● MONDAY, March 19
Works to repair roads in over 1,000 communities will start in May
The works to repair over 1,200 kilometers of road in more than 1,000 communities in Moldova will begin in May, Minister of Economy and Road Infrastructure Kiril Gaburici stated in the TV channel. The ministered said the communities where roads will be repaired as part of this project were selected by the number of inhabitants. There were examined the main roads in communities and identified those that are badly in need of repair. The central public authorities intend to spend about 1.6 billion lei of the own funds and of donations made by such foreign partners as the EBRD, EIB and World Bank for repairing over 1,200 km of roads in more than 1,000 Moldovan communities.
● TUESDAY, March 20
Moldovan dessert wine awarded in Geneva
The wine Chardonnay Sweet from the central part of Orhei district made by Chateau Vartely ranked first in the dessert wine category at the traditional wine contest held annually by the World Trade Organization in Geneva. Moldova has taken part in the contest for the second time. In the previous edition, of 2016, Moldova for the first time ranked first in two categories simultaneously. Pinot Grigio de Purcari was the winner in the white wine category, while Kagor Pastoral emerged victorious in the dessert wine category. Wines made in 31 countries competed this year in the three traditional categories of the contest: white wine, red wine and dessert wine.
Gasoline grows more expensive, diesel fuel is cheapened
The National Agency for Energy Regulation announced the ceilings for fuel prices for the next two weeks. As of March 21, a liter of gasoline will be sold for at most 17.87 lei, up, 0.07 lei. A liter of diesel fuel will cost at most 15.73 lei, down 0.12 lei. During the past two weeks, gasoline has been sold for at most 17.80 lei, while diesel fuel for at most 15.85 lei. The new price ceilings will be applied until April 3, 2018.
● WEDNESDAY, March 21
Kaufland announces creation of 1,000 jobs in Moldova
The company Kaufland has launched the activities needed to start the construction of the first three stores in the municipality of Chisinau. Later the chain will be extended outside Chisinau. The company intends to invest over €100 million during the first three years of activity in Moldova and to create at least 1,000 jobs during the next five years. Kaufland is one of the largest retail companies in Europe, with over 1,250 stores in seven countries.
State program “First House” to become functional in less than a week
In less than a week, the state program “First House” will come functional. Thus, as from March 26 the citizens can submit applications for financing to the banks that signed cooperation contracts with the Ministry of Finance and the Organization for the Development of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (ODIMM). These banks are Moldinconbank, Victoriabank and Agroindbank, which, according to the authorities, are ready to accept applications for financing within the project at all their branches in the country. “As this program is implemented through state guarantee, the product becomes more accessible than other home loans. The annual interest rate that will be applied now is about 9.03%,” said Minister of Finance Octavian Armasu. The program is intended for citizens of the Republic of Moldova younger than 45 who have an official job. Those interested should not own another home or have an active home loan, while the monthly salary should be twice larger than the monthly interest rate. The incomes earned abroad by the wife, husband or relatives of the first decree who will apply to take part in the program will be considered eligible. The purchased homes must be finished and put on the Real Estate Register of the Public Services Agency. The home loan will be repayable in at most 25 years.
National Road Transport Agency given new powers
The Government extended the powers of the National Road Transport Agency. This will exercise state control over the observance of the legislation on occupational safety and health in the case of production and service provision units whose activity is regulated by the legislation on road transport. Until now this was the duty of the State Labor Inspectorate. The Agency will also supervise the observance of the legislation on consumer protection, as regards the safety and quality of products and services in the road transport sector, and will additionally notify and register road transport operators, instead of the Licensing Chamber. For fulfilling the new duties, the number of personnel units will be raised from 120 to 124 units. The four units will be transferred from the State Labor Inspectorate. It should be noted that the National Road Transport Agency finances itself with own sources.
Pavel Filip: Early valorization of pensions takes place amid economic growth
The valorization of pensions in 2018 following the pension system reform will cover 142,000 recipients of old-age pensions and 22,000 recipients of disability pensions. The rise in pensions by valorization will be differentiated depending on the year the pension was set and the incomes earned by the person. Thus, as of April 1, 2018, there will be valorized the pensions set in 2012-2013, while from October 1, 2018 the pensions set between January 1, 2014 and March 31, 2017. Respectively, on April 1, 2018, following the valorization, the old-age pensions will rise by 272.17 lei a month on average, while the disability pensions will increase by 252.39 lei on average. On October 1, the old-age pensions will grow by 325 lei a month on average, while the disability pensions by 300 lei.
● THURSDAY, March 22
Mobiasbanca suggests resolving customer complaints by mediation
Mobiasbanca announces the launch of a new innovative tool, in line with the international practice, for resolving customer complaints through mediation. This implies an alternative for objectively and professionally solving
the situation in case of disagreement with the Bank’s response to a complaint or lack of feedback within a 30-day period from the complaint registration. Thus, the customers of Mobiasbanca can apply for the services of an independent mediator, free of charge, by calling the Mediation Center of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Moldova (phone 022-23-52-68). The mediation procedure will be carried out according with the provisions of Law No. 137 of 03.07.2015 on Mediation, as well as under conditions specified in the Mediation of complains submitted to the Bank.
● FRIDAY, March 23
MPs change purpose of land on which Chisinau Arena is to be built
The legislative body adopted in two readings a bill that provides for the transfer of a plot of 69.2 ha located in Stauceni commune of Chisinau municipality to the category of land intended for constructions. The first polyvalent hall in Moldova, called the Chisinau Arena, is to be built there. A polyvalent hall of such a kind, taking into account its infrastructure, will occupy an area of 10-15 ha. The authors suggested converting a larger area in view of enabling the developers to build additional infrastructure, such as hotels. The Chisinau Arena will be built based on a public-private partnership and will have a seating capacity of 3,500 to 5,000. It will include a roofed swimming pool, tennis courts, spa and fitness areas. An international tender contest will be held soon to choose the company that will construct the arena.
Investments in FEZ Balti rose to US$ 161.8m in eight years
The investments made in the Free Economic Zone (FEZ) Balti during eight years of its foundation rose from US$ 6.7 million to US $ 161.8 million. The 55 resident companies created over 6,000 jobs with an average salary of 11,600 lei. FEZ Balti manages 11 subzones located in the three regions of the Republic of Moldova. The resident companies enjoy a number of fiscal and customs concessions.
Moldova is not ready to receive large groups of tourists and to offer them guides
The inbound tourism sector in Moldova still faces problems. Moldova is not ready to receive large groups of tourists and to offer them guides, especially to the Chinese tourists, director of the Tourism Agency of Moldova Stanislav Rusu stated in the third ANTRIM Incoming Travel Forum that is supported by the USAID Moldova Competitiveness Project and the Government of Sweden, in cooperation with the Moldova Investment Attraction and Export Promotion Organization (MIEPO). According to Stanislav Rusu, last year the Government and Parliament ensured concessions aimed at supporting the tourism industry, with the facilitation of the visa regime for Chinese citizens being one of the taken measures. Even so, Moldova is not ready to receive Chinese tourists as it does not have Chinese specking guides and does not have restaurant menus in Chinese, informative brochures, etc. Emilian Dzucas, president of the National Inbound Tourism Association of Moldova (ANTRIM), said Italy and Poland are the main markets for the Moldovan tourism. In 2017, the number of tourists who came from Italy to Moldova was by 23.3% higher than a year ago, while from Poland was by 13.7% higher. This success is due to the seminars, info trips for the press and other activities. The opening of tourist information centers also contributed to this success. Moldova will be promoted on international markets and emphasis will be placed on the improvement of the quality of tourist services, including those that are provided by transport companies.
