● MONDAY, April 1
Kiril Gaburici: IT sector is projected to grow by 40% in 2019
A 40% growth in the IT sector is forecast for 2019. The Republic of Moldova should make effort to ensure this growth, Minister of Economy and Infrastructure Khiril Gaburici was quoted by IPN as saying in the talk show “Reply” on Prime TV channel. According to him, large foreign players should be attracted to this sector. “If foreign players are attracted to the IT sector, these will definitely come with more satellites of theirs - smaller players who work together,” stated the minister. Kiril Gaburici noted the Republic of Moldova has the resources needed to expand his sector. “The main resource of this sector is the human one – the people who work here. When I came to the Ministry, I said I know how we can grow the economy – we should simply educate 100,000 IT specialists. The minimum salary of an IT specialist is €1,000 and up, which is rather high for the Republic of Moldova,” stated Kiril Gaburici.
Chisinau Central Market director and chief architect to be dismissed
Acting mayor general of Chisinau Ruslan Codreanu said he will sign orders to discharge Octavian Bivol and Victor Gutium from the posts of director and vice director of the Central Market of Chisinau and will seek the dismissal of Sergiu Borozan from the post of chief architect of the capital city. According to Ruslan Codreanu, last week he received a petition by which business entities that operate at the Central Market complained that informal taxes are being collected from them and that a selective approach is adopted towards some of them.
Minimum guaranteed salary in real sector could be raised
The minimum guaranteed salary in the real sector of the economy – enterprises, organizations, institutions with financial autonomy regardless of the type of ownership and legal-organizational form – is expected to be increased by 165 lei to 2,775 lei on May 1. Under a bill drafted by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Social Protection, which was proposed for public debates on particip.gov.md, the Government reexamines the minimum guaranteed salary in the real sector depending on the annual rise in the Consumer Price Index and the growth rate of labor productivity nationwide. This way, the minimum guaranteed salary in the real sector as from May 1 this year could be 16.42 lei an hour calculated for a complete working program of 169 hours on average a month.
● TUESDAY, April 2
Quality of signal of mobile phone carriers to be tested nationwide
As of April 1, the National Radio Frequency Management Service will carry out a broad campaign to measure the quality parameters of the electronic communications services accessible to the population that are provided through public mobile phone networks. Minister of Economy and Infrastructure Kiril Gaburici made a visit to the Service to assess and verify the technical equipment possessed by this. In a press release, the Ministry of Economy and Infrastructure said the National Radio Frequency Management Service as from April 1 can check the services provided by mobile phone carriers all over the country based on a number of performance criteria. The inspections will cover 1,499 localities and 186 national roads with a length of almost 12,000 km. These will last for six months. “The users of services are a priority for us and we want to be sure that they use high-quality services. I’m sure that the operators also want to provide high-quality services,” stated the minister.
Intelligent lighting system to be built in Feștelița village
A public lighting system with the use of an intelligent energy management system is to be installed in Feștelița village of Ștefan-Vodă district. The implementation of the pilot-project was approved in a meeting of the Energy Efficiency Energy. The pilot-project envisions the setting up of 538 LED devices on 19 local streets with a length of about 18 km. The initiative will reduce the costs and will protect the environment from CO2 emissions, it is said in a press release of the Ministry of Economy and Infrastructure.
Population’s disposable incomes up 6.2% in 2018
The disposable incomes of the population last year grew by 6.2% on a year before to 2,383 lei on average a month per person. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, the salary is the most important source of income that accounted for 43.7% of the total incomes, which is an increase of 0.6 percentage points on 2017. The social benefits are the second source of income by importance. These represented 24.7% of the average monthly incomes of the population. They are followed by individual activities that constituted 12.7% of the average monthly incomes. Remittances from abroad remain a significant source for the budget of households. They represented 15.0% on average of the revenues, a decrease of 1.5 percentage points on 2017.
Moldova’s market of pay TV services up 1.8% in 2018
In 2018 the market of subscription-based television services (by both cable and IPTV networks) rose 1.8% on the previous year to 329,700 subscribers, as sales increased by 1.6% to 162.1 million lei, the National ICT Regulatory Agency reported. There were 159,200 subscribers for IPTV services and 170,000 for cable services. 62.5% of subscribers received TV content in digital format and 37.5% in analog format. Moldova’s The penetration rate of pay TV services per 100 population was 9.3%. The monthly average revenue per subscriber decreased by 4.5% to 41.8 lei. Overall sales rose slightly, by 1.6%, due to stronger sales of IPTV services, which increased by 6.8% to 79.1 million lei. At the same time cable TV revenues dropped by 2.8% to 82.8 million lei.
Subsistence minimum calculated at 1,891 lei last year
In 2018 the minimum subsistence level was officially calculated at 1,891 lei, up 1.5% on the previous year. In Chisinau and Balti the minimum subsistence level was 2,107 lei, in other urban areas 1,888.5 lei, and in rural areas 1,795.8 lei. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, the minimum subsistence level by residence area is determined by the weight of the food basket. By population categories, the maximum value of the subsistence minimum is for the working-age population - 2,016 lei and especially for men - 2,186 lei. The subsistence minimum for children averages at 1,801 lei per month, ranging from 712 lei for infants to 2,031 lei for children aged 7-17 years. The available monthly income of the population averaged 2,383 lei per person and exceeded the average subsistence minimum by 26%.
Updated version of TIR-EPD application fully operational
The modernized version of the electronic pre-declaration application TIR-EPD became operational as part of the Customs Service’s information service “ASYCUDA World” and is already used by international freight carriers. As many as 239 electronic pre-declarations concerning goods transported based on TIR Carnets have been submitted since March 18, when the system started to be used. The data were presented in a public event on April 2. TIR-EPD is a web-based application that enables the holders of TIR Carnets to transmit free electronic pre-declarations to the customs authorities of the transited states. This exchange of information in advance facilitates the analysis of risks and accelerates the crossing of the borders of the transited countries. Currently, TIR-EPD is implemented in 35 countries of Europe and Asia.
Fewer unemployed people logged in 2018
More than 38,000 unemployed people were recorded in Moldova last year, as opposed to 51,000 jobless persons a year before. Some 58.4% of the unemployed were men, while 65.5% of those out of work were from urban areas, IPN has learned from the National Bureau of Statistics. The unemployment rate nationwide stood at 3.0%, a decrease of 1.1 percentage points on 2017. The unemployment rate among men was 3.5%, while among women – 2.5%. Among people aged between 15 and 24, the jobless rate was 7.4%, while in the 15-29 age bracket - 5.6%.
● WEDNESDAY, April 3
Undeclared work on the rise in 2018
Undeclared work grew slightly in 2018, representing 6.6% of the salary earners, as opposed to 6.2% in 2017. Undeclared work is any work provided by a private individual for and under the authority of an employer, but without signing an individual work contract. The practice of employing persons based on verbal agreements is more often used in relation to males, mainly in such areas as agriculture, trade and the building sector, IPN reports, quoting the National Bureau of Statistics. Last year, the salary earners represented 62.1% of the working population or 777,000 persons. Of all the working people, 7.3% had an informal job. Some 7.1% of the salary earners got pays illegally (8.8% of men and 5.7% of women). These worked primarily in agriculture, trade and the building sector.
Pavel Filip: Economic ties with China will be strengthened through Free Trade Agreement
With the signing of the Free Trade Agreement between Moldova and China, the economic connections between the two countries will be intensified and the Moldovan products will become competitive on the Chinese market, Prime Minister Pavel Filip stated in the Moldova-China Business Forum held in Chisinau today, April 3. Moldova and China hold the fourth round of negotiations on the agreement. According to the Government’s press service, the Premier approved of the traditional friendship religions between the two countries. He expressed his confidence that this forum will provide a suitable platform for establishing subsequent partnerships. Pavel Filip invited the Chinese businesspeople to invest in Moldova and to benefit from the advantages offered by the Free Trade Agreements it has with the EU, Turkey and the CIS.
Moldovan Canned Food Manufacturers accuse Ukrainian competitor of misleading consumers
The Moldovan Association of Canned Food Manufacturers is asking the National Food Safety Agency ANSA to check the juices marketed in Moldova under the Soki Ukraini brand produced by a Ukrainian leading manufacturer. Ukraine’s Ecosphere claims its apple and tomato juices are 100% made of fruit. But the Moldovan Association doubts it, arguing that, with all costs considered, a liter of a hundred percent fruit just cannot come at a price as low as 10 lei. The Association also said it sent samples of Soki Ukraini juices to a food analysis institute in Germany and the lab tests showed that the products were only about 60% fruit juices laced with sugars and flavors.
Easier biosecurity control rules for goods imported into Moldova
The Government has amended secondary legislation to make it easier to import goods that are subject to biosecurity and plant health control. For example, importers no longer have to notify the authorities within 24 hours in case of importing such goods. Also, wood packaging has been excluded from the list of goods subject to such control. Another thing excluded is the requirement to present certificates of quality issued by relevant authorities from the EU for foods of non-animal origin or that are used as ingredients to prepare food for human consumption. This will be replaced by a declaration under the EU manufacturer’s or exporter’s responsibility confirming that the food is safe and of good quality.
● THURSDAY, April 4
12 most important Chinese companies take part in Chisinau Business Forum
Twelve most important companies from China and 100 national companies are taking part in the Chisinau Business Forum during April 2-4 and can intact directly with global investors. In the event, there was presented the investment offer of Moldova and the concessions from which the potential Chinese investors can benefit, IPN reports, quoting a press release of the Ministry of Economy and Infrastructure. “The event is an extraordinary platform and I consider we should meet once in two months also with other Chinese entrepreneurs who are interested in investing in the Republic of Moldova,” stated Minister Kiril Gaburici.
Over 6 km of road that bypasses Chisinau to be repaired
A section of the road that bypasses the municipality of Chisinau, 0 – 6.55 km, will start to be repaired at the beginning of summer. The contract to the value of €9.9 million, which is lent by the European Investment Bank, was signed by the State Road Administration and the consortium of companies that won the international tender contest (Rutador SRL – Lusmecon SA), IPN reports. The road section starts from the bridge situated in Ialoveni. The roadway will be extended and multiple-level crossings will be built. 4 km of road will be repaired, while another 2 km will be built from zero. The belt road will have four lanes, by two lanes in each direction. The rehabilitation works will include road markings.
MAIB no longer under central bank’s intensive supervision
The executive committee of the National Bank of Moldova today lifted the special/intensive supervision imposed on Moldova-Agroindbank (MAIB) in 2015. The NBM said in a press release that the decision reflects the central bank’s conclusion that the bank has met the ownership transparency requirement following the purchase of 43.1% of its stock by Heim Partners Limited, incorporated by a consortium of international investors that includes EBRD, Invalda INVL, and Horizon Capital.As of March 21, MAIB is governed by a new board elected by the bank’s annual general assembly of shareholders of November 2018.
● FRIDAY, April 5
Octavian Armașu: To get a new tranche from IMF, we need government with plenipotentiary powers
Fort a new mission of the International Monetary Fund to come to Moldova and for particular measures to be agreed and the next tranche of the IMF to be disbursed, we need a government with plenipotentiary powers in Chisinau, National Bank governor Octavian Armașu was quoted by IPN as saying in the talk show “Moldova live” on the public TV channel Moldova 1. “To have an assessment mission based on which we could agree particular actions and could get the next tranche, we need a government with plenipotentiary powers. After the parliamentary alliance is formed and a government is named, we will be probably visited by an IMF mission that will come with a plenipotentiary mission to set the next steps and to disburse the next tranche,” stated Octavian Armașu.
EBRD exits Mobiasbancă
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has exited Mobiasbancă, a Groupe Société Générale subsidiary and Moldova’s fourth-largest bank, by selling its 8.84 percent stake for €2.6 million, the EBRD announced in a press release. Angela Sax, EBRD head in Moldova, said the EBRD is proud to have played an important role as shareholder throughout the past 10 years. “We are pleased with Mobiasbanca’s achievements and its high corporate governance standards. We are happy to have helped bring best international practices to the Moldovan banking sector and continue to have confidence in Mobiasbanca’s future prospects”, said Angela Sax.
Moldova-U.S. business forum to be held next week
A two-day Moldova-U.S. business forum will be held in Chisinau during April 11 and 12, where potential partnerships will be established in fields like infrastructure, agribusiness, energy, and ICT among others. This was discussed during a meeting between Moldova’s Economy Minister Chiril Gaburici and United States Ambassador Dereck Hogan. The Ministry said in a press release that on the first day of the event Government representatives will make presentations of opportunities in sectors that Moldova considers strategic. The second day will feature a networking session for Moldovan companies to seek potential U.S. partners. According to Chiril Gaburici, the forum will also be an occasion for Moldovan businesspersons to learn from potential American partners and start attracting foreign investment.
● SATURDAY, April 6
National Bank facilitates business entities’ access to bank financing
The Executive Board of the National Bank of Moldova on April 5 approved new regulations concerning major risks and amendments to the regulations on bank operations with affiliated persons. The decisions were taken in a move to facilitate the real sector’s access to the financing of licensed banks, IPN reports, quoting a press release of the central bank. Thus, the regulations on major risks set down a new method of assessing major risk. This means the banks will be able to allocate more funds for financing projects of business entities by bank loans, meeting simultaneously the limits of the regulations. At the same time, the new regulations will stimulate the banks to create new and attractive banking products for the real economy.
Apiculture in Moldova can be developed by creating cooperatives, opinion
Apiculture during the past few years has witnessed upward trends, but experts consider the sector can reach a professional level only if the producers create cooperatives so as to ensure the production of homogenous, high-quality honey in competitive quantities for export, IPN reports, quoting Agrobiznes. Owing to the unfavorable weather conditions, last year honey exports from Moldova decreased by 18%. The formation of groups of producers would facilitate access to financing and, consequently, to the necessary modern technologies and equipment. According to the National Food Safety Agency, more than 7,000 apiaries with 236,000 bee families have been officially registered in Moldova. Secretary of state at the Ministry of Agriculture, Regional Development and Environment Veaceslav Cernat said 90% of the honey made in Moldova is exported. Apiculture in Moldova has strong points and growth potential, but beekeeping as a business is in a crisis as the beekeepers produce small quantities of honey that do not satisfy the export demand. In Moldova, there are no groups of honey producers, four-five producers that could export at least 20 tonnes of honey. At the same time, the state provides subsidies primarily to groups of beekeepers
