● MONDAY, September 12
Price of election advertising at over €3,000 per minute
The election advertising can cost between €25 and over €3,000 per minute. Radio Moldova Tineret charges the lowest price, while Prime TV and Jurnal TV channels the highest price. According to the statements concerning the editorial policy in the upcoming election campaign, submitted to the Central Election Commission, the charge for one minute of advertising on the public TV channel Moldova 1 is €500, while on Radio Moldova station is €40. TV7 charges 9,100 lei to 10,400 lei per minute of advertising, depending on the broadcast time, Pro TV Chisinau - €600, while Acasa TV – €144 per minute. The price of election advertising on Jurnal TV oscillates between €1,750 per 30 seconds and €5,000 for a commercial feature report, while on Jurnal FM – €40 per 30 seconds, without VAT.
● TUESDAY, September 13
Farmers sound alarm, Agriculture Ministry says it is too early to draw conclusions
The farmers warn that the agricultural sector is again hit by drought and the harvest diminished significantly. Such a message was disseminated by the president of the National Union of Agricultural Producers Associations “UniAgroProtect”Alexandru Slusari today, September 13. Asked to comment on these concerns, officials of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry said it is premature to draw conclusions. In a message sent to the Agency’s editorial staff, Alexandru Slusari says that owing to the lack of rain, the harvest of sunflower, corn, sugar beet and soybean in almost all the districts of the country will be much beyond farmers’ expectations.
Sales of electronic communications services go up
The sales of electronic communications services in the second quarter of this year rose to 1.662 billion lei, an increase of 3.3% compared with the first quarter of 2016 and a decrease of 4.4% on the second quarter of last year. According to the data published by the National Regulatory Agency for Electronic Communications and Information Technology, an 18.3% increase compared with the second quarter of 2015 was reported in the sales of mobile Internet access services. These came to over 169 million lei.
Power and heat tariffs will be raised before heating season
The electric power and heat tariffs will be increased before the heating season, National Agency for Energy Regulation director Sergiu Ciobanu said in the opening of public debates staged by the Agency on September 13 following a request from the Chisinau heat and power producer SA “Termoelectrica” to raise the power generation tariff by 12.3%, to 179.51 bani/kWh, and the tariff for heat supplied to end-users by 27.4 %, to 1,257.38 lei/Gcal.
● WEDNESDAY, September 14
Moldova, China to initiate consultations on Free Trade Agreement
The Republic of Moldova and the People’s Republic of China by this yearend will open negotiations on the formulation and signing of a Free Trade Agreement between the two states. Such an agreement was reached by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce Octavian Calmac and Chinese Minister of Commerce Gao Hucheng in a meeting in Beijing. In a press release, the Ministry of Economy says the signing of such a document will facilitate the bilateral commercial-economic relations and will enable to initiate and implement investment projects with the participation of companies from Moldova and China.
Moldova’s exports to EU at about 64% of total exports
Moldova’s exports to the European Union during the first two years of the implementation of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement between Moldova and the EU (DCFTA) rose to about 64% of the total exports. According to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Octavian Calmac, despite different fluctuations, the supplies of Moldovan textiles, processed products from different areas of the building sector, machines and equipment, grains, alcoholic beverages, fruit and vegetables have the European market as the main destination. During these two years, exports to the EU grew by over 13%, while to other markets declined by more than 25%. The data were presented in a summing up conference entitled “DCFTA: Two Years of Implementation. “The EU market is a solution for saving Moldova’s exports and the economy in general,” stated Octavian Calmac.
Draft law on central securities depository appraised by CAPC
The respect for the principles of transparency, participation and accountability will be insufficiently ensured if the bill on the central securities depository, proposed by a group of MPs, is adopted and implemented, said experts of the Center for the Analysis and Prevention of Corruption (CAPC), which appraised the draft law from the perspective of human rights. CAPC expert Mariana Kalughin, in a news conference said the legal terms and vocabulary of the bill as well as the conception concerning the licensing, regulation and supervision of the central depository need to be reviewed.
Program of post-investment grants
The national agricultural producers, except for those from Chisinau and Balti, that use sustainable land management practices and maintain healthy and productive soil are invited to apply to a program of post-investment grants. The World Bank’s Moldova Agriculture Competitiveness Project (MAC-P), in concert with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry and the Ministry of Environment, launches the fifth call of the Sustainable Land Management program. In a press release, the Ministry says the post-investment grant will refund 50% of the value of the eligible investment, in the amount of at most US$20,000 per agricultural producer. Grants are provided to farmers that purchased new agricultural machines or equipment made after 2014 starting with November 1, 2015 and to those that applied sustainable land management practices such as No-till and Strip-till and took agro-forest, hydrotechnical and other measures after November 1, 2015.
Rosselkhoznadzor experts inspect Moldovan nurseries
A group of experts of the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor) are paying a ten-day working visit to Moldova. The Russian specialists, in concert with national experts, are inspecting nurseries of fruit tree and vine saplings so as to decide whether to extend the import of saplings for Russian agricultural producers.
Road tax for buses and trucks crossing Moldova decreased
The Cabinet approved a bill to amend and supplement the Tax Code. The document provides that the motor vehicles registered in the countries with which Moldova signed bilateral or multilateral agreements will be mutually exempted from paying road taxes in Moldova. The measure does not yet apply to motor vehicles registered in the states where the signed agreements are not respected. Simultaneously, the road tax for foreign buses and trucks was reduced by 30%. The move is aimed at increasing the number of crossings by motor vehicles so that the states could cover its possible losses.
● THURSDAY, September 15
Mobiasbanca launches consumer loans with accident insurance included
The clients of Mobiasbanca - Groupe Société Générale are offered a new banking product called consumer loan with accident insurance included. The product ensures additional protection, sparing the clients and their families from the concern about the interest rate on loans in case of accidents. The service was launched in partnership with GRAWE Carat Asigurari. The new banking product is accessible in all the branches of Mobiasbanca. The clients can also benefit from the professional expertise of the bank’s consultants, a preferential rate on the raised loan and damage in case of accidents that affect health and can cause temporary incapacity for work.
Moldovan fresh fruit producers take part in exhibit in Moscow
Eleven Moldovan producers of fresh fruit are taking part in the WorldFood exhibition held in Moscow. Besides the possibility of tasting Moldovan products, Moldova’s exhibition stand provides also a dedicated area for meeting producers, for negotiating new contracts and for interacting.
● FRIDAY, September 16
Sumitomo Electric Bordnetze AG invests in Moldova
The global supplier of electronic wire harnesses and components for the international automotive industry Sumitomo Electric Bordnetze AG (SEBN), which opened a daughter company in Moldova - SE Bordnetze SRL - will construct a wire harness factory in our country. SE Bordnetze SRL financial director Igor Corman, said the SEBN project is one of the most important of those implemented now in Moldova. This will bring important benefits for investors and for the central region of the country.
Tudor Copaci returns to Public Property Agency
Tudor Copaci will again head the Public Property Agency that he managed in 2009-2013. He was presented to the staff by Minister of Economy Octavian Calmac, who noted that the Agency plays an important role in the implementation of state policies concerning administration and denationalization of public property in the context of the efforts made to reform and modernize the national economy. “Tudor Copaci, who earlier held a number of important state posts, including of director of the Agency, has rich professional experience in this area and I’m sure that he will give a fresh impetus to the institution,” stated the minister.
Over 2,500 new jobs to be created in Orhei district
More than 2,500 jobs will be created by Sumitomo Electric Bordnetze SRL, which is a daughter company of the international concern Sumitomo Electric Bordnetze AG, when this builds a harness factory in Orhei district. The factory will be 27,000 square meters in area and its first production hall will be opened next November. Sumitomo Electric Bordnetze SRL financial director Igor Corman said Orhei district was chosen as a place for building the factory because of its geographical position, access ways, infrastructure and the potential labor force. The building works started at end-August. According to our plan, next August we will possess, at the first stage, an area of over 5,000 square meters, while next November we will put into operation the whole factory, with about 27,000 square meters. This will enable us to employ approximately 2,500 persons during the next few years,” stated Igor Corman. According to him, the production, quality, logistics, maintenance and IT managers were already chosen and they started to select and train operators.
Electronic wire harness factory to be built in Orhei district
A factory for making electronic wire harnesses for the automotive industry will be erected in Orhei district. The project belongs to Sumitomo Electric Bordnetze AG (SEBN), which founded the daughter company Sumitomo Electric Bordnetze SRL for the purpose, and is implemented within the subzone Free Economic Zone “Balti” in Orhei district. The factory will employ about 2,500 people. Sumitomo Electric Bordnetze SRL production director Jerzy Laluk, who is a Polish citizen, said he accepted the post because he likes the countries of Eastern Europe. As to the project, Jerzy Laluk noted that they will use the rich experience and know-how of the SEBN factories working in other states. E Bordnetze SRL financial director Igor Corman said the SEBN project is one of the most important of those implemented now in Moldova. This will bring important benefits for investors and for the central region of the country.
Heat tariff for end-users in Chisinau goes up
The tariff for the heat supplied by the public utility SA “Termoelectrica” to end-users in Chisinau municipality was raised by 81.22 lei (8.2%) per gigacalorie (Gcal) to 1,068.22 lei. A decision to this effect was taken by the Administration Board of the National Agency for Energy Regulation on September 16 and will take effect when it is published in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Moldova.
Steering Committee of Chisinau Court of Arbitration elected
The Steering Committee of Chisinau International Court of Commercial Arbitration under AmCham Moldova has been elected. The newly-elected Steering Committee will serve the Court for the 2016 - 2018 mandate. Chisinau International Court of Commercial Arbitration is a permanent body that functions under AmCham, being supervised by the AmCham Board of Directors. The current activities of the new entity are ensured by a Steering Committee. The Court’s goal is to increase the degree of using national and international arbitration and other alternative methods of resolving disputes, including mediation.
● SATURDAY, September 17
Irregularities on building site of Hancesti-Lapusna road
The Azeri company Evrascon, which is responsible for the repair of the R33 Hancesti – Lapusna road, was fined €1,000 for a number of irregularities related to traffic management and rolled area that does not ensure safe conditions. Deputy Minister of Transport Vitalie Rapcea inspected the building site and underlines the necessity of wetting the paved road segment used by traffic so as to ensure road safety.
