IFAD VI). According to a communiqué from the Ministry, the program envisions the improvement of the Moldovan farmers’ capacity to adjust themselves to climate change and is the sixth investment program financed by IFAD in Moldova. A component of the program is aimed at favoring rural economic growth by developing infrastructure. There will be strengthened the capacities of the rural sector to protect itself from economic and climate shocks.
