● TUESDAY, May 23

Fines of over 1 million lei imposed on cigarette sellers 

Fiscal inspectors imposed fines of over 1 million lei as a result of inspections carried out during a month at business entities that retail cigarettes. According to the State Tax Service, there were inspected 254 companies. The fines were imposed for not respecting the minimum retail price of cigarettes, not using cash register and not presenting accounting documents at the first request.

Ministry of Agriculture awards producers of food processing equipment 

Producers and distributors of equipment intended for the food industry were awarded at the contest “Novelty of the Year 2017” that was held within the exhibits “Food Technology” and “Packaging. Depot”. The contest involved 13 companies. In the category “Machines and equipment for food processing industry”, the top prize was conferred on the companies “Rodals” (for the rotating oven with convection), “Bongard” (for Bongard freezer) and “Tiluana” (for Giorik steam oven). Silver went to “Rodals” (for an industrial line intended for the automated manufacturing of puff pastry Fritsch Easy Line) and “MGM” (for the oven RATIONAL). The bronze trophy was awarded to “DI-CO Total” (for the machine Handtmann VF 838 S), “Rodals” (for an industrial line for cutting and packing bread), “MGM” (for the machine ROBOT COOK), “Cart – Cedru” (for an ice generator) and “Frigoind” (for air unifier for cold storage facilities).

● WEDNESDAY, May 24

Sales of mobile phone services declined 

Sales of mobile phone services in the first three months of this year continued to decline amid a significant increase in the number of users and volume of voice traffic generated by these. The aggregate data of the National Regulatory Agency for Electronic Communications and Information Technology show that the number of users of mobile phone services in the first quarter of this year rose by over 7,000 or 0.2% compared with the corresponding period last year. According to the data presented by the three mobile phone carriers - Orange Moldova, Moldcell and Unite – the decline in the growth rate of the volume of voice traffic in the mobile phone networks was caused by the diminution witnessed by Moldcell.

Japan offers US$4.8 million grant to Moldova 

The bill to ratify the grant agreement with Japan for implementing the project “Conservation agriculture, development of a sustainable soil management system in the Republic of Moldova” was approved by the Cabinet on May 24. The agreement envisions the allocation of a grant worth US$4.8 million for developing conservation agriculture in the Republic of Moldova, in particular for purchasing agricultural equipment and machinery.

● FRIDAY, May 26

Works on Ungheni-Chisinau gas pipeline declared public utility of national interest

 The works to build the Ungheni – Chisinau gas pipeline were declared public utility of national interest. A bill to this effect was adopted by MPs in the first reading on May 25. Minister of Economy Octavian Calmac said over 200 hectares of farmland will become state property. In the name of the state, the Government will take the necessary measures to expropriate the real estate located on the territory crossed by the public utility of national interest, identified in accordance with the design documentation. This means that the state will purchase from owners the land crossed by the gas pipeline. The costs were estimated at €600,000.

First apicultural center in northern Moldova opened in Cupcini 

The first apicultural center in the northern development region was set up in Cupcini town of Edinet district with Romanian funds. According to the Ministry of Regional Development and Construction, the grant provided by the Government of Romania came to over €150,000. According to the deputy head of the Ministry’s General Regional Development Division Igor Malai, the center will benefit beekeepers from 11 districts.

Moldovagaz reports profit after many years of losses 

The public utility Moldovagaz in 2016 made 262.4 million lei profit after working at a lost during a long period of time. In the general assembly of shareholders of SA Moldovagaz, it was decided that the profit made in 2016 will be used to cover the losses sustained the previous years.

NFSA intends to open checkpoint in Cuciurgan 

The National Food Safety Agency (NFSA) intends to open a phytosanitary and veterinary checkpoint in Cuciurgan so that the Transnistrian business entities could obtain authorizations for transporting food products through the Transnistrian segment of the border in the customs post. “We want the opening of this post to facilitate first of all the export of products that are subject to phytosanitary and veterinary control from the eastern districts as now all the goods exported from the Transnistrian region are certified by our local units, first of all the vegetal products as substantial quantities of grain, sunflower seeds, fruit and vegetables are exported from Transnistria. These products must be accompanied by phytosanitary certificates issued by the local subdivisions of the NFSA,” the Agency’s director general Gheorghe Gaberi told a news conference.

● SATURDAY, May 27

Cherry harvest expected to be larger this year 

The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry estimates that the cherry harvest this year will be larger than last year. Maria Cioclu, head of the Ministry’s Phitotechny Products Division, has that a cherry harvest of about 12,000 tonnes is projected. Last year the frosts affected a large part of the cherry trees and the harvest was of only 7,600 tonnes. “This year harvesting started a week ago. The early sorts of cherries began to be collected and the process will continue until the end of June or even the start of July,” stated Maria Cioclu.