● MONDAY, September 24

Free Economic Zone Bălți to be extended

A publicity owned piece of farming land that is 23 hectares in area situated near Crihana Veche village of Cahul district is to be transferred from the Ministry of Education, Culture and Research under the private ownership of the Free Economic Zone Bălți, based on a Government decision. The transfer is to be made within 15 days of the publication of the decision in the Official Gazette. The Free Economic Zone Bălți will start to build production areas for the car making industry and components for the given industry, creating new export possibilities for the residents of this subzone (Cahul) of the Free Economic Zone Bălți. The Free Economic Zone Bălți was opened in 2010. The investments attracted to all the Free Economic Zones of Moldova until the end of last year totaled US$ 350 million, an increase of 22.7% compared with the corresponding period of 2016.

● TUESDAY, September 25

Agreement on employment of Moldovans with Israel extended

The agreement on the temporary employment of Moldovan workers between the Government of the Republic of Moldova and the Government of the State of Israel was prolonged for five years, IPN reports, with reference to a Government decision. Under the document, the agreement will be valid until January 5, 2024. In the period, Israel will contribute to ensuring the legal and fair employment of Moldovan citizens who want to work in the building sector of the State of Israel. Twelve stages of recruitment and employment of Moldovans in Israel have been organized so far, with over 6,000 Moldovan workers being offered jobs. These work based on an individual employment contract for over 20 Israeli companies.

Government intervenes to prevent spread of African swine fever

The hunting for wild boars, foxes and jackals in the 2018-2019 season will be extended from February 26 until July 31, 2019 so that the whole possible period until the next hunting season is covered, IPN reports, quoting the changes made by the Government to a number of normative documents. The hunting quotas on wild boars will be increased, including in natural areas protected by the state, so as to stably diminish the number of wild boars, to protect the domestic animals and crops and to prevent the spread of African swine fever and the damage this can cause to producers from related areas. In the same meeting, there were approved changes to the framework regulations concerning the wetlands of international importance – Ramsar Sites. These changes allow hunting for wild boars, jackals and foxes in case of outbreaks of infectious diseases.

Financial opportunities of Moldova’s Orchard Project could be extended

The Cabinet on September 25 approved the initiation of negotiations on the signing of amendment No. 2 to the financing contract between the Republic of Moldova and the European Investment Bank for implementing Moldova’s Orchard Project signed in 2014. The amendment extends the list of investment activities that can be financed by adding the processing of vegetables, development of nurseries, processing of grapes and development of agritourism. Access to financing will also be ensured for small producers of fruit, vegetables, walnuts and decorative bushes from the agricultural sector. The EIB lent €120 million for providing financial support to producers within Moldova’s Orchard Project. The money can be accessed by lending operations or through the agency of leasing companies. The total cost of each subproject cannot exceed €5 million.

Moldovan leu will be accepted for currency exchange operations in Romania

The Moldovan lei will be accepted for currency exchange operations and banking transactions in Romania. This will be possible owing to the cooperation with Banca Comercială Română and Banca Transilvania, IPN reports, quoting the National Bank of Moldova. At the request of the National Bank, the largest two licensed banks of Romania, which together have a share of about one third of the Romanian banking market, will start to exchange Moldovan lei (MDL) for Romanian lei (RON). One of these will also launch a service to transfer cash in Moldova lei. The MDL/RON currency exchange service will be available from October 1, 2018 from branches and facilities in the main cities of Romania. The launch calendar and additional details about the new services will be communicated separately by the two banks. Banca Comercială Română is the only shareholder of Banca Comercială Română Chișinău SA, while Banca Transilvania is a majority shareholder, together with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, of BC Victoriabank SA.

5G network to be tested in Moldova in 2019

The 5G network will be tested in Moldova next year. Together with the implementation of the new technology, the data transfer speed will increase and the response time will improve. The issue was discussed in a meeting of Prime Minister Pavel Filip, deputy chief executive officer of the Orange Group Ramon Fernandez and chief executive officer in charge of European operations Jean-Marc Vignolles. According to the Government’s press service, besides the plans to invest in the 5G network, Orange also intends to develop mobile financial services that will enable to make payments online in the country and abroad through the agency of cellphones, including payments for public utilities and transfers from person to person.

Chinese company willing to assemble buses in Moldova

The Chinese electric bus maker ZTE intends to open an assembly factory in Moldova. The intention was communicated by representatives of the company in a meeting with Prime Minister Pavel Filip, IPN reports, quoting the Government’s press service. The Premier said they welcome investment projects, noting the visit by any potential investor is a joy. When someone decides to start a business in Moldova, it is a double joy. Pavel Filip called on the investors to have a permeant dialogue with the secretariat of the Economic Council that works under the Prime Minister as this is a chain that connects the executive and the business community.

● WEDNESDAY, September 26

EDENRED presents new electronic solutions for meal vouchers

The French company EDENRED has announced the introduction of a modern digital solution for meal vouchers on Moldova. This consists of electronic meal vouchers (cards) and a digital platform. EDENRED obtained the license of operator for issuing electronic meal vouchers and can thus supplement the benefits provided by the meal cards. According to a press release of the company’s representative office in Chisinau, the application that EDENRED implemented successfully in the Czech Republic and Finland enables the beneficiaries of meal vouchers to use this extra-salary bonus in all the retail outlets included in the network. EDENRED developed the application together with PayNet and comes to satisfy the demand of employees who are accustomed to this form of payment.

Hundreds of kilograms of vegetables withdrawn from sale

The National Food Safety Agency ordered to withdraw 220 kg of belly peppers, 180 kg of tomatoes and 80 kg of cucumbers that do not meet the minimum quality standards from sale, IPN reports, quoting a press release of the Agency. As a result of surprise inspections at retail outlets in the municipality of Chisinau during September 24 – 26, inspectors established that some of the products lacked information about their origin, quality, caliber, category, year of the harvest and information about the additional treatment of fruit and vegetables. The inspectors found unlabeled fruit and vegetables in storehouses, noncompliant vegetables and spoiled fruit and vegetables put on sale. The involved business entities were warned to remove the discovered irregularities.

● THURSDAY, September 27

Russia is interested in investing in Moldova, economic expert

Russia is interested in investing in production in the Republic of Moldova so that the products are later exported to the Western market. This was one of the central messages of the Moldovan-Russian Economic Forum that was held recently in Chisinau, economist Mihail Poisic was quoted by IPN as saying in a program on NTV Moldova channel. The economist stated that by this forum the Russian Federation invited the Republic of Moldova to a dialogue, but the government didn’t express interest in this event that involved only representatives of the presidential administration. Such a position by the government is strange as Moldova exports products both to the East and to the West. “It is known that we now sell no kilogram of meat to the EU and we will not sell any liter of milk or milk products to this in the nearest future either. We will also not sell complex technical articles. These products are intended for the Eastern market,” stated Mihail Poisic. Socialist MP Vladimir Golovatiuc said this forum will enable to intensify Moldova’s exports to Russia and to the EU too. “A section of the forum was called “Moldova between the West and the East” and this was not accidental,” he stated, adding the forum showed the Socialists cannot be against the European Union.

Central bank will continue to appoint temporary administrator whenever need be

The National Bank of Moldova will be able to extend, in an exceptional way, the period during which a temporary administrator will work at banks whenever need be. This is provided in a bill to amend the law on the remedying and resolution of banks that was adopted by Parliament in the first reading on September 27. The temporary administrator will be named for at most a year. The National Bank, as the competent authority, is responsible for determining to what extent the conditions for keeping a temporary administrator and for justifying such a decision before shareholders were met. According to the bill authors, Democratic MPs Andrian Candu and Sergiu Sârbu, now this period can be renewed in an exceptional way when the conditions concerning the appointment of a temporary administrator continue to be met. The current legislation does not say for how many times the work of a temporary administrator can be extended. The amendments are to be passed in the final reading.

● FRIDAY, September 28

Priorities of new minister of agriculture, regional development and environment

The new Minister of Agriculture, Regional Development and Environment Nicolae Ciubuc aims to combat the production risks in agriculture and to increase milk production in Moldova. The official presented some of the priories of his term in the talk show “Important” on TVC21 channel. Nicolae Ciubuc said he will focus on the combating of production risks by stimulating investments in the necessary infrastructure and in irrigation. A legal framework on the prevention and insurance of production risks should be created. “We aim to improve the system of insurance in agriculture. This was an ambitious plan launched over ten years ago, but it was compromised in time,” he stated.

Grant to develop Ungheni-Chisinau gas pipeline

Transgaz will benefit from a grant of €46 million from the Large Infrastructure Operational Program for developing the capabilities of the National Gas Transportation System in northeastern Romania and the interconnection with the Republic of Moldova. According to Minster of Economy and Infrastructure Kiril Gaburici, the construction works are to be launched as soon as possible so that the gas pipeline could become operational by the end of next year. The contract to transfer the state-run company Vestmoldtransgaz to the Romanian company Transgaz was signed on March 28. The company pledged to build the Ungheni-Chisinau gas pipeline during at most two years and to invest up to €93 million for the purpose.