● MONDAY, October 15

Sets of coins with face value of 1, 2, 5 and 10 lei to be put on sale

The National Bank of Moldova decided to issue sets of coins with the face value of 1, 2, 5 and 10 lei for representation and numismatic purposes or as souvenirs following multiple requests from public institutions, commercial organizations, travel agencies and persons. The prices at which the sets will be sold and the date when they will become available are not yet known. Before placing the production order, the central bank asks the potential buyers to indicate the quantities they would like to purchase, without contractual obligations at the current stage. These are requested to send a preliminary application to the email address operatiuni.numerar@bnm.md by October 31, 2018. Besides the four coins, the set will contain a description of the technical specifications and safety elements and the legend of the coins in Romanian and English. The sets of coins could be bought by governmental agencies from the National Bank of Moldova and by business entities and private individuals from licensed banks.

● TUESDAY, October 16

Sheep milk cheese factory to be built within Cimișlia Industrial Park

A factory for producing sheep milk cheese will be constructed on the territory of the Cimișlia Industrial Park, IPN reports, quoting the Ministry of Economy and Infrastructure. According to Minister of Economy Kiril Gaburici, the reopening of the Cimișlia Indusial Park and initiation of the factory building works are the result of cooperation between the local and central authorities that aim to make sure the entrepreneurs benefit from the concessions available for developing a business. Mayor of Cimișlia town Gheorghe Răileanu said they broadly breed sheep in Cimișlia region and the sale of sheep milk cheese can be a profitable business. A factory will provide jobs and will help develop local infrastructure. The ten industrial parks operating in the Republic of Moldova have 68 resident business entities that created over 3,000 jobs.

Central bank extends period for selling newly issued shares in Moldindconbank

The Executive Board of the National Bank of Moldova decided to extend the period for selling the newly issued shares in Moldindconbank as an undividable holding of 63.89% for three months, until January 12, 2019, IPN reports, quoting the central bank. The bank noted that Moldindconbank works as usual and provides all the services, including those related to deposits, loans and transfers.

● WEDNESDAY, October 17

Gheorghe Gaberi: Even if exports grow, farmers are in a crisis

Even if Moldova’s exports of fruit and vegetables have grown significantly this year, the farmers are in a crisis as the potential is much greater than the exported quantities, the horticultural crops being very rich. In this connection, the identification of new markets is essential, the director of the National Food Safety Agency Gheorghe Gaberi was quoted by IPN as saying. According to the official, the export markets for Moldovan goods are the traditional ones, but two target markets become narrower –of Russia and of Belarus. Both of the countries during the past ten years invested in substituting imports by planting many orchards, mainly of apples and plums. The harvests are larger in Moldova and, even if the products are exported, the market price of the product decreases. “We must find an alternative market for the surplus volume. We realize that the imports to these countries will diminish in time. It’s easier to identify a market where the given product cannot be found,” stated Gheorghe Gaberi.

Only Ministry of Finance will choose institutions taking part in on-lending

Only the Ministry of Finance will be empowered to select the financial institutions that will take part in on-lending through the Credit Line Directorate, IPN reports, quoting a draft law approved by the Cabinet. The Ministry of Finance considers the limitation of the right to choose financial institutions that will take part in on-lending will contribute to improving credit risk management. The Ministry will later coordinate the relations between the participants in on-lending and the foreign creditor. According to official reports, Moldova’s state debt at the end of 2017 was 51.660,3 billion lei.

Moldova climbs one spot in Global Competitiveness Report

The Republic of Moldova moved one place forward in the Global Competiveness Report 2018, taking the 88th position out of 140 states with a score of 55.5 out of 85.6 possible. According to the Institute of Economic Research and European Studies of the Academy of Economy Studies of Moldova, which is the official partner in Moldova of the World Economic Forum, the Republic of Moldova has a better score in terms of technological readiness, labor market flexibility, education and training, infrastructure, etc. It got the lowest score for innovational capacity and financial market sophistication level.

Moldovan carriers will no longer need authorization to transit Turkey

The Cabinet approved the signing of the protocol to amend the Agreement on International Road Transport between the Government of the Republic of Moldova and the Government of the Republic of Turkey that was signed on July 3, 1994, IPN reports. This way, the international freight in bilateral regime and in transit will be carried without a transport authorization. This will help develop road transport and the exchange of goods and will facilitate the trips by citizens of the two countries. The initiative to sign the protocol was formulated in the meeting of the joint Moldovan-Turkish commission on international road transport that was held in Ankara on May 14, 2018.

Assistance in developing businesses in energy efficiency sector

The business entities that intend to develop a business in the energy efficiency sector will benefit from financial and technical assistance. For the purpose, the Energy Efficiency Agency signed a project conception with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization. According to the Agency, the project is intended for SMEs and startups of Moldova and is aimed at promoting new technologies in the renewable energy sector. The project activities will help business entities implement projects that can lead to the improvement of technologies used in the national energy sector, optimization of energy consumption among end-users and diversification of energy sources.

Moldagrotech brings together over 140 producers and processors

More than 140 producers and processors of agricultural products from Moldova and abroad presented their products at the 35th international exhibition Moldagrotech, the autumn edition, that is hosted by Moldexpo. During October 17-20, the visitors of the exhibition can see combines, tractors, sowers and other kinds of equipment and can also purchase fowl, fish, animals and saplings, IPN reports. The thematic sections Animal Show and Golden Autumn can be visited as part of Moldagrotech and of the specialized fair Farmer. A commission will examine the exhibits and will choose the novelty of the year that will be announced on October 20, when all the diplomas and trophies will be handed over to winners and participants.

● THURSDAY, October 18

Two national roads to be repaired with China’s support

Two national roads will be rehabilitated with the assistance of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China. The Cabinet of Moldova approved the initiation of negotiations on the financing projects. There will be repaired the national road M5, the section between Criva – Bălți, and the road R13 –Bălți – Florești – R14. The rehabilitation of these roads represents the continuation of the project to support the Road Sector Program that is implemented with the assistance of international financial institutions.

● FRIDAY, October 19

Fresh fruit and vegetables to be subject to compliance checks

The fresh fruit and vegetables will be subject to compliance checks by the National Food Safety Agency, at all the stages of the commercial process, until they reach end-users. A draft law to this effect was given by Parliament a first reading. The fruit and vegetables that will be subject to control are: tomatoes, salad, bell peppers, bananas, citrus fruit, grapes, apples, pears, peaches, nectarines, strawberries and kiwis. Liberal-Democratic MP Tudor Deliu wondered why the list includes fruit and vegetables that are not cultivated in Moldova, while others that grow in Moldova weren’t included. The bill authors said amendments will be proposed for the second reading and the list will be extended. The quality compliance certificates for fresh fruit and vegetables will be issued by the inspection body free of charge. The inspection body will create a database of business entities involved in activities related to the fresh fruit and vegetables sector. According to the bill authors, when the control system is instituted, the Republic of Moldova could ask the European Commission to put it on the list of third countries whose checks of the compliance with specific sale standards were recognized as equal to the EU requirements.

Alternative heating systems pose a threat to humans, conference

The individual heating systems as an alternative to the centralized system apparently bring savings, but can pose a real threat to the lives of persons, to ecology and the country’s energy security. The horizontal heat distribution system is a solution, director general of the company “Termoelectrica” Veaceslav Eni stated in the international conference “Efficient urban heating: solutions and challenges” that is held in Chisinau on October 19-20. According to Veaceslav Eni, a tendency to disconnect homes from the centralized thermal energy system is witnessed in many towns of the country, including in the municipality of Chisinau. The people install alternative heating systems that can become dangerous and even fatal. The supplier is testing individual horizontal heat distribution points in a number of old apartment buildings. Owing to this system, the consumer can start or stop the supply of heat whenever they want and there is not risk that CO2 will be emitted. Also, up to 30% of the value of the heat bill is saved.

Experts of “WatchDog.MD” demand NAER should reduce heat and electricity tariffs

Experts of the Association “WatchDog.MD” Community consider there are preconditions for reviewing the tariffs of the heat and electric power supplied by SA “Termoelectrica”. The new tariffs should be set depending on the value of the financial deviations that appeared after the natural gas tariff  was decreased. The experts demands that the National Agency for Energy Regulation (NAER) should explain why the heat tariff hasn’t been yet reviewed and should present information about particular costs include in the tariff. In a news conference at IPN, Tudor Șoitu, ex-vice president of the Court of Auditors, said there are three categories of costs that are included in the heat tariff – the natural gas purchase component that represents 77% of the cost of services provided by SA “Termoelectrica”; the own consumption of electricity, and the wear and tear of assets. “First in January 2018, we warned that the natural gas tariffs should be reduced for household users. The tariffs of the heat and electric power supplied by SA “Termoelectrica” should also be reduced. This didn’t happen and we don’t understand why,” stated Tudor Șoitu.

Terms in office of temporary administrators of Moldindconbank extended

The Executive Board of the National Bank of Moldova decided to extend the terms in office of the temporary administrators of the commercial bank Moldindconbank for a period of six months, as of October 20. According to the National Bank of Moldova, the temporary administrators work under the early intervention regime instituted at Moldindconbank after the central bank ascertained the concerted activity of a group of persons who held a substantial part of the bank’s share capital, of 63.89%, without the central bank’s consent. The National Bank said Moldindconbank works as usual and provides all the services, including those related to deposits, loans and transfers.