● MONDAY, May 21
Ministry of Finance to notify WTO of government purchases
The Ministry of Finance will have the task of notifying and informing the World Trade Organization (WTO) of government purchases, IPN reports, with reference to an amendment to a previous Government decision that was proposed for public consultations. Thus, the Ministry of Finance will present statistical data about government purchases (separately for goods, services and building works) and will offer methodological assistance to contracting entities in publishing announcements about large government purchases that exceed the ceilings set by the WTO Agreement on Government Procurement.
New dairy factory to start work in Transnistria
A new dairy factory is to be opened in the Transnistrian region by the end of this June following the extension of a family animal breeding business. It is estimated that this will be the largest dairy company in the region given that the family runs a farm with about 1,400 cows. “Last year, we bought 165 young cows from Germany and now our farm produces daily over 10 tonnes of milk that is taken to the milk complex in Tiraspol. The idea of processing the milk ourselves appeared when we started to daily produce 4-5 tonnes of milk. The projected capacity of the new factory is 30 tonnes during 24 hours,” director Sergey Pisarenco was quoted by the local press as saying.
Moldovan cucumbers tested for pesticides
Inspectors of the National Food Safety Agency took samples of cucumbers from one of the largest cucumber farms based near Bardar village for checking these for pesticides. The samples will be tested for 30 active substances in accredited labs. If the vegetables do not meet the norms, the inspectors will impose restrictive measures, including ban on sale. In the course of this year, inspectors of the Agency will take about 300 specimens of 25 types of vegetable products to determine the content of pesticide residues and 250 samples of 14 types of products to determine the content of nitrates.
● TUESDAY, May 22
Embassy of Japan supports approaches to develop customs cooperation with Moldova
The signing of the agreement between the governments of the Republic of Moldova and Japan on mutual administrative assistance in the customs sector will contribute to ensuring the economic security of the signatory states and to developing the commercial relations between these. The subject was discussed by the Customs Service’s director Vitalie Vrabie and Japan’s Ambassador to Moldova Masanobu Yoshii in a meeting. “The intensification of information exchanges between the two counties is fueled by the continuous growth in the volume of exports to the Japanese market. Statistics show an increase of 31% in exports to Japan in 2017, compared with 2016, to US$ 1.90bn,” it is said in a press release of the Customs Service.
Moldovan wine companies take part in “Top Wine China” exhibit
Sixteen Moldovan wine companies are taking part in the exhibition “Top Wine China” by a common stand, presenting over 80 types of classical and autochthonous types of wine, on the initiative of Moldova’s Embassy in Chisinau. According to the Ambassador of Moldova to China Denis Jelimalai, Moldova’s participation in the exhibition is designed to promote the Moldovan wines, to establish new business relations, to strengthen the existing partnerships and to learn the tendencies on the Chinese wine market. “We are glad that the Chinese experts and visitors appreciate the quality and competitiveness of the wines offered by Moldovan wine companies, showing an increased interest in our pavilion,” stated the diplomat.
Businesses save millions of dollars following reform of permissive documents
The reform of permissive documents done by the Government last year enable businesses to save over US$ 12 million annually, said experts of the International Finance Corporation of the World Bank Group. According to the Government’s press service, the savings were possible owing to the reduction in the number of permissive documents and of procedures for issuing these. After implementing the concept of national one-stop shops for permissive documents needed by business entities, the costs incurred by businesses will decrease even more.
● WEDNESDAY, May 23
New measures to prevent and fight money laundering intended for audit entities
The methodological indications concerning the implementation by audit companies and individual auditors of the measures to prevent and combat money laundering and terrorism financing will be adjusted to those of the law that was adopted last yearend. The proposed amendments and supplements contain provisions stipulating that the executive body of the audit company or of the individual entrepreneurial auditor should nominate persons responsible for the implementation of the law on the prevention and combating of money laundering and terrorism financing of December 22, 2017.
Tiraspol initiates entrepreneurship development fund
An entrepreneurship development fund will be created in the Transnistrian region in 2019. This will be used to subsidize small, large and medium-sized enterprises and to offer subsidies for investments and state guarantees. Quoting the head of the so-called Transnistrian government Alexandr Martynov, the local press reported that the fund will be a starting point for those who start or expand businesses. The allocations from the fund will be non-reimbursable. The money could be spent on the purchase of equipment, connection to the power and heat supply and training.
Main indicators on mobile telephone services market slightly lower
The number of users of mobile phone services in the first quarter of this year decreased by 28,500 (-0.6%) compared with the corresponding period last year, to over 4.4 million. The volume of voice traffic diminished by 1.5% to almost 1.5 billion minutes. The sales of mobile phone services declined by 5.4% to over 749.1 million lei. The negative trend is due to the change in the consumer preferences of users who choose alternative communication services through the Internet, such as Skype, Viber and WhatsApp, which are free of charge.
New agreements with Ukraine on road communications and air services
The Cabinet approved a protocol to amend the agreement on international road communications with Ukraine. Under the protocol, the transport of goods to Ukraine under bilateral and transit regimes will be performed without a transport authorization for motor vehicles that meet the EURO III norms and higher norms. An authorization costs €8 to €10 euro. Given that the flow of goods of the transport operators from Moldova is mainly directed to Eastern Europe, these face a shortage of authorizations. Even if the Ukrainian side in 2017 issued about 50,000 authorizations for different categories of vehicles, the Ministry of Economy and Infrastructure requested 10,000 more authorizations. Even so, the Moldovan companies could not honor all their commitments according to the signed contracts.
● THURSDAY, May 24
About 45% of Moldova’s wine exports absorbed by EU in 2017
Some 45% of Moldova’s wine exports last year went to the EU member states, 20% to countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States, while 17% to China. The sales totaled 14 million dekaliters of wine to the value of over UD$ 125 million. The data were presented in public hearings centering on the situation in the wine industry that were held by the parliamentary commission on agriculture and food industry. Director of the National Office of Vine and Wine Gheorghe Arpentin said the supplies of wine in wineries during the past five years have decreased. Some 65% of the costs incurred by the institution are associated with the promotion of the export of wine products. In 2017, the wines were promoted to 15 countries through the agency of over 100 promotional campaigns and 27.396,8 million lei was spent for the purpose, which is 76% of the projected costs.
Norms for using company cars
The norms for using company cars by different categories of public servants were reviewed. The distance covered by the company car should not exceed 22,000 km a year in the case of ministers. This is by 10 km less than now. The Government’s secretary general, the head of the President’s staff and the presidents of the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court of Justice will have to obey the same limit.
Agricultural producers to get subsidies in advance
The state encourages the young farmers and women to start and expand businesses in the agrifood sector. These will receive subsidies in advance for entrepreneurship projects in accordance with the regulations concerning the conditions and procedure for providing such subventions that were approved by the Cabinet. This year, the national agriculture and rural development fund will contain 45 million lei intended for the purpose. The subsidies in advance will be offered based on investment projects submitted by farmers who perform an economic activity in the agrifood sector for the first time and are not affiliated with another agricultural producer.
Financial situation of banking system continues to be robust, Expert-Grup
The financial situation of the banking system at the end of this April remained robust, with the main prudential indicators being higher both at aggregate level and at individual level, said experts of the independent think tank Expert-Grup, who presented the banking performance rankings at the end of April. The rankings are headed by three banks: BC Moldova-Agroindbank (MAIB), BC Mobiasbanca and BC Moldindconbank (MICB). Amid improved performance, BC ProCreditBank and BC BCR Chisinau witnessed a consistent advance compared with the previous months.
Number of millionaires increases in Moldova
A number of 1 792 private individuals, who do not perform entrepreneurial activities, last year earned incomes higher than 1 million lei. This is by 243 persons more than a year before. Director of the State Tax Service Sergey Puscuta told a news conference that this figure includes the taxpayers who submitted tax returns and those whose incomes were taxed at the source of payment. The largest income declared by a person was 63.94 million lei. Eight persons earned incomes larger than 11 million lei, while 46 persons – between 3 and 6 million lei. “Most of the taxpayers from the category of millionaires declared incomes of 1 to 3 million lei. They form that middle class that ensures stability in any economy,” said Sergey Puscuta.
Notices for paying real estate tax started to be distributed in Chisinau
Notices for paying the real estate tax for this year began to be distributed in Chisinau municipality, the Chisinau City Hall has said. The tax can be paid with the payment notice directly at post offices and banks or through the governmental electronic payment service www.mpay.gov.md. Those who have a digital/mobile signature can use the website www.servicii.fisc.md/fisaimobilului.aspx. The taxpayers can benefit from a 15% reduction in the tax if they pay this fully by June 30 this year. The concession applies only to the payers who do not have debts.
● FRIDAY, May 25
Largest solar park in Moldova inaugurated in Bacioi
The largest photovoltaic solar park in Moldova, Fly Ren, was opened in Bacioi commune. This consists of about 4,000 photovoltaic batteries with the capacity of 1 MW and is 2.5 ha in area. The investments in the park came to about €1 million and were made by two Italian companies. “It is an important project that contributes to increasing the energy security of the Republic of Moldova. Such projects are designed to reduce our country’s dependence on imported resources. Moreover, the energy is produced without emitting CO2,” said Minister of Economy Kiril Gaburici.
Moldova can hold interest for Russian businesses, Igor Dodon
The Republic of Moldova can hold interest for Russian businesses as it signed free trade agreements both with the CIS states and with the European Union (DCFTA) and also with Turkey, while the favorable geographic positon of Moldova between Europe and Russia make it attractive for developing businesses in the region, said President Igor Dodon, who is taking part in the St Petersburg International Economic Forum. “The taxes for business entities in Moldova are almost equal to those in Russia, while the resident companies of the seven free economic zones enjoy a number of advantages. Furthermore, the businesspeople in Moldova speak Russian fluently and know the specific features of business organization in the post-Soviet area,” President Dodon said in a meeting with representatives of the Russian business community.
Gross average monthly salary in first quarter at 5,906.5 lei
The gross average monthly salary in the first half of this year was 5,906.5 lei, an increase of 13.2% compared with the corresponding period last year, IPN reports, with reference to the National Bureau of Statistics. The average monthly pay in the budgetary sphere was 5,408.1 lei (+14.4% on January-March last year), while in the economic sector – 6,108.1 lei (+12.5%).
Moldovagaz reports profit of almost 2bn lei for 2017
The gas company SA “Moldovagaz” last year made a net profit of 1.926,1 billion lei, an increase of 1.663,7 billion lei on a year before. The rise was mainly due to the profit made from financial activity and from operational activity following the enhancement of management, optimization of costs and improvement of production indicators. The information was presented in the annual General Assembly of Shareholders of SA “Moldovagaz” that was held on May 25, IPN reports. The assembly decided that the company’s net profit will be used to constitute a reserve fund and to cover the losses for the previous years.
Chisinau-Odessa train to run more often
Starting with May 31, the Chisinau – Odessa train will travel four times a week, on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Currently, the train runs on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. According to the Ministry of Economy and Infrastructure, the Chisinau-Odessa train will run for four times a week during May 31 and September 23.
Over 700 jobs created at new textiles factory in Balti
More than 700 jobs were created at the textiles factory “Molltex-grup” within the industrial Park “Raut” of Balti municipality that was inaugurated on May 25. The new factory was founded at a cost of €4 million and forms part of the Romanian group “Ostazar”. The investor plans to extend the company to Donduseni town. The second factory, with a capacity of about 1,000 jobs, is to be inaugurated in July. In the inaugural ceremony, Prime Minister Pavel Filip said the launch of new projects confirms that things in Moldova go right.
● SATURDAY, May 26
Awards for agricultural producers who obtained success in business
The agricultural producers who achieved success in business and those who contributed to promoting agriculture and rural development were awarded in the 2018 AIPA Awards Gala on May 25. The event was staged by the Agency for Intervention and Payments in Agriculture (AIPA) and brought together agricultural producers, representatives of public institutions in charge of the agricultural sector, invitees from all the competent associations, of companies that support to these and of the agroindustrial business community. AIPA director Nicolae Ciubuc said agriculture is an important sector for Moldova’s development and this deserves to be supported. This event is a platform that highlights the results achieved in the field, while the efforts and sacrifices of the farmers, who are very devoted, hardworking and responsible, should be awarded.
More users access mobile Internet through smartphone
The number of users of mobile broadband Internet in the first quarter of this year rose by 2.8% compared with last yearend, to 2.497 million. The number of users of mobile Internet based on the 4G technology grew the most, by 7.2% to over 741,900. About 660,600 of these accessed the Internet through smartphones, while 81,400 through modems/cards/USB. In the period, traffic generated by mobile Internet users through smartphones increased by 96.4% to over 8.760 million GB. The traffic generated by those that used dedicated mobile Internet access rose by 16.1% to 12.948 million GB, the mobile broadband Internet traffic totaling 21.7 million GB, up 39%.
