● MONDAY, February 11

New mineral water regulation approved

The Government approved three sets of sanitary rules for mineral water. These are the Sanitary Regulation on the exploitation and marketing of natural mineral water; the Sanitary Regulation on the establishment of the list, the concentration limits and the labeling requirements for the content of natural mineral water; and the Sanitary Regulation on the use of activated alumina to eliminate fluorides from natural mineral water of spring water. Under the new regulations, it is forbidden to sell natural mineral water containing toxic compounds or not meeting organoleptic parameters. In order to protect infants and young children, if the fluorine content of natural mineral water exceeds certain values (as recommended by the WHO), the label shall include a reference in this respect in a way that is easily visible to the consumer.

Talks started with Chinese bank for Chisinau beltway loan

The Government has formally started talks with the Chinese Bank of Communication Corporation Limited on an lending agreement to modernize the Chisinau beltway and the national road M2. The Ministry of Economy and Infrastructure earlier signed a Memorandum of Understanding with China Railway 14 Bureau Group Co. LTD, whereby the latter agreed to assist Moldova in obtaining financing, for a minimum period of 15 years, under advantageous terms and following the signing of an international contract to perform the modernization works. At the end of last month, the Government initiated negotiations with China Bank China Citic Bank Corporation Limited for a loan to rehabilitate the Criva-Balti road and the Balti-Floresti road.

● TUESDAY, February 12

This year’s edition of the Made in Moldova exhibition, held between 30 January and 3 February, had a record number of visitors - over 53,000, compared to previous editions when the number did not exceed 50,000. Also, 60 memorandums of understanding were signed for the products and services provided by Moldovan companies. The information was presented Tuesday at a press conference held by the leadership of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry. This year, the exhibition brought together 450 companies from 19 districts and two regions. Delegations from Romania, France, Latvia, the Netherlands, Belgium, United Kingdom, Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, China, and Italy were present. CCI director Sergiu Harea said the number of participating countries is an indication of how interested Moldova’s trading partners are in the exhibition. Sergiu Harea also said that since the organizers were unable to meet all the demands for space to the exhibitors, they are currently negotiating with the EU Delegation to Chisinau the potentially extend the exhibition at a regional level.

● WEDNESDAY, February 13

“We welcome the ascent of the Moldovan-Hungarian relations that offer the possibility of developing bilateral projects in the economic, social and cultural spheres,” Prime Minister Pavel Filip stated in a meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary Péter Szijjártó. The Premier greeted the intention of the Hungarian bank OTP to purchase the majority interest in a Moldovan bank. According to hi, the coming of OTP to the Moldovan market is an additional proof that the banking sector of Moldova was stabilized. Pavel Filip also welcomed Hungary’s intention to open a credit line to the value of €62 million for lending to Moldovan and Hungarian companies that develop common businesses.

● THURSDAY, February 14

€15m for projects intended for environmental protection and adaptation to climate change

Romania will offer €15 million for projects intended for environmental protection, adaptation to climate change and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions under the third additional protocol to the agreement between the Government of Romania and the Government of the Republic of Moldova concerning the implementation of the program of non-reimbursable technical and financial assistance to the value of €100 million. The Ministry of Agriculture, Regional Development and Environment said the first project to the value of €2.6 million is designed to eliminate the direct pollution sources of underground waters by liquidating the damaged or abandoned artesian wells. Also, the unused wells will be examined for being conserved. At the first stage of the project, 11 artesian wells in Nisporeni and Hâncești districts will be liquidated or conserved.

Pre-contract for buying newly issued shares of “Moldindconbank” signed

The Public Property Agency, in the name of the Government of the Republic of Moldova, and the company “Doverie–Invest” SA of Bulgaria, signed a pre-contract for the purchase of the newly issued shares of the bank of systemic importance “Moldindconbank” SA. The pre-contract states the Government’s readiness to support the ensuring of transparency on the banking sector of Moldova and strengthening of this sector. The Public Property Agency said the shareholding of 3 173 751 units in “Moldindconbank” will be bought by the Agency and will be then exhibited for sale at an outcry action on the regulated market in conditions of transparency, in accordance with Article 541 of the law on the administration and de-nationalization of public propriety, the Government Decisions, the rules of the Stock Exchange and other regulatory documents.

● FRIDAY, February 15

Amount of electronic waste collected last year by 100 tonnes larger than in 2017

Business entities last year collected 298 tonnes of electrical and electronic waste, by 100 tonnes more than in 2017. About one third of this waste was exported to Romania for recycling. In a response to IPN Agency, the Ministry of Agriculture, Regional Development and Environment said the authorized business entities and some of the NGOs set up 150 points for collecting electronic waste, 140 of which in Chisinau municipality. Ion German, senior consultant at the Ministry’s Waste and Chemicals Management Policy Division, said the citizens can find the collection points in the main household appliances stores and inside some of the public institutions. These are situated in visible places, at the entrance to the building. Since December 2018, under the auspices of the Ministry of Agriculture, Regional Development and Environment, the Association for Waste Development has worked with a number of business entities and with the administration of particular public institutions in Chisinau on setting up waste collection points. The regulations concerning waste equipment took effect on September 23 last year.

Authorities looking for company that would build new penitentiary in Chisinau

The authorities on February 15 announced a contest to choose a contractor that will erect a new penitentiary in the capital city. The announcement was published in the Official Gazette and in the Official Journal of the European Union, the tender contest being open to bidders from all the states. The penitentiary building project implementation unit made sure that each person in state custody benefits from the necessary detention space. The works were projected to last for 36 months. The deadline for submissions is May 13, 2019, 10am. About 6 990 persons were held in the 17 penitentiaries of Moldova on December 31, 2018.