● MONDAY, November 6

Free Economic Zones provide preferential conditions for investors

The signing of the Association Agreement with the European Union allowed creating the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area between the EU and Moldova. This facilitated the adoption of a number of laws that regulate foreign trade, competition, protection of industrial property rights, and the adjustment of the legislation to the international legal framework. Consequently, trade in goods and services was liberalized. The duties and technical and non-tariff barriers were diminished, Deputy Minister of Economy and Infrastructure Vitalie Iurcu stated in the international forum “Invest Gagauzia” that was held in Comrat on November 4. Presenting the preferential conditions provided by the Free Economic Zones to the residents of the seven FEZes, including FEZ Vulcanesti with the subzones in Comrat and Ceadar-Lunga, Vitalie Iurcu said all the goods that are imported or exported from these zones are exempted from customs duties and excise duties and a zero Valued Added Tax is imposed on them. The income tax represents 50% of the rate set in Moldova, while the companies with investments of US$ 1 million are exempted from paying the income tax for three years and for five years if the investments total about US$ 5 million. Moldova also signed Free Trade Agreements with the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and Turkey and these opened up new opportunities and prospects for the companies operating in Moldova. In 2007, the Republic of Moldova became a party to Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA) and this facilitates the liberalization of agricultural trade with the member states. Recently Moldova opened talks on a Free Trade Agreement with China. All these Free Trade Agreements offer the companies that operate in Moldova access to the markets of the EU, CEFTA and the CIS, which have about 900 million potential consumers.

IPN: Monitor of Official Gazette

On the day of inauguration of IPN’s rubric “Monitor of Official Gazette”, the state-run information agency Moldpress issued one more number of the Official Gazette, in a smaller format. This is not the first time the agency does so. In this “afternoon” issue (O.G No. 389 of November 3, 2017), our attention is caught first of all by the law (No. 218 of October 20, 2017) to amend the state social insurance budget law for 2017 No. 286/2016. Thus, the made changes show that both the total revenues (when the transfers from the state budget decreased) and expenditure increased by 149,881 and 276,175.4 lei respectively. We see that the expenditure is by 126,294.4 lei higher. It should be noted that the projected balance was equal to zero when the law was adopted on December 16, 2016!. There were raised the costs for managing the public social insurance system (by 14,331.8 lei) and for ensuring the protection, in case of temporary incapacity for work (by 64,009.2 lei), of elderly people (by 309,295.9 lei) and of other groups of beneficiaries. Let’s hope that the negative balance-of-trade (126,294.4 lei) will be put right by the end of this year, as the MPs decided. The O.G. also shows that on November 2 the President of the Republic of Moldova amended the previous decree No. 309 of July 28, 2017 concerning the institution of a Civil Society Council under the President of the Republic of Moldova, by excluding the public control commission from the Council. As the decree says nothing about the reasons for the exclusion, questions appear as a result. The same issue of the O.G. contains the Decision of the National Bank of Moldova about the amendment and supplementing of the regulations concerning the shareholdings owned in the share capital of banks No. 73 of October 19, 2017, which took effect on November 3 this year. In this regulations, the National Bank specified the notions of Persons who act in concert and Potential purchaser and introduced a separate point entitled Acquiring person, which can be any private individual or legal entity, association or group of persons who act in concert and are registered as such or not.

Honey harvest this year is by 30% lower

The honey harvest obtained this year is by about 30% lower than last year. Compared with the previous years, there was collected more polyflora honey (70%) than acacia and lime tree honey (30%). Stefan Condratiuc, chairman of the Beekeepers Association of Moldova, has told IPN that the collection process goes on. About 5,000 tonnes of honey have been collected so far. The honey should be gathered by end-August, but many beekeepers do not do it on time and delay thus the preparation of bee families for winter. As a result, the quantity of honey that could be collected next year is diminished. According to Stefan Condratiuc, 80% of the problems faced in the beekeeping sector are related to the human factor. The beekeepers already reported losses this season because they didn’t make the preparations for winter in time. Also, some of the apiculturists introduced bee species that are not adjusted to local weather conditions. Stefan Condratiuc said seminars were staged with experts from Poland and Germany and the Moldovan beekeepers were warned not to bring into the country non-homologated species and hybrids that can yield honey only during the first year as the genetic stock is polluted. Such a situation is due to the fact that the authorities do not monitor the genetic stock.

Access to long-term financing within new IFAD project

A new project financed by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) was launched in Moldova. In a news conference, Iurie Usurelu, secretary general of state at the Ministry of Agriculture, Regional Development and Environment, said the Fund will offer Moldova US$ 23.7 million in financing for implementing the Rural Resilience Project IFAD VII. Of the US$ 23.7 million, US$ 5.5 million is a grant. The loan of over US$ 18 million is repayable in 25 years, at an interest rate of 1.25%. “The goal of the project is to offer accessible and long-term sources of finance for developing agricultural producers’ capacities to adjust the production systems to climate change in agriculture,” stated Iurie Usurelul. The project has two big components: development of agricultural companies’ capacities and measures to adapt to climate change and support for the development of the agricultural business. Assistance will be provided to over 450 micro-enterprises, 150 young entrepreneurs and at least 20 small and medium-sized enterprises. The project will be implemented until 2022 under the management of the IFAD Consolidated Programs Implementation Unit in Moldova. Since 2000, IFAD has offered US$ 124 million in assistance to Moldovan agricultural producers.

● TUESDAY, November 7

DCFTA brought substantial benefits to Moldova, EU Commissioner

The Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (DCFTA) brought substantial benefits to the economy of the Republic of Moldova. After three years of implementation, Moldova’s exports to the EU market rose by two thirds, while imports from the EU into Moldova grew by 50%, EU Commissioner for Trade Cecilia Malmström said in a news conference held in Chisinau together with Prime Minister Pavel Filip. The commercial relations between the Republic of Moldova and the EU became very close. The DCFTA provided to Moldova preferential access to the largest market of the world, duty-free export and many investment opportunities. The fruit, vegetable and can producers increased their exports by 20%. Wine exports rose two times, stated Cecilia Malmström. According to the EU Commissioner, reforms should be continued in the area of food safety as there are barriers to the export of products of vegetal and animal origin. “We discussed the reforms that should be done so that the exporters of eggs and meat have access to the EU market. The fight against corruption is also important for the investors to feel protected in the Republic of Moldova,” said Cecilia Malmström. For his part, Pavel Filip noted that the DCFTA is a very important agreement for the Republic of Moldova and the access to the European market provided by this should be fully used. “Exports to the EU market rose to 64%. Imports from the EU into the Republic of Moldova represent 50%. We notice a continuous increase in the number of companies involved in trade with the EU and the diversification of the type of exported products,” stated the Premier.

450 companies to take part in “Made in Moldova” exhibit

The exhibitions center “Moldexpo” will host the seventeenth exhibition and fair “Made in Moldova” between January 31 and February 4, 2018. The next year’s theme of the event is “Made in Moldova, made for you”. Sergiu Harea, chairman of the Chamber of Trade and Industry of Moldova, told a news conference that this is an event that sums up the results of the entrepreneurial year. The exhibition space will be over 3,100 square meters in area, organized into three pavilions. A number of 450 Moldovan companies announced their intention to take part, but the list remains open. The exhibit will also involve companies from Turkey, Romania, Ukraine, Belarus and the Russian Federation. Negotiations are held with companies from Iran, Germany and other countries. The participating companies have applied for about 50% of the exhibition areas already. The Government, which patronizes the event, will engage its ministries and agencies that will stage different seminars and conferences within the business program of the exhibition. For the first time this year, the event will include an investment forum that will be held in southern Moldova. The business program includes a forum organized by the Ukrainian partners based on reciprocity. There was also planned a broad cultural program. Sergiu Harea said that besides preparing for “Made in Moldova” and other national exhibitions, the Chamber of Trade and Industry also gets ready for an exhibition that will take place in Poland during November 30 – December 2. Next year Moldova will take part in important exhibitions in Russia, Ukraine and Germany.

IFAD VII provides access to loans of up to US$ 250,000

Small and medium-sized enterprises can apply for loans of up to US$ 250,000 or the equivalent of this sum in euros or Moldovan lei within the second component “Agribusiness Support” of the Rural Resilience Project IFAD VII, as from 2018. Elena Burlacu, lending specialist of the IFAD Consolidated Programs Implementation Unit in Moldova, told a news conference that the loans will be granted for a period of up to eight months with a grace period of four years, IPN reports. A new element is that the circulating capital afferent to investments will be financed in the amount of 20% of the requested loan. Young entrepreneurs will be able to get financing for agricultural or non-agricultural activities if these are developed in rural areas. The financing will be of at most 700,000 lei and will be intended especially for setting up multiannual plantations. As in the case of SMEs, the circulating capital afferent to the investments made by young entrepreneurs will be financed in the amount of 20% of the requested loan. For members of savings and loan associations, the project will provide loans of up to 150,000 lei repayable in at most five years. Any activity performed in rural areas will be financed. IFAD offers Moldova US$ 23.7 million in financing for implementing the Rural Resilience Project IFAD VII. Of this sum, US$ 5.5 million is provided in the form of a grant, while over US$ 18 as a loan for developing agricultural producers’ capacities and helping them adjust their production systems to climate change. The loan is repayable in 25 years, at an interest rate of 1.25%, plus a commission of over 2%. The interest rate paid by the recipients of loans will be set by the banking or nonbanking institution through which the loan will be raised. The interest rate within the IFAD projects under implementation is 10.4% on average.

IMF team reach staff-level agreement on policies needed to complete Second Review

An IMF team led by Ben Kelmanson visited Chisinau from October 25–November 7 to conduct discussions for the 2017 Article IV consultation and Second Review under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) and Extended Credit Facility (ECF) arrangements. The team reached staff-level agreement on policies needed to complete the Second Review under the Program, and had constructive discussions on the 2017 Article IV Consultation. The agreement is subject to approval by IMF Management and Executive Board. Consideration by the Executive Board is tentatively scheduled for late December. The completion of the review will make an additional SDR 15.7 million (about $22 million) available, IMF team head Ben Kelmanson said in a news conference given in Chisinau together with Prime Minister Pavel Filip. Pavel Filip said the program with the IMF signed a year ago is a certificate of confidence for the Republic of Moldova. Moldova benefitted from economic and financial stability and economic growth returned following the crisis.  Moldova’s three-year IMF program, approved on November 7, 2016, is supported by a loan of SDR 129.4 million (about US$182 million, or 75 percent of the Republic of Moldova’s quota), of which SDR 41.7 million (about US$59 million) have been already disbursed. Two thirds of the loan are provided under the Extended Credit Facility, which carries a zero interest rate through 2018, a grace period of 5½ years, and a 10-year maturity. The rest of the loan is provided under the Extended Fund Facility, which carries an annual interest rate equal to the SDR basic rate of charge (currently 1.3 percent), and is repayable over 10 years with a 4½ -year grace period.

IMF experts at end of visit to Chisinau: Outlook is favorable

Economic growth in Moldova returned following the crisis, and is expected to moderate to around 3.5 percent in 2017. The outlook for Moldova is favorable. Over the medium term, the economy is projected to grow close to 4 percent, held back by demographic factors. The figures were presented at the end of the visit paid by an IMF team led by Ben Kelmanson to Chisinau from October 25–November 7, 2017. The IMF experts said the 2017 Budget amendment and 2018 Budget appropriately allow for higher public investment and social spending. Fiscal outturns have been solid in 2017, buoyed by strong revenue performance; and while capital spending has faced delays, priority social outlays have been maintained. The current account deficit widened to around 6 percent of GDP in the first half of 2017, but against robust inflows, the leu appreciated by 10.9 percent (yoy) vis-à-vis the U.S. dollar. The experts noted that in the coming years, effective financial intermediation—facilitated by decisive financial sector cleansing—will be a key domestic growth factor, while sustained recovery of external demand in key trading partners will underpin export growth. Wide ranging efforts to cleanse the sector are proceeding, though with delay, including improving shareholder transparency and bank diagnostics. The IMF says inflation, which peaked at over 13 percent in 2015, decelerated rapidly, but was above target in September 2017 at 7.6 percent, driven largely by supply side shocks. It is projected to decelerate quickly in 2018. Although Moldova has experienced moderate growth over the past two decades, its per capita income lags European neighbors. According to the IMF, a comprehensive approach is needed to improve growth outcomes, including: reforming the public sector, strengthening the rule of law, improving investment in public infrastructure and human capital. Relatedly, education reform is key to building the human capital needed to support future growth.

Moldova’s energy security is ensured on paper only, economist

Over 40% of domestic consumers and about 70% of industrial enterprises in Moldova, in particular those operating in the energy sector, use the natural gas as a source of heating. The country is fully dependent on the Russian gas supplied by Gazprom. Thus, the energy security in the field of natural gas supply is not at all ensured despite the construction of the highly praised Iasi-Ungheni gas pipeline, economist of the Institute for Development and Social Initiative “Viitorul” Iurie Gotisan said in the program “15 minutes of economic realism”. According to the economist, a simple analysis of data shows that the states that had and continue to have conflicts, including military ones, with the Russian Federation have diversified the sources of natural gas supply, in particular Georgia and Ukraine. The first country imports over 95% of the gas for domestic consumption from Azerbaijan. As regards the Iasi-Ungheni gas pipeline, the economist said the plans to reduce Moldova’s dependence on Russia haven’t been yet achieved. Moreover, if the gas pelerine becomes fully functional, the costs and prices could be a problem, but in the short term only. The average price of a cubic meter of gas supplied to consumers in Romania is now 2.5 RON or 0.6 USD, or 11 Moldovan lei. “To fully use the capacity of the gas pipeline, the Government of Moldova hopes to build the section to Chisinau by the end of 2018.  The procedure for expropriating about 150 citizens whose plots will be crossed by the pipeline is an impediment that should be taken into account,” stated the expert.

● WEDNESDAY, November 8

Quantity and packing are main problems faced in export of agricultural products to EU, opinion

The fact that Moldova cannot export a large quantity of products on a constant basis is one of the problems faced by the agrifood sector in the exportation to the European Union based on the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement. The issue was developed in the talk show “Emphasis on Today” on TVR Moldova channel. Alexandru Fala, programs director at the independent think tank “Expert-Grup”, said this is a key problem that the Republic of Moldova cannot solve, also because of the fragmentation of its agricultural sector. According to him, the post-harvest system is another problem as the sorting and packing of products count a lot in the EU. “In this regard, we need specialized infrastructure for packing and sorting products so that these could be exported to the EU,” stated Alexandru Fala. He added that the principle of product quality should also be respected. As to the Moldovan authorities’ demand to the EU to increase the export quotas for a number of products, Roman Chirca, director of the Market Economy Institute, said these quotas were set depending on the country’s production capacity. If Moldova shows it can produce more, the quotas could be raised. The quotas were set with the aim of not allowing using the Association Agreement signed by Moldova with the EU for re-exporting under preferential regime similar goods from other regions that do not enjoy such benefits.

Octavian Calmic: EU market is much more stable for Moldovan goods

The market of the European Union is much more stable for Moldovan goods and offers a guaranteed price. All the instruments of a market economy work there and everyone there has access to justice, credible purchases and can recover the losses. The commercial risks related to these transactions have minimized, Minister of Economy and Infrastructure Octavian Calmic stated in the program “Fabrika” on Publika TV channel. According to the minister, the quality standards applied in Russia or the Commonwealth of Independent States are identical with those of the EU if we refer to agri-food products. “If we refer to much more complex products, such as the products of animal origin, the EU market is slightly more inaccessible. We thus implement these standards in our national legislation because we pursue two goals– to protect the domestic market from offensive products, on the one hand, and, on the other hand, our system already becomes known in the EU and the other countries should also recognize it,” stated Octavian Calmic.Economic expert Veaceslav Ionita said that since Moldova signed the Association Agreement with the European Union and the EU market was opened, the competitiveness of the Moldovan economy has increased. “Our producers until 2013 could sell only on the Russian market and we were practically an isolated country because of certifications and documents. Now the competitiveness of our economy has enhanced with the support of the European Union. Earlier, we could sell only in the CIS, but now, if we can sell to the European Union, we can sell to the whole world,” stated the expert. The Moldova – EU Association Agreement was ratified by the Moldovan legislative body in July 2014.

Cabinet approves draft law on state program “First House”

The Cabinet on November 7 endorsed the bill concerning the implementation of the state program “First House” that provides preferential access to private individuals, especially young families, to home loans by partially guaranteeing these loans. Under the bill, persons younger than 45 who do not own a home will be able to purchase private houses and apartments on Moldova’s territory that were finished and made available for occupancy before the submission of the application. Their price should not exceed 1million lei. The beneficiary must pay an initial installment of at least 10% of the price. The loans for the “First House” will be provided by commercial banks. These will be repayable over 25 years, in Moldovan lei. The state will guarantee about 50% of the balance of the released loan. The interest rate will consist of the average weighted interest rate on loans repayable in six to 12 months, communicated by the National Bank of Moldova, with a margin of up to 3%, and an annual guarantee commission of 0.5% of the balance of the state guarantee. Another draft law approved by the Cabinet modifies particular state taxes on home loan contracts signed within the “First House” program. The state tax on the authentication of home purchase contracts is decreased from 0.5% to 0.1%, while the tax on the authentication of home loan contracts to 50 lei. It was also decided to reduce the honorariums of public notaries and bailiffs for measures taken with regard to property bought through the state program.Both of the bills will be submitted to Parliament for adoption. The annual state guarantee ceiling will be set yearly. The 2017 state budget envisions a guarantee fund of 15 million lei for home loans provided through the state program “First House”.

Banca Transilvania to expand into Moldova

Banca Transilvania (BT), which is the second largest Romanian banking institution by the value of assets, together with its shareholder the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), intends to purchase an initial shareholding of over 39% in Victoriabank, the third leading bank in Moldova. In a press release, the Romanian banking institution says it is for the first time in the last ten years that a bank from outside Moldova is interested in entering the given market. When Banca Transilvania buys the holding in Victoriabank, the two partners - BT and EBRD – will together hold a majority holding in Victoriabank. In accordance with the legislation, the two will make an offer to purchase the other shares. As strategic partners, Banca Transilvania and the EBRD want to contribute to the development of the banking sector in Moldova and will support Victoriabank in its efforts to continue to be one of the best and appreciated banks in Moldova. The EBRD became a shareholder of Banca Transilvania in 2001. The bank’s capitalization is of 9.2 billion Romanian lei (RON). In the first half of this year, it made a net profit of 496.06 million RON (about €109m), an increase of 8.2% compared with the corresponding period last year. BT’s assets in the period rose to 53.24 million RON (€11.7bn), up 2.8% on December 2016. Last year, Banca Transilvania for the first time outstripped BRD and climbed to the second spot in the rankings of Romanian banks by the value of assets, after BCR, which remains a leader. The nonperforming loans represented 8.1% at the end of June.

Managers of BC “Energbank” fined over 156,000 lei

Five members of the Administration Board of the commercial bank “Energbank” SA were fined a total of 156 459 lei. The Executive Board of the National Bank of Moldova decided to impose the fine after it examined the results of the all-inclusive inspection carried out at this bank. The managers of “Energbank” were warned not to allow violations of the regulations in the future or heavier penalties will be imposed. The identified irregularities include the non-observation by the bank of the prudential requirements in lending activity, concentration of risks, classification of assets, violations of the regulations concerning transactions with affiliated persons, etc. The National Bank said the identified violations didn’t affect the prudential limits set by the central bank and, consequently, there are no major threats to the stability of “Energbank”. The bank works as usual and provides all the proposed services.

Fresh Moldovan grapes and plums sold in hypermarkets in Romania

A company from Ialoveni rayon in October sent the first truck of fresh fruits to the Auchan Retail Romania trade network. This delivery is the result of the joint efforts undertaken by the members of “Moldova Fruct” Association and UNDP Moldova for diversifying the export markets and categories of buyers of Moldovan fruits, IPN reports, with reference to a press release of UNDP Moldova. In autumn 2016, over ten fruit producers and exporters from “Moldova Fruct” Association participated with a common stand in the Indagra Food exhibition in Bucharest, with the support provided by the Romanian Government and UNDP Moldova. The interaction with the French distributor representatives, established during that fair, continued with visits to the Association’s orchards and packing facilities. “We aim to increase every year our share on alternative export markets, and this season we succeeded to export to the EU market. It is an ambitious path, but unavoidable, and the first success brings more confidence in the quality of Moldovan products and their value at the global level,” stated Ion Ionas, director of Ionextrans SRL. The first fresh grapes and plums appeared on the shops’ shelves at the end of October 2017. The companies plan to extend their cooperation for new types of fruits as well. Auchan Retail Romania has 33 shops of hypermarket format and intends to open several hundreds of convenience stores. This category of shops will sell new categories of products, among which sliced fruit snacks – a segment in which the Moldovan fruit producers already have some experience.

● THURSDAY, November 9

Inventions, creative products and services to be presented at 15th “Infoinvent” exhibition

About 100 enterprises, creators and inventors from over ten states will display inventions, creative products and services and innovational projects at the 15th exhibition “Infoinvent” that will take place at “Moldexpo” in Chisinau during November 15-18.The event is organized by the State Agency on Intellectual Property (AGEPI) in partnership with the Academy of Sciences and the Agency for Innovation and Technology Transfer of Moldova with support from the European Patent Office. The exhibits wil include medical equipment and packing for innovative dairy products, a new type of computer chairs, systems for sterilizing banknotes, bags with solar batteries, robots, etc. “The event is a platform designed for inventors and creative people for popularizing inventions in different areas,” AGEPI director general Lilia Bolocan told a news conference on November 9. The exhibition offer will be organized into five categories: inventions; sorts of plans and industrial design; innovative products and services; innovative projects and technology transfer; creations of young people and of the creative industry. “The exhibition will provide a favorable environment for business meetings between investors, creators and representatives of the investment sector,” stated Lilia Bolocan. Agency for Innovation and Technology Transfer director general Roman Chirca said the exhibition is an opportunity for assessing the innovative sector of the Republic of Moldova. “Five years ago, there was no official document or country development strategy that would include the word “innovation”. Now this word appears more often. We are yet far from what we aspire, but there are definitely positive dynamics,” he stated.

Pieces of advice for saving electricity and heat

To optimize the use of heat and electricity, the population is urged to take into account several simple pieces of advice. Specialists recommend that the radiators should not be covered by curtains, towels and other things and choosing bulbs of the power required in a particular room. The recommendations were formulated by the Energy Efficiency Agency (EEA), which launched a video to inform the people about the measures to optimize the use of heat and electricity in the cold season. On November 9, the Agency launched a social campaign entitled “Together we learn to save energy and money”. In the event, specialists of the EEA informed about the measures by which at least 20% of the costs for heat and power in winter can be cut. “A family that lives in Chisinau can spend about 1,000-1,500 lei or even 2,000 lei on heat a month. These are enormous costs for the citizens of the Republic of Moldova. That’s why we decided to communicate with the people and to tell them there are methods by which they can make savings. We ultimately want to establish some rules for correct energy consumption,” stated the Agency’s director Alexandru Ciudin. The population is advised to set a lower temperature of hot water in the thermal station so as to avoid the necessity of mixing the hot and cold water. Windows should be isolated with adhesive tape, while baths in the bathtub should be replaced with short showers when it is possible. The windows should be opened only for short periods of time. It is recommended purchasing domestic appliances of the upper energy class A++ or A+++ and unplugging the unused electrical devices as they consume energy even if they are not used. The Energy Efficiency Agency urges to use as much daylight as possible and to buy LEDs instead of incandescent bulbs as these can help save about 5,000 lei on electric power in the period.

Process of restructuring inspection bodies is at final stage, deputy premier

The process of restructuring the inspection bodies reached the final stage. The number of bodies with inspection duties was cut from 60 to 13, Deputy Prime Minister Octavian Calmac, Minister of Economy and Infrastructure. “By the end of this month, we will work out the regulations concerning the functioning of these entities so that they start work based on new principles beginning with next year,” stated Octavian Calmac. The inspections will be mandatorily planned. The business entities will be notified of these beforehand. Only the National Food Safety Agency and the Consumer Protection and Market Surveillance Agency will have the right to carry out surprise inspections. The first will check the quality of agrifood and processed products, while the second the quality of industrial products.He added that a National Council for examining system problems encountered in the implementation of the legislation on state inspections will be soon set up. The Ministry of Economy and Infrastructure will systematize all the petitions that come from business entities and consumers. The inspection process will be digitized. All the decisions taken by inspectors will be placed on a website that could be accessed by business entities. In parallel with the reform of the inspection bodies, a broad program is carried out to see how consumers’ rights are respected. “There will be examined metrological aspects, such as precision of scales and accuracy of gasoline supply at gas stations. At the initial stage, the inspectors will make recommendations for the sellers to meet the set standards. If these do not comply, there will be taken all the administrative measures stipulated by the legislation,” stated Octavian Calmac.

● FRIDAY, November 10

Iurie Usurelu: 2017 is a very good agricultural year

2017 as an agricultural year is very good both in terms of the quality of products and homogeneity and the volume of production, Iurie Usurelu, secretary of state at the Ministry of Agriculture, Regional Development and Environment, stated in the program “Moldova live” on the public TV channel Moldova 1. According to Iurie Usurelu, the Ministry’s key goal is to see where and at what price the agricultural products are sold. “The production is now being sold and a part of the summer-autumn harvests was stored in cold storage facilities and it is too early to speak about a financial result,” he stated. Vitalie Gorincioi, chairman of the Fruit Producers and Exporters Association “Moldova Fruct”, said this April’s snowfalls damaged a part of the crops. The affected vineyards and orchards didn’t yield fruit. “The farmers knew about the tempest beforehand and most of those who work in horticulture took particular protection measures,” stated Vitalie Gorincioi, adding that the horticulturists nonetheless sustained losses, but the harvest will be yet better than last year both as regards the quality and the quantity. Dumitru Budeanschi, programs director at the independent think tank “Expert-Grup”, said the exports of agricultural products vary from year to year. The exports of grains and technical crops have grown during the last few years. “This is not so good as these are crops with a low valued added. The strategy says we should develop agricultural businesses with a high value added. We can do this if the financing policies, subsidies and the other agriculture development programs are aimed at changing this agricultural structure and this would also increase farmers’ revenues,” he stated.