● MONDAY, February 27
Energocom extends contract for purchase of electricity with MGRES
The central power distributor Energocom has prolonged the contract for the purchase of electrical energy with the Kuchurgan Power Plant (MGRES) of the Transnistrian region for March.
Wizz Air suspends all Chisinau flights from March 14
Wizz Air is suspending all its flights to and from Chisinau from March 14 due to safety concerns, according to a press release issued by the airline on Monday.
● TUESDAY, February 28
IMF Mission comes to Moldova to asses implementation of program commitments
An International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission led by Mr. Ruben Atoyan will hold discussions with the Moldovan authorities in the context of the third review under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) and the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) arrangements in Chisinau during March 1 – 14, 2023, IPN reports, quoting a press statement by Rodgers Chawani, IMF Resident Representative in the Republic of Moldova.
Vladimir Bolea: We will get US$25m from WB for developing animal-breeding
The Government of the Republic of Moldova will borrow US$25 million from the World Bank for developing and modernizing the animal-breeding sector. Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry Vladimir Bolea said the money will be provided in the form of subsidies to farmers who will decide to build cattle farms or to extend existing farms. According to the Deputy Prime Minister, farmers will receive state support depending on the quantity of milk produced by each cow.
● WEDNESDAY, March 1
CAA reaction to Wizz Air decision to suspend flights from Chisinau
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) confirms that the airline Wizz Air decided to suspend all its flights to and from the Chisinau International Airport as from March 14, 2023. The operator invoked the safety and security of the airspace in the region. The CAA noted yet that the airline’s decision creates uncertainty.
Moldova Steel Works’ permit extended
The period of validity of the environmental permit and the air emissions permit of the Rybnitsa-based Moldova Steel Works were extended until March 31, as the Commission for Exceptional Situations decreed.
Termoelectrica and CET-Nord to get 260m lei subsidies in advice
The joint stock companies “Termoelectrica” and “CET-Nord” will get an advance of 260 million lei in subsidies for heat bills for February-March. The Commission for Exceptional Situations decided that the given amount will be allocated from the Energy Vulnerability Reduction Fund.
Financing at low costs through FACEM
The Fund for Entrepreneurship and Economic Growth of Moldova (FACEM) will offer loans and total or partial subsidies at the cost of loans raised by enterprises. The regulations of the new program were approved by the Cabinet. The fund will be managed by the Organization for Entrepreneurship Development, which will be financed with state budget finds and with the funds provided by the development partners and will offer the entrepreneurs access to financing at low costs.
Components of cars taken out of use will be collected and recycled
The components of motor vehicles taken out of use will be collected, sorted and recycled. The Cabinet approved the legal framework needed for using old car components and stimulating circular economy.
Heat charge in Chisinau up 25%
The heat supplied to consumers in Chisinau will be by 25% more expensive. The National Agency for Energy Regulation approved a charge of 3,577 lei/Gcal, up 723 lei/Gcal, for the heat supplied by SA Termoelectrica.
Gas from Russia in March will be bought for US$1,011 per 1,000m3
JSC Moldovagaz in March will purchase natural gas from Gazprom for US$1,011.73 per 1,000 cubic meters of gas, the company’s CEO Vadim Ceban has announced.
Wizz Air’s decision smells of business rather than of safety, aviation expert
If there had been indeed a significant security risk, the airline would have immediately stopped the flights and wouldn’t have waited for two weeks so as not to need to pay cancelation damages. This smells of business rather than of safety, said an aviation expert who commented for RFE/RL’s Moldovan Service on Wizz Air’s decision to suspend flights to and from Chisinau as from March 14.
Nominal salary up, real salary down last year
Last year, the nominal gross average monthly salary was over 10,000 lei, a 15.5% increase in nominal value, However, in real terms, when adjusted to the consumer price index, it dropped by 10.3%, according to the National Statistics Bureau.
● THURSDAY, March 2
Air Moldova cancels a number of flights
The airline Air Moldova announced that the March 2 flights to and from Prague, London, Paris, Istanbul and Tbilisi had been cancelled due to operational difficulties.
● FRIDAY, March 3
Air Moldova cancels a number of flights
The airline Air Moldova announced that the March 2 flights to and from Prague, London, Paris, Istanbul and Tbilisi had been cancelled due to operational difficulties.
IMF conducting third assessment of Moldova program
IMF experts will carry out a third assessment of the program with Moldova under by the Extended Credit Mechanism (ECF) and the Extended Financing Mechanism (EFF). The program’s progress and macroeconomic developments were discussed at a meeting between Prime Minister Dorin Recean and the IMF team, led by Ruben Atoyan.
● SATURDAY, March 4
Government should borrow from outside as it is cheaper, economist
To renovate its infrastructure and to develop, the Republic of Moldova needs about 8.5% of the Gross Domestic Product, which is nearly 23 billion lei. But the state does not have this money in the public budget. A solution is to borrow money from outside the country as the Government’s foreign public debt is small and the interest paid on foreign loans is much lower than on domestic loans, said economic expert Vyacheslav Ioniță.
Government will claim 3.3bn lei from Moldovagaz
The Government, through the agency of the Public Property Agency, will initiate the procedure for claiming 3.3 billion lei, at the average exchange rate of 2008, following the reassessment of the fixed assets invested by the executive in the social capital of SA Moldovagaz. More exactly, this amount will be regarded as Moldovagaz’s debt to the Public Property Agency. The Government will also re-inventory the assets invested in the social capital of Moldovagaz and will determine the assets that didn’t take part in the diminution of debts to the Russian company Gazprom. It will also determine the respective impact on the alleged debts to the Russian supplier. This is provided in a draft decision that was adopted by Parliament after examining the Court of Auditors’ audit report.
If flight is late or cancelled, passengers can get compensation
If a flight is late or is cancelled, the passengers must benefit from assistance and service, including if a flight is redirected. They are also entitled to compensation, with particular exceptions, the Civil Aviation Authority specified after Wizz Air announced it decided to suspend flights to and from Chisinau as from March 14 and after Air Moldova cancelled a number of flights.
Tourist accommodation facilities saw more guests in 2022
Last year, tourist accommodation facilities received almost 334,000 guests, twice as much compared to the previous year. Of the total number, a little over half were domestic tourists and over 48% were non-residents. The National Bureau of Statistics reports that in 2022, compared to the previous year, the number of non-resident guests in collective accommodation facilities increased by 93,200, or two and a half times. The number of domestic tourists increased by 62,500, or +57%.
Employment chances of skilled workers have increased, Employment Agency
Even if they have been seriously affected by the overlapping crises in 2022, 40% of the micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in the Republic of Moldova aim to invest in equipment, technologies and spaces. 10% of the business entities want to invest in the creation of new jobs. The employers in 2022 experienced a labor shortage of 18%, up 2% on a year before. The forecast for 2023 shows the number of business entities that invoke the shortage of skilled workers as one of the main reasons of the non-filling of vacancies grew three times, IPN reports, quoting a study of the labor force market for 2023 from the perspective of employers, which was carried out by the National Employment Agency.
Igor Zubcu: Fact that only one employee maintains a pensioner is a big risk
As the inflation rate is of over 30%, the minimum salary in Moldova in 2023 should have been of at least 5,000 lei, said the president of the National Trade Union Confederation Igor Zubcu. According to him, all the European provisions stipulate that the minimum salary should represent at least 50% of the average salary in the country. But the Government didn’t accept the trade union’s proposal and the minimum salary for 2023 was set at 4,000 lei.
