● MONDAY, November 7

National producers’ fair animated capital city on the weekend

As many as 46 small entrepreneurs from different regions of Moldova came to the fair staged in Râșcani district of Chisinau to promote national products last weekend. The smell of pressed cheese, honey, dried fruits and wine spread broadly and attracted visitors. Producers told IPN that they do not have many trading places and such fairs help them to sell their merchandise. The crises, drought and higher prices made them to slightly increase the prices of the exhibited products.

National minimum salary for next year could be increased in two stages

The national minimum salary for the next year could be increased in two stages – on January 1 and July 1. This has been proposed after the unions insisted that it should be 5,000 lei, an amount that would increase budget expenses by over 1 billion lei, which the Ministry of Finance says it cannot afford straight away. An alternative proposal is to set the minimum at 5,000 lei for the real sector, and 4,000 lei for the public sector and smaller ones. The subject was discussed at the meeting of the National Commission for Consultations and Collective Bargaining.

● TUESDAY November, 8

Andrei Spînu: Average purchase price of electricity is €180 per MWh

The Republic of Moldova now pays for electricity a price that is three times higher than the price paid earlier to the Kuchurgan power plant. Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Spînu said the average price paid for electrical energy imported from Romania is €180 per MWh. According to the official, the high purchase price can lead to a new increase in electricity charges, but clarity as to such a possibility will exist towards the end of November. Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Spînu said the risk that the National Agency for Energy Regulation will need to adjust again the electricity charges cannot be excluded. It will become clearer at the end of this month as Moldova now imports electricity from Romania at a price that is three times higher than the price paid earlier to the Kuchurgan power plant.

Tiraspol can consume only amount of gas supplied by Moldovagaz

With an industry and a heating system that are considerably dependent on gas, the separatist Transnistrian region can only optimize gas consumption now that the Russian company Gazprom offers to Moldova only 51% of the amount of gas stipulated in the contract. Tiraspol can consume only the amount of gas supplied to it by Moldovagaz, which is the only distributor of the gas bought from Gazprom. All attempts to sign a direct contract with the Russian supplier failed so far, IPN reports, with reference to RFE/RL’s Moldovan Service.

MFAEI discusses funding and assistance priorities with EBRD

Funding and assistance priorities, especially the need to support Moldova’s initiatives that promote energy security, were discussed on Tuesday at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration with representatives of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. The discussions were held by Nicu Popescu, Deputy Prime Minister/Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, with an EBRD delegation headed by Christoph Denk, Managing Director for Policy Strategy and Delivery.

● WEDNESDAY, November 9

NBM maintains interest rates on overnight loans and deposits

The Executive Board of the National Bank of Moldova (NBM) on November 8 decided to keep unchanged the values of the main monetary policy instruments. This way, the base rate on the main short-term monetary policy operations was maintained at the level of 21.5 percent annually. The interest rates on overnight loans and deposits remained unchanged at 23.5 percent and 19.5 percent, respectively.

Igor Munteanu: Separatist regime should be disbanded by economic strangling

The amounts of gas supplied to the Transnistrian region should be contingent on the fulfillment of region democratization conditions, said the president of the Coalition for Unity and Welfare (CUB) Igor Munteanu. According to the politician, Chisinau is much too tolerant towards the self-styled Transnistrian authorities, offering natural gas to the region free of charge and this way indirectly financing separatism. The energy crisis is Chisinau’s chance to disband the separatist regime by economic strangling and by obliging the region to pay for the received gas.

Annual inflation will reach a record high in fourth quarter, NBM

The annual rate of inflation in September was 34%, up 2.2 percentage points on June. The National Bank of Moldova said the rise was influenced by the increase in international quotations for energy resources, the hydrological drought with effects on the national food prices, the adjustment of charges and augmentation of costs. The depreciation of the leu against the U.S. dollar generated additional pressure, while the war in Ukraine significantly amplified the impact of all the factors. According to the central bank’s forecasts, the annual inflation in the fourth quarter of this year will reach a record high and will then change its trajectory, following a downward trend throughout the forecast period.

Situation of drinking water supply services is critical, employers association

Representatives of the Employers’ Public Services Association of the Republic of Moldova warn about the critical situation of drinking water supply and sewerage services. According to them, to avoid the politicization of the adjustment of charges by local councils, this duty was transferred to the National Agency for Energy Regulation (NAER). There were worked out the necessary legislation and a methodology, but the latter is restrictive and does not cover a number of costs incurred by suppliers.  

Moldova to get 40 million grant from Germany

The Republic of Moldova will receive a €40 million grant from the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany. The money is intended for ensuring the population’s energy security, IPN reports, quoting the Parliament’s press service.

Employers’ Public Services Association makes call to senior administration

The Employers’ Public Services Association of the Republic of Moldova called on the Government to convene a meeting and examine the situation of drinking water supply and sewerage services, which is critical. It also called upon the National Agency for Energy Regulation (NAER) to review the methodology for determining, approving and applying water supply, sewerage and wastewater treatment charges, which is too restrictive.

Producers and exports accuse NFSA of not issuing them with phytosanitary certificates

The League of Importers and Exporters of Moldova accuses the National Food Safe Agency (NFSA) of not issuing phytosanitary certificates for exporting the harvest to Russia as from October 3. To draw the Agency’s attention and to receive explanations, representatives of Moldovan exporters and producers brought fruit in front of the Agency’s head office and unloaded a part of this at the entrance.

Program to ecologize SMEs extended, grants increased

The program to ecologize the small and medium-sized enterprises was extended for another 36 months, while the value of the grant was raised to 500,000 lei. A decision to this effect was approved by the Government on Wednesday, IPN reports. The program is implemented by the Organization for Entrepreneurship Development. Its goal is to assist the SMEs in implementing environmentally-friendly practices and in identifying the best solutions and technologies for correctly managing waste.

Bahmut bypass inaugurated thanks to EU support

A six-kilometer-long bypass around the village of Bahmut in Calarasi district was officially opened today after being built with around EUR 8 million grant funding from the European Union, the EU Delegation to Moldovan announced in a press release.

● THURSDAY, November 10

Road transport operators to stage flashmob meeting close to EU Delegation building

The Employers’ Association of Road Transport Operators will mount a demonstration in front of the building of the EU Delegation to Moldova on November 16, at 12 noon. According to the organizers, the flashmob meeting is designed to sensitize the European representatives to the persecution to which carriers are subject by the police and the State Tax Service because the carriers didn’t give up providing occasional transport services on Sundays.

Building heating infrastructure in Balti municipality to be modernized

The Republic of Moldova will receive €2 million in non-reimbursable financing for modernizing the building heating infrastructure in the municipality of Balti. Parliament has given two readings to a bill to ratify the grant agreement with the EBRD for implementing the project “Thermoelectric System of the Municipality of Balti (CET-Nord) – Phase II”.

€60m loan for modernizing energy and railway sectors

Moldova will receive a €60 million loan from Agence Française de Développement (AFD - French Development Agency) to promote renewable energy, enhance the sustainability of the railway sector and mitigate the impact of the energy crisis on disadvantaged families. The bill to ratify the credit facility agreement was given two readings by Parliament.

Chisinau municipality to approve project of natural ways to rehabilitate Byk riverbed

The Chisinau City Hall is to approve a 10 million lei project of natural solutions for rehabilitating the Byk riverbed, mayor general Ion Ceban announced in an international scientific and practical symposium entitled “Conservation of urban biodiversity as a precondition for sustainable development”.

● FRIDAY November 11

Advanced media production facility inaugurated at MediaCor Center

The MediaCor American Pavilion, a state-of-the-art media production facility that will advance Moldova’s growing media industry, was officially opened at the MediaCor Digital Media Production Center. The United States contributed more than $1 million toward the construction of the American Pavilion, with the investment being funded by the U.S. State Department through the Embassy’s Public Diplomacy Section.

Protocol on construction of water pipeline under the Prut signed

The protocol to amend the agreement between the Government of the Republic of Moldova and the Government of Romania on the building of the water pipeline that will go under the Prut River was signed in Iasi. The announcement was made by Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Spînu, Minister of Infrastructure and Regional Development.

Private individuals’ debts are estimated at 48 billion lei, economist

The debts amassed by private individuals are estimated at 48 billion lei, up 8 billion lei on December 2021. The rise is mainly due to the increase in loans raised from private individuals as the number of loans from official sources decreased against a rise in the number of persons who borrow money from unofficial sources, said economic expert of the Institute for Development and Social Initiatives “Viitorul” Veaceslav Ioniță. According to him, the National Bank of Moldova’s monetary policy led to the toughening up of lending conditions at banks and nonbanking organizations. The number of persons who raised loans decreased. But the people, in search of money, migrated from banks and microfinance companies to relatives and friends.

Moldovan products and services presented at exhibition in Iași

Moldovan products and services are showcased in the Romanian city of Iași during the 4th edition of “The Republic of Moldova Presents” exhibition. Companies from all sectors of the national economy, small and medium-sized enterprises, household farms, craftsmen, entrepreneurial associations, technological parks, free economic zones, business incubators and consulting companies participate in the event. Attending the event, Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry Vladimir Bole declared that the exhibition represents a reconfirmation of the dynamic and consistent cooperation between the Republic of Moldova and Romania.

● SATURDAY, November 12

Two income tax rates proposed to be applied, of 12% and 18%

The progressive taxation with regard to the incomes of private individuals could be reintroduced next year by applying two income tax rates, of 12% and 18%, as the draft budgetary-fiscal policy for 2023 presented by the Ministry of Finance for public consultations provides.

Alcohol and cigarettes likely to be more expensive in 2023

The prices of alcohol and cigarettes are expected to grow next year. The draft budgetary-fiscal policy for 2023, which was proposed for public consultations, provides that the excise duty on ethyl alcohol will increase by 15%. The excise duty on tobacco products will rise by 25%.