● WEDNESDAY, February 27
Number of dwellings made available for occupancy 17.5% lower in 2018
A number of 6,000 apartments and private houses were made available for residence in the course of 2018, a decrease of 17.5% compared with a year before, IPN reports, with reference to the National Bureau of Statistics. As many as 5,330 dwellings became available for occupancy in urban areas. This is by 25.0% less compared with 2017. Almost 700 homes could be inhabited in rural areas, 55.4% up on a year before. From regional viewpoint, the number of available apartments and houses in the northern districts increased by 37.9%, in central Moldova by 33.5%, while in the southern districts by 12.8%. Declines were reported in the municipality of Chisinau (-28.4%) and ATU Gagauzia (-9.3%).
State Chamber for Marking Surveillance to become a public institution
The State Chamber for Marking Surveillance working under the Ministry of Finance will be reorganized into a public institution with the same name, with the Ministry acting as its founder, IPN reports, quoting a Government decision. The public institution State Chamber for Marking Surveillance will carry out the exclusive duties of the state in testing, marking and examining articles from precious stones and metals at the request of the law enforcement agencies. It will also monitor the implementation of the law on money laundering and terrorism financing by private individuals and legal entities that practice activities involving precious stones and metals.
● THURSDAY, February 28
Deadline for draft fuel pricing methodology due to expire tomorrow
The National Energy Regulatory Agency ANRE is supposed to come up with a new fuel pricing methodology until March 1. Under the new rules, ANRE’s previous practice of capping retail prices every two weeks would be ditched and sellers would be free, within the limits of a cost calculation formula, to set their own prices with a markup not exceeding 10%. ANRE spokesperson Galina Sanduța told IPN the methodology has been put up for public consultations and the date of the public forum would be announced soon. The methodology will take effect after being published in the Official Gazette.
About 40% of homes bought in 2018 were mortgage-financed
Last year Moldova saw a record high number of real estate transactions – 20,400, or 10.8% up on the previous year. The number of apartments bought last year rose, but their average size was smaller, according to a report by IDIS Viitorul. Whereas an average apartment was 120 square meters 15 years ago, last year it shrunk to under 70 square meters. One- and two-room apartments accounted for 78% of the total, compared to only 10% 15 years ago. The real estate market becomes increasingly concentrated in Chisinau, with the capital accounting for 75% of all transactions, compared to 60% some 7 or 8 years ago. By value, Chisinau’s share is even bigger - over 80%.
Defective state control practices to be examined by council
The defective state control practices will be analyzed by a council whose activity regulations were approved by the Government. The National Council for Resolving State Control Disputes will consist of managers of inspection bodies, representatives of entrepreneurial associations/business community and the manager of the control supervision authority who will chair the Council’s meetings. The Council members will not be paid for work done on the Council. The meetings of the Council will be public. The secretariat work will be performed by the State Chancellery’s division responsible for the surveillance of state control of entrepreneurial activities.
New tendencies in beauty at Beauty 2019
Companies operating in the esthetics industry from Italy, Romania, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine and Moldova are taking part in this year’s edition of the international exhibition of cosmetics, perfumery and equipment for the beauty industry Beauty 2019. This is housed by the Moldexpo Exhibition Center during February 28 – March 3. Secretary general of state at the Ministry of Economy and Infrastructure Iulia Costin in the opening of the event said the exhibition is designed to inspire new tendencies in terms of beauty and the companies should share their experience and familiarize themselves with the new appearances on the market. It is an efficient instrument for promoting trademarks and extending the network of dealers.
● FRIDAY, March 1
Minister Gaburici orders crackdown on unlicensed passenger transport operators
Economy and Infrastructure Minister Chiril Gaburici has instructed the Road Transport Agency to inspect the quality of services offered by passenger carriers as well as their vehicles, following complaints of unfair competition from law-abiding operators. “The companies working on international road transport routes should guarantee comfort, safety, accessible prices and proptness. We must urgently get rid of unauthorized carriers that often operate repurposed vehicles, without a license and periodic inspections, putting passengers’ safety at risk”, stated Gaburici.
● SATURDAY, March 2
What are gold reserves of national banks
The Republic of Moldova is a state that keeps almost all the country’s reserves in foreign currency. The last report by the National Bank of Moldova shows the official foreign exchange reserves on February 22 this year came to about US$ 2.808 billion (2.808,270.40bn), while the gold reserve was slightly over US$ 3 billion (3.207.52bn). Contacted by IPN, former minister of defense Veaceslav Negruța, currently Transparency International Moldova expert, said the central bank holds a small gold reserve because the country does not have gold resources and has never been an important player on the regional or world gold markets. The gold of the National Bank of Moldova’s reserve was inherited from the National Treasury after this institution was liquidated.
