● MONDAY, February 18

Government of Romania offers Chisinau €10m for cleaning Byk River

The Government of Romania offers the municipality of Chisinau a grant of €10m for cleaning the Byk River. By this project, the authorities aim to reduce the vulnerability of the areas of the Byk River that were affected by the climate change that had a negative impact on the urban infrastructure of Chisinau municipality. As part of the project, the Byk riverbed will be depended on a number of sectors and will be cleared of mud, garbage and building elements. The adjoining area will be laid out as a recreation area, with newly planted trees and bushes, alleys, bicycle tracks, street lighting and urban furniture. In the February 18 meeting of Chisinau services and divisions, the head of the Public Amenities Division Ion Burdiumov said the project covers Vatra town up to the Botanical Garden of Chisinau, on a distance of 24.56 km and another 21.38 km in Strășeni district. The first activity of the project with a budget of €270,000 envisions the carrying out of a study to assess the impact on the environment and to draw up the technical project documentation. There will be worked out a plan of measures for solving problems related to the danger of floods and droughts as a result of climate change in the Byk riverbed.

Works to build Ungheni – Chisinau gas pipeline launched

The works to build the Ungheni – Chisinau gas pipeline as part of the second stage of the Iasi-Ungheni interconnection project were kicked off. The ceremony involved Prime Minister Pavel Filip and Romanian Deputy Prime Minister for the implementation of strategic partnerships Ana Birchall. According to the Government’s press service, Pavel Filip said that by the Iași-Ungheni gas pipeline that was put into operation in 2014, almost 1milion cubic meters of gas a year have been supplied to Moldova. Ungheni and several other localities from the neighborhood were supplied with Romanian gas. After the second stage of the project is implemented, the 120 km Ungheni-Chisinau gas pipeline could ensure the Republic of Moldova with the necessary volume of gas. “After many years during which the price of gas was used as a scarecrow by those who supplied it to Moldova, we come closer to the day when this will no longer happen,” stated the Premier.

● TUESDAY, February 19

Number of tourists housed by tourist accommodation facilities up 8.1%

The number of tourists who stopped at tourist accommodation facilities in 2018 increased by 8.1%. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, in the course of this year the collective tourist accommodation facilities were used by 364,600 tourists, 160,200 of whom were foreigners (43.9%). Most of the foreign tourists housed by tourist accommodation facilities came from Romania (28.0%), Ukraine (11.7%), Russia (8.1%), the U.S. (6.0%), Germany (4.4%) and Italy (4.0%). By 0.9% of the tourists came from China and Spain and by 0.9% from Sweden and Switzerland.

600 young people will be assisted to start businesses

As many as 600 young people will be trained to generate business ideas. Another at least 540 young people will be helped to develop startups. The activities form part of the national program “Start for young people: a sustainable business at home” that was launched by the Organization for the Development of the Sector of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (ODIMM). The program will offer non-reimbursable assistance of 180,000 lei for 250 businesses started and developed by young entrepreneurs. The goal is to create and maintain at least 400 new jobs, mainly in rural areas.

● WEDNESDAY, February 20

MoE secretary gives new deadline for Ungheni-Chisinau project

Works on the Ungheni-Chisinau gas pipeline that started Monday could be completed by December 31, as declared by Ministry of Economy state secretary Vitalie Iurcu. The official noted that the situation with Russian gas transit via Ukraine was uncertain and that Moldova’s gas supply agreement with Russia was due to expire at the start of next year. “Any disruption of this transit for reasons that include the strained relations between Russia and Ukraine puts the future of gas supply to Moldova past that date in jeopardy”, said Iurcu, adding that EU beneficiaries were also at risk.

Farm subsidies agency finds 184M lei for overdue payments

The Agricultural Intervention Agency has transferred a total 184 million lei to 1,976 applicants in subsidies that couldn’t be granted last year after the National Fund of Agriculture and Rural Development ran out of money. The Agency said in a press release this year’s subsidies program would in particular incentivize construction of greenhouses, creation of orchards and vineyards, equipment purchases, eco-friendly agriculture practices, and efforts to penetrate foreign markets.

● THURSDAY, February 21

Young entrepreneurs could rise loans with preferential interest rate

The Ministry of Finance launched a project to on-lend to young entrepreneurs with preferential interest rate. Two persons already received loans as part of this project, the head of the Ministry’s Financing Directorate Raisa Cantemir as saying in a program on Canal2 TV channel. According to her, the project is intended for people aged between 18 and 35 and money is provided for initial capitalization if they run a developing business or for startups. “The young people go to banks as the Ministry of Finance on-lends through the banking system in order to avoid lending risks,” stated Raisa Cantemir. She noted that a young person can obtain at most 1.5 million lei and can apply for several such loans, but these must not exceed the mentioned sum. “The goal of spending in any business area, either services, processing of agricultural products or even trade, is to invest in goods and equipment or raw material. The grace period is up to 12 months on the main sum, not on interest,” said Raisa Cantemir.

● FRIDAY, February 22

New mechanism for stimulating taxpayers who pay by card

Fiscal lotteries will be held in Moldova as well. The Ministry of Finance proposed the draft regulations concerning the holding of such lotteries for public consultations. The goal of fiscal lotteries is to reduce the number transactions in cash and to stimulate payment by card so as to combat tax evasion. The lotteries will be staged by the State Tax Service in four stages, after each quarter. There will also be held two special editions, at the end of the winter and Easter holidays. By 40 awards worth 1,000 lei will be offered at the four quarterly stages. The awards at the holiday editions will be worth 1,500 lei for 20 winners in each of the two editions.