● THUESDAY, January 9
33 new entrepreneurs operate on electronic communications and postal services markets
Twenty entrepreneurs in 2017 were authorized to provide public electronic communications networks and/or services accessible to the public based on the general authorization regime, while 13 entrepreneurs were licensed to provide postal services. Last yearend, the total number of persons on the public register of providers of electronic communications networks and services stood at 549, while on the public register of postal services providers at 40.
Lithuania aims to become FinTech center in Nordic-Baltic region
Lithuania set the goal of becoming a FinTech center in the Nordic-Baltic region of Europe. For the purpose, the central bank of Lithuania, together with other state bodies, are creating a favorable environment for founding and running financial institutions, including ensuring the facilitated obtaining of an authorization for later operating on the banking market of the European Union. In a discussion in Vilnius with a group of Moldovan journalists, Rūta Medaiskytė, head of the Newcomer project of the Bank of Lithuania, said the Bank aims to create a friendly environment with the assistance of innovations so as to offer the best conditions for the development of financial technologies and establish the most favorable environment for FinTech firms from the whole Nordic-Baltic region.
Fuel price ceilings put up
The National Agency for Energy Regulation announced the fuel price ceilings for the next two weeks. Thus, as of January 10 the price ceiling for a liter of gasoline will be by 0.68 lei higher, while for a liter of diesel fuel by 0.60 lei higher. A liter of gasoline “95” will cost at most 18.22 lei, as opposed to 17.54 lei until now. A liter of diesel fuel will be sold for not more than 16.32 lei, as against 15.72 lei during the past two weeks.
● WEDNESDAY, January 10
“Apa-Canal Chisinau” applies new organogram
As from this month, SA “Apa-Canal Chisinau” has worked based on a new organization system that is designed to accelerate the process of modernizing and orienting the company to development and investments. The supplier said the organizational measure includes the creation of an important number of jobs, such as posts for specialists in key units that ensure medium- and long-term support for maintenance, technical and equipment activities, protection support, designing etc.
Higher tax for persons who earn incomes from delivery of agricultural products
The income tax for private individuals who make money from the delivery of agricultural products to business entities is raised from 3% to 5%. According to the Ministry of Finance, the measure is designed to ensure fiscal equity in the case of private individuals who earn other incomes than salary ones by gradually raising the tax to the standard rates for private individuals.
Providers of consultancy services to be taxed according to general norms
The business entities that provide management or consultancy services and that obtained over 70% of their revenues from these activities the previous fiscal period will be excluded from the category of subjects of the fiscal regime applied to small and medium-sized enterprises. Thus, this category of business entities will pay income tax in accordance with the general norms (12%), according to the 2018 fiscal policy.
● THURSDAY, January 11
Moldova, Romania to exchange data on applications for VAT refund
The chiefs of the customs authorities of Moldova and Romania Vitalie Vrabie and Marius Atomei in a meeting agreed to create a mechanism for exchanging data concerning the applications for VAT refund when leaving Romania for goods worth over €300. The measure is aimed at excluding the cases of unfounded requests for exemptions envisioned by the EU legislation and at preventing the avoidance of paying customs duties on goods brought into Moldova.
Moldova holds 56th spot out of 109 states in public integrity rankings
The Index of Public Integrity for the first time included the Republic of Moldova, which takes the 56th position out of 109 states in the rankings for 2017. Data for Moldova were collected by experts of the Institute for Development and Social Initiative “Viitorul”. According to “Viitorul”, Moldova scored 6.44. At regional level, only Romania bettered Moldova, ranking 30th with a score of 7.6. Russia holds the 72nd spot with a score of 5.9, while Ukraine the 68th spot with 6.2.
Average official monthly salary for 2018 projected at 6 150 lei
The average official monthly salary for this year is expected to be of 6 150 lei. A decision to this effect was carried by the Cabinet on January 11.
Oil products could be further cleared at Bender-2 customs post
The Cabinet on January 11 approved the prolongation of the period during which oil products brought through the Novosavitskaya-Cuciurgan border crossing point can be cleared at the Bender-2 customs post for six months until July 1, 2018. The decision was taken after considering the possibility of extending the period of implementing the protocol decision on the restoration of freight railway traffic through the Transnistrian region until the end of this year.
New agreement on air services with Ukraine
The Cabinet approved the signing of a new agreement on air services with Ukraine. Currently, the bilateral relations in the field of air transport are regulated by an agreement signed in March 1993. The new agreement centers on liberalization principles that are in accordance with the recommendations of the International Civil Aviation Organization.
● FRIDAY, January 12
Moldovans’ cash transfers no longer play an important role, expert
The money transferred home by Moldovans who work abroad, even if they remain at a rather high level, no longer play an important role when exports are higher in value than the amounts introduced into the country for the third consecutive year. In 2017, remittances came to US$1.27 billion, while sales of foreign currency to US$ 2 billion, which is less than the amounts collected from exports, economist of the Institute for Development and Social Initiative “Viitorul” Veaceslav Ionita stated.
Law to amend Broadcasting Code published in Official Gazette
The law to amend the Broadcasting Code was published in the January 12 issue of the Official Gazette. The broadcasters and distributors of services that are within the jurisdiction of the Republic of Moldova are obliged to adjust their audiovisual program services and offers of services of programs retransmitted in accordance with the new broadcasting norms within 30 days of the publication of the law in the Official Gazette.
Personal exemption increased, but not to level requested by trade unions
The annual personal exemption was raised from 10 620 lei last year to 11 280 lei in 2018. The rise is not yet at the level requested by the National Confederation of Trade Unions of Moldova, which asked that the personal exemption should be equal to the minimum subsistence level. The persons who became disabled after they took part in the Chernobyl cleanup or in the war for defending the territorial integrity and independence of Moldova or after suffering from congenital or childhood disorders, the pensioners-victims of political repression who were later rehabilitated and other categories specified by the legislation will benefit from a personal exemption of 16 800 lei, as opposed to 15 840 lei last year.
Costs of servicing public debt in 2018 assessed at 1.819bn lei
The costs associated with the servicing of the public debt this year were calculated at 1.819,5 billion lei, by 170.8 million lei lower than the costs assessed for 2017. The costs of servicing the external debt in 2018 will total 400.7 million lei (about US$22.7m), a decrease of almost US$ 1 million. According to the Ministry of Finance, the reduction is due to the projected appreciation of the national currency against foreign currencies.
Firm that will organize land auctions in Chisinau chosen
As a result of a public contest, the Agency “Capitalimobil” SRL was selected as the organizer of outcry land auctions in Chisinau municipality.
Culture Center and Alley of Classical Writers in Calarasi renovated
The Culture and Recreation Center and the Alley of Classical Writers of Calarasi town have been renovated within a regional development project financed with money from the National Regional Development Fund. About 2.5 million lei was allocated for the purpose.
Two tourist attractions of Manuc-Bey Mansion reconstructed
The first stage of reconstruction works at the museum-tourist complex Manuc-Bey Mansion in Hancesti town has been completed. This covered the Vechiului House and the Ionita Iamandy-Dolgorukii House. The Vechiului House will include a mini-hotel with accommodation places, while the second facility will house a museum.
Partners of PPP projects of national interest entitled to VAT refund
The partners of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects put on the list of works and services of national public interest will be entitled to the refund of the VAT on capital expenditure/investments within the given projects as of January 1, 2018.
Project to build trailer park failed
The project to build a parking lot for trailers in Moldova failed because the private investor that expressed interest in the initiative faced particular financial difficulties. Tourism Agency director Stanislav Rusu said the initiative was launched by the former government and was to be put into practice based on a public-private partnership.
Of 250 registered accommodation facilities, only 120 possess classification certificates
In the Republic of Moldova, there are about 250 tourist accommodation facilities. The hotels are the most numerous ones and are followed by pensions, villages, motels and spas. Director of the Tourism Agency of Moldova Stanislav Rusu has told that the official statistics do not include private apartments and village homes that provide accommodation. Of the 250 registered accommodation facilities, only 120 possess classification certificates.
● SATURDAY, January 13
Private apartments that provide accommodation to tourists generate unfair competition
The private apartments that provide accommodation to foreign tourists create unfair competition in the tourism sector. Even if they perform an economic activity, the owners of these apartments do not pay local and other taxes. Director of the Tourism Agency of Moldova Stanislav Rusu has told that to work legally, the apartment owners should change the purpose of the apartment from residential into non-residential. But the apartment owners will never resort to such an act.
Financing possibilities for SMEs in 2018
In 2018, the small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) will be offered support through the agency of a number of state budget-funded programs. A sum of 29.4 million lei was earmarked for stimulating investments in regional development by job creation. Of this sum, 10 million lei will be used to implement the program to empower women in regions. A sum of 25 million lei will be allocated from the rural business guarantee fund for providing lending guarantees to over 170 entrepreneurs.
