ECO-BUS WEEKLY DIGEST. April 23-28. Most important “Economics & Business” news by IPN

[● MONDAY, April 23] [Japanese firm takes hold of “Milestii-Mici” brand illegally] The Moldova-registered “Milestii-Mici” Winery accuses a Japanese firm that it illegally took possession of the Moldovan trademark “Milestii-Mici”. The plaintiff says that Moldovan wines imported in Japan became an object of dispute between the companies in this country, with some of them trying to engage in unfair competition practices on the market. [IT contribution to GDP expected to reach one quarter by 2015] Authorities plan to develop the Informational Technologies sector in Moldova, so that IT’s contribution reaches 20-25% of the Gross Domestic Product by 2015. President Vladimir Voronin said at the opening festivity of the IT Week on Monday, April 23, that the place that informational technologies have in the country’s economy is poor at present. [Societe Generale buys majority stock in Albanian bank] The French banking group Societe Generale (SG) acquired 75% of Banka Popullore in Albania, aiming to make its south-east Europe zone its third largest European business outside France, after the Czech Republic and Romania. [Xerox quarterly profit goes up] Xerox Corp. the world's largest supplier of office printers, copiers and related services, said on Friday that quarterly profit rose, driven by sales of service contracts and supplies. For the first quarter, net income was USD 233 million, or 24 cents a share, compared with USD 200 million, or 20 cents a share, a year earlier. [● TUESDAY, April 24] [Handbook about road transport in Moldova has been launched] A handbook about Moldova’s trade relations with different countries of the world, role and place of road transport in this process, as well as a series of problems that the respective sector confronts with at present, and ways of solving them was launched in Chisinau, on April 23. The collection “Road Transport in Moldova 2004-2006” was issued by the International Road Transport Union (IRU) and International Association of Carriers of Moldova (AITA), Info-Prim Neo reports. [Government to open trade house in Odessa] Moldova’s Government plans to open a trade house in Odessa. The intention was announced by Premier Vasile Tarlev who discussed the development of Moldova-Ukraine trade cooperation relations with the governor of Odessa region, Ivan Placikov. [Three Moldovan firms selected for creation of packing houses] Three economic entities in Moldova will be selected by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry (MAFI) for setting up packing houses, which would start their activity in 2007 in rural areas of the country. The packing houses’ mission is to sell fresh produce for export. [Moldcell posts USD 43 mln profit in 2006] “Moldcell” company registered an income of USD 43 mln in 2006 from providing mobile telephony services on the territory of Moldova. Director-General of “Moldcell” Yusuf Baykan told a news conference on April 24, dedicated to the seventh activity year of Moldcell on the territory of Moldova that since it started to work in Moldova the company invested USD 84 mln in the development of the infrastructure, planning to invest USD 84 mln by 2011. [Verification of licensed software did not start yet] The expected actions of the Police on the verification of the economic entities, to find whether they use licensed software or not, supposed to start on March 1, did not start yet, and the representatives of the Agency for Intellectual Property can not name the date when the inspections will actually begin. [Fall in stock exchange turnover] The stock exchange turnover went down 41.52% last week. This is the second week when the turnover is on the decrease. [● WEDNESDAY, April 25] [Presidential initiatives - a dangerous sign for the economic stability and rule of law. Economic Analysis] The annulment of fiscal debts is an extremely dangerous practice and will lead to a series of negative consequences, such as the loss of government revenue, discouragement of those who paid taxes, diminishing of the fiscal discipline, discouragement of fiscal workers, promotion of inefficiency, the experts of IDIS “Viitorul” consider. By totally and unconditionally forgiving debts, the business environment of Moldova will continue to remain uncompetitive, undisciplined and inclined to fiscal offences. [Russia's biggest oil producer announces 16% profit rise] Russia's biggest oil producer Lukoil said Tuesday its net profits rose 16 percent in 2006, citing strong international prices for crude oil, higher refining margins and the effect of cost-cutting measures. [Google net profit flies up to USD 1 bln] Google, owner of the most popular Internet search engine, said Thursday that first-quarter profit rose 69% as the company pulled further ahead of Yahoo in the online advertising market and expanded outside the United States. [Volume of shipped cargo rose in first quarter] In January-March 2007, the rail, road, fluvial and air freight forwarders shipped about 3,501,700 tonnes of goods. The distance covered by these means of transport made up 1,025.5 mln tonnes/km. This is an increase of 721.1 tonnes (+25.9%) and 76.9 mln tonnes/km (+8.1%), compared to 2006. [Trolleybuses - the most popular means of transport in the first two months of this year] Trolleybuses were the most popular means of transport in the first two months of this year, being used by about 51.5 mln passengers. This is by 3.5% more than in the same period last year. [● THURSDAY, April 26] [Businessmen call the State to improve competition rules] Moldovan businessmen urge the State to create equal conditions for competition to all the economic entities in Moldova. Companies engaged in the real sector of the economy are affected not by the taxes they have to pay, because no economy is possible without taxes, but by the competitors operating in the underground economy who do not pay taxes, said director general of “Franzeluta”, Eugen Baleca at the Business Forum “The State and the Business Environment” on Thursday, April 26. [“Guillotine 2” revises 70 laws] The State Committee for the regulation of the entrepreneurial activity has examined during the action period of “Guillotine 2” over 70 laws. The list of laws proposed to be amended includes the Fiscal Code, Labour Code, Customs Code, Civil Procedure Code, Auto Transport Code, as well as the Laws of the Road Fund, on the quality in constructions, on internal trade, of vineyards and wine etc. [Trademarks for bottled mineral water and soft drinks] The bottled mineral water and soft drinks made in Moldova or those imported will be sold accompanied by a trademark. Such a decision was taken by the Cabinet on Wednesday, April 25. The imported mineral water and alcoholic beverages will receive the state trademark as from June 1, 2007, while the local – starting November 1. [Romstal Group cuts turnover record] The turnover of Romstal Group registered a 40% rise, amounting to EUR 310 mln in 2006. “Romstal”, present in Romania, Moldova, Ukraine and Italy registered record financial results in 2006. Last year, Romstal's operating income advanced by 32.35% totaling EUR 22.5 mln, from EUR 17 mln in 2005. The activities of Romstal in Romania account for 70% of the company's turnover, namely MDL 140 mln, 30% higher than the level reached in 2005. [Porsche willing to open subsidiary in Chisinau] The well-known car manufacturer Porsche intends to open a subsidiary in Moldova. The perspectives of this project were discussed Hans Michel Piech, Porsche AG Board president, with President Vladimir Voronin. [● FRIDAY, April 27] [Deadline for repatriating money of exporters of alcoholic products to Russia has been extended] On Friday, April 27, the Parliament expanded the deadline for repatriating financial means for economic entities that exported alcoholic products to the Russian Federation in April 2005 - April 2006. The deadline for repatriation was expanded till October 1, 2007. [Volume of industrial output continues to decrease] In January -March 2007, industrial enterprises of all forms of property manufactured production worth MDL 5.29 bln in current prices. The index of the industrial output volume made up 88.5% compared to 2006, while that for March was set at 92.4%, as against March 2006. [Orange Romania’s revenues up 29% in Q1] The mobile telephone operator Orange Romania registered revenues of EUR 288.3 mln at the end of the first quarter in 2007, which is a 29.1% increase compared to Q1 2006, while the number of recorded customers increased by 16.4% to 8.2 mln. The company posted in 2006 an overall income of EUR 1.083 bln, 25.6% more than in 2005. [● Saturday, April 28] [Mobiasbanca makes efforts to become modern and more attractive. IPN interview with the president of the bank’s Board Jean-Francois Myard] [- The year 2006 was beneficial to Mobiasbanca, according to the annual report presented at the General Meeting of Shareholders.] [Jean-Francois Myard:] The 38.1% rise in assets, the 40.6% increase in the resources attracted by the bank and the doubling of the credit portfolio during a year are good results. I am especially pleased with our clients’ increasing trust in us. The over 60% rise in the portfolio of deposit accounts opened by individuals confirms this thing. [NSC gives green light to liquidation of all six investment funds] The National Securities Commission (NSC) finished issuing authorisations for dissolving the state of professional participant in the securities market of all the six investment funds (IF) which initiated reorganisation procedures and completed the stage of repurchasing shares. [Eximbank reports highest social capital] Eximbank registered best results in the banking system in what concerns the banking capital and is on the second place in the ranking of the total normative capital, as a result of two increases of capital, performed by the new shareholder – the Italian Veneto Banca, up to EUR 19 bln. [Moldova’s Customs Service registers MDL 2 bln international trade operations for Transnistria] The volume of goods exported and imported by the enterprises situated in the Transnistrian region, verified and registered by the Customs Service of Moldova (CS) made up MDL 2,054.1 mln, including exports of MDL 1,797.1 mln and imports worth MDL 257 mln. [International Forum on small business in Chisinau] On May 3-5, “Moldexpo” International Exhibition Centre will host the International Forum of Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMB). The aim of the forum is to further co-operation between economic entities engaged in various sectors of Moldova’s economy and promote them in the domestic and foreign markets. [Fall in EVM Composite index stopped] The fall in the EVM Composite stock index stopped after on Friday, April 27, the value of the index reached 1 168.7945 points, increasing by 1.7886 points compared with the previous value. [Strong earnings boost Microsoft stock] Microsoft Corp. posted a 65 percent rise in quarterly profit, topping Wall Street estimates due to better-than-expected demand for its new Windows Vista operating system.