● MONDAY, March 26
Development center for children opened in Ceadir-Lunga with EU support
The first development and recreation center for children in Ceadir-Lunga town was opened by local Natalia Petis after she won a grant from the European Union through Support for Agricultural and Rural Development in ATU Gagauzia and Taraclia (SARD) Program, implemented by the UNDP. Until two months ago, there was no indoor playground for children in Ceadir-Lunga. There was no place where children could spend their leisure time, especially during the cold period of the year. The center, with its modular labyrinth, a ball pit, fairy-tale houses and numerous educational toys, has already become so popular that it cannot house all the children of the town wishing to visit it. More and more often the center is demanded as an event venue to host children’s birthdays.
New flight to Frankfurt available from Chisinau
A new flight to Germany’s Frankfurt is operated by Lufthansa airline at the Chisinau International Airport, Avia Invest director Petru Jardan announced in a news conference on March 26. As of March 25, the aircraft on Monday and Friday will leave Frankfurt at 9:50am. On Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, the flight will take off at 10am. From Chisinau, the flights will leave daily at 2:30pm.
● TUESDAY, March 27
Guaranteed minimum wage set at 15.44 lei an hour
The guaranteed minimum wage in the real sector will increase from 14.09 lei an hour or 2,380 lei a month (calculated for a complete working program of 169 hours on average a month) to 15.44 lei an hour or 2,610 lei a month as of May 1 this year. A draft decision to this effect was proposed by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Social Protection for public debates. This year the summary growth was determined at 9.6%.
Moldovans abroad transferred US$ 93.48m home last month
The amounts transferred home to private individuals by Moldovans who are abroad through authorized banks this February came to US$ 93.48 million, an increase of 18.3% on last February. The transfers from the EU represented 38.7% of the remittances, those from the CIS - 30%, while those from the rest of the world - 31.3%. The transfers from Russia made up 29% (US$ 27.07m), down 2.8% on last February, from Israel – 17.9% (US$ 16.73m), while from Italy – 13% (US$ 12.19m).
IMF to make available about US$34.9m to Moldova
IMF staff and the Moldovan authorities have reached staff-level agreement on the third review under an economic reform program supported by a three-year Extended Credit Facility and Extended Fund Facility (ECF/EFF) arrangement. The staff-level agreement is subject to approval by IMF Management and the Executive Board. Consideration by the Executive Board could happen as early as May, following the authorities’ implementation of a number of prior actions. Completion of the review will make available SDR 24.0 million (about US$34.9 million). Prime Ministr Pavel Filip, in a press beefing held together with the head of the IMF mission Ben Kelmanson, said a list of priorities was agreed to more efficiently spend the external financing. The executive will make sure that the 2018 state budget and medium-term budgetary framework are adjusted in optimal terms and that the 2019 state budget law is approved by the end of the current session of Parliament.
Regulations on obtaining of Moldovan nationality by investment to be supplemented
The Ministry of Economy and Infrastructure suggested a draft Government decision to supplement the regulations concerning the obtaining of Moldovan nationality by investment for public debates. The proposed changes empower the commission for examining the file for obtaining nationality with the right to choose at a contest an international company that will assess the risk to public order and security and will ensure the examination of the good economic and financial reputation of the foreign citizen or stateless person who applies for Moldova nationality. The commission will also select a company with experience in the field for internationally promoting the program to obtain nationality by investment.
Beginner agricultural producers will get subsidy in two installments
The system for providing payments in advance from the National Agriculture and Rural Development Fund covers the agricultural producers that are young farmers or female farmers. Within the program, these will be able to benefit from financial support only once. The subsidies in advance will be provided based on the investment projects submitted by agricultural producers that perform an economic activity in the agrifood sector for the first time and are not affiliated to another agricultural producer. This is provided in a draft decision to approve the regulations concerning the conditions and procedure for providing payments in advance from the National Agriculture and Rural Development Fund.
● WEDNESDAY, March 28
Contract for privatization of Vestmoldtransgaz to be signed March 28
The contract for the privatization of the company Vestmoldtransgaz by the Romanian operator Transgaz will be signed on March 28. The works to build the Ungheni-Chisinau gas pipeline will start in the shortest period of time, Prime Minister Pavel Filip stated in the program “Moldova live” on the public TV channel Moldova 1. “It is a very important thing and I care a lot about it. I want the largest part of this gas pipeline to be built by the end of my mandate so as to be proud of having ensured the energy security of the Republic of Moldova during my term in office,” stated the Premier.
Octavian Armasu: Funds will be disbursed after IMF Management approves lending
The loan of US$34.9 million from the International Monetary Fund will be made available after the IMF Management and the Executive Board approve the lending expectedly in June, Minister of Finance Octavian Armasu stated in the talk show “Issue of the day” on Canal2 channel. According to him, for the money to reach the Republic of Moldova, the agenda agreed with the IMF should be followed. “As regards public finances, we and the IMF agreed the macro-financial framework where, based on the economic growth, import, export and salary forecasts, we project the budget revenues and set objectives related to the costs, deficit and how we will finance this deficit. Based on these forecasts, we will work out the medium-term budgetary framework, the budget for 2019 and will rectify the 2018 budget,” stated Octavian Armasu.
Food safety system consolidated with FAO support
The national food safety system of Moldova was consolidated in accordance with the international standards within a project that was supported financially by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. Tudor Robu, Assistant FAO Representative to Moldova, in a project completion conference, said the obtained improvements will bring benefits to consumers, producers and processors operating in the food sector and to the food safety authorities. The project was implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture, Regional Development and Environment in cooperation with the National Food Safety Agency.
Moldova is country of state support of millions of euros, “Viitorul”
The Republic of Moldova is a factory of economic stimuli provided under different instruments, including individual assistance offered both by the central public authorities and the local ones. This is the conclusion of a study presented by the Institute for Development and Social Initiative “Viitorul”. The state support has substantially increased. At the same time, the funds allocated for supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) decreases about three times each year. Such intervention cannot solve the market failures. On the contrary, it creates unfair competition, said “Viitorul” consultant Georgeta Mincu.
Moldova to negotiate agreement on air transport with U.S.
The Government of the Republic of Moldova decided to initiate negotiations with the Government of the United States on the draft agreement on air transport. The group of negotiators includes six persons and is headed by Serghei Bucataru, Secretary of State on transport at the Ministry of Economy and Infrastructure. According to the authorities, the given agreement will facilitate investments and the provision of air services. In the future, the created legal framework could lead to the development of air traffic between Moldova and the U.S. Currently, no national airline operates flights to the U.S.
● THURSDAY, March 29
Moldova and Romania to strengthen cooperation relations in tourism
The Government of the Republic of Moldova approved the initiation of talks with the Government of Romania for strengthening the cooperation relations in the tourism sector. The agreement that is to be signed envisions the mutual offering of possibilities for training and improving the skills of the executive personnel and specialists of the competent tourism authorities as well as of employees of hotels, restaurants and other categories of specialists who provide tourism services.
Climate change resilience measures to be taken in Ramsar Site “Lower Nistru”
Climate change resilience and institutional development measures will be taken in the Ramsar Site “Lower Nistru” until 2021 within a project that was launched at the Ministry of Agriculture, Regional Development and Environment on March 29, 2018. The project will support the creation of a state-protected natural area called “National Park “Lower Nistru”. The project covers 13 communities, namely: Tudora, Plop-Stiubei, Rascaieti, Gradinita, Olanesti, Talmaza, Cioburciu, Popeasca, Copanca, Palanca, Carnateni, Purcari, and Crocmaz. It is designed to support the creation of the “National Park “Lower Nistru” and to increase the people’s interest in the development possibilities in the area.
Gas Natural Fenosa suggests reducing power tariff for population by 5.5%
Gas Natural Fenosa submitted the proposal to reduce the electric power tariffs from April 1 to the National Agency for Energy Regulation. The tariff for household users is suggested to be decreased by 5.5%. In a press release, the company said the calculations were done based on the purchase price of electricity stipulated in the contracts for 2018, the current transportation costs and the basic costs associated with the distribution and supply of power, the volume of electrical energy distributed and supplied, the power losses in distribution networks in 2017 and the macroeconomic indicators specified in the forecast updated by the authorities.
● FRIDAY, March 30
Single Central Securities Depository constituted
The Single Central Securities Depository was set up on March 29. In the constitution meeting, there were chosen the executive bodies and approved the constitution documents. Thus, the Single Central Securities Depository will be led by an Executive Committee that will be made up of three members. The Supervisory Board of the Depository will consist of representatives of the National Bank of Moldova, the National Commission for Financial Markets, the Ministry of Finance and the Moldova Stock Exchange.
Six business support centers to be opened in southern Moldova
Six business support centers for small and medium-sized enterprises will be set up in southern Moldova within a project that is supported financially by the EU to strengthen the partnership between the public and private sectors in achieving the objective of sustainably developing communities and regions. According to the South Regional Development Agency, the project will last for two years and a half and tends to contribute to the social and economic development of the Republic of Moldova by involving civil society and other parties, taking into account the provisions of the Association Agreement with the EU, which includes the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement.
Governmental road building program is populist, “Expert-Grup”
The governmental program to build over 1,000 kilometers of roads in more than 1,000 communities, which was initiated by the leader of the ruling Democratic Party Vlad Plahotniuc, is populist, electoral and without full budget backing, said Dumitru Budianschi, programs director at the independent think tank “Expert-Grup”. In an interview for Radio Free Europe’s Moldovan Service, the expert said the PDM’s initiative is rather unrealistic. “It will be implemented within the limits of the roads fund that totals 492 million lei, plus the 88 million allocated recently. The project will be implemented to a certain extent. Secondly, there are great risks as to quality. What kind of quality can we expect if the works will be done in a hurry, at any cost. We witnessed similar works in 2015. If you look at the studies we conducted, you will see what kinds of works were done, with the violation of all the road repair norms,” stated Dumitru Budianschi, noting that the rest of about 1.1 billion lei remains without coverage.
Grants for farmers that apply sustainable land management technologies
The agricultural producers, except for those from Chisinau and Balti, that apply modern sustainable land management practices and technologies by preserving soil health and productivity are invited to take part in a grants program supported by the World Bank. Submissions are accepted between April 2 and May 31. The Agency for Intervention and Payments in Agriculture said this is the seventh call for proposals of the post-investment grants program of the World Bank-funded Moldova Competitive Agriculture Project (MAC-P) that is implemented in concert with the Ministry of Agriculture, Regional Development and Environment.
● SATURDAY, March 31
Société Générale pulls business out of Central and Eastern Europe, including Moldova
The French bank Société Générale is pulling their business out of Central and Eastern Europe, namely from Bulgaria, Albania, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Moldova. According to the news portal EUSCOOP, Société Générale decided to focus on other parts of their business and sell their shares in the aforementioned regions. SG isn’t content with their position on these markets, as they aren’t leaders in the region. Also, these markets are oversaturated and unattractive at the moment.
