President Maia Sandu requested the Government to work out a program of anti-crisis measures to support small and medium-sized businesses, including in agriculture, and the people with low incomes. “The launch of infrastructure projects at national and local levels will create jobs and will strengthen the country’s resilience. The small farmers should be supported to start on time the field works,” the official said in a video address to the people.

According to President Sandu, the war in Ukraine caused a new crisis that will have serious and long-lasting consequences for the Republic of Moldova. Owing to the energy crisis, the gas prices continue to rise and the heat and electricity will also cost more as a result. The fuel prices and prices of other good and services also increased.

Maia Sandu said she saw these weeks impressive mobilization of the citizens who helped the Ukrainian refugees, but the enthusiasm is fading away and the communities slowly enter a new reality in which the war is in the headlines. “We must all condemn this war and be attentive to the feelings and spirits of those around us”.

The official noted the war has a major impact on the economy. Access to the Odessa port from which Moldova received a large part of the imports was lost. The importers use alternative routes to deliver products, but these are more expensive. They look for other business partners instead of those that were lost due to war. The rise in import costs leads to higher prices that are paid by everyone. The exporters are also affected by the war. Those who export products to the Eastern markets face difficulties owing to the situation in the neighboring country. The reorientation to other markets takes times. Many enterprises are in difficulty.

More infrastructure projects should be launched at the national and local levels to create more jobs and to strengthen the country’s resilience. Targeted measures should be taken to help the economy and the citizens overcome the shock caused by the war.

Maia Sandu called on the citizens to support each other, assuring that the state will stand by the people. She said the business entities can be supported by consuming more local products, like fresh apples that cannot be now exported to the Eastern markets.