● MONDAY, March 4
Moldova joins “Ring the Bell for Gender Equality” initiative
Moldova has joined the initiative “Ring the Bell for Gender Equality” – a joint commitment to promoting gender equality in the financial sector. The ringing of the bell marks the beginning of the trading day on the exchange. The initiative takes place for the tenth time worldwide and is the first year in which it is implemented in the Republic of Moldova. The event was organized by UN Women, the Moldova Stock Exchange and the International Finance Corporation. Over the past 10 years, the ceremony has become a symbol of solidarity and a call to action for stock exchanges around the world, advocating diversity and inclusion in this sector.
TUESDAY, March 5
Public tender contest to lease out spaces at Chisinau International Airport to be held
A new public tender contest to lease out commercial spaces for public catering and specialized trade for the sterile area inside the Chisinau International Airport was initiated.
The Public Property Agency said that the state-owned assets will be leased out for a period of three years.
Gagauzia will not have to refund VAT from its own budget, Constitutional Court
The amendments to the Tax Code by which ATU Gagauzia is obliged to refund VAT from its own budget were declared unconstitutional. The Constitutional Court on Tuesday accepted the complaints filed by the People’s Assembly of Gagauzia and a group of MPs of the Bloc of Communists and Socialists.
The challenged law was published in the Official Gazette on October 21 and entered into force on November 1, 2023. The Court was requested to establish the constitutionality of Law No. 285 of October 5, 2023 to amend Article 6 of the Tax Code. Article 6 of the Fiscal Code stipulates that ATU Gagauzia must refund VAT from its own budget, not from the national budget.
Romania’s tourist and cultural contest “Destination of the Year” expands to Moldova
The tourist and cultural contest “Destination of the Year” held in Romania is expanding to Moldova, enabling ten representatives of tourist destinations and attractions of the Republic of Moldova to enter the competition.
The Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Moldova noted that the project comes to encourage competitiveness in order to increase awareness and strengthen Moldova’s position as a tourist destination by promoting the country tourism brand, destinations, forms of tourism and tourism products of Moldova on the domestic market and in Romania.
● WEDNESDAY, March 6
Germany offers about €11m to support SMEs
The Government of the Federal Republic of Germany provides, through the German Development Bank (KfW), €10.7 million in non-reimbursable assistance. The money will be used to improve access to finance for small and medium-sized enterprises, namely the exclusive refinancing of investment loans granted to SMEs through the Fund for Entrepreneurship and Economic Growth.
Moldovan electricity becomes European in Ukraine
Electricity producers of Moldova and Ukraine are actively exploiting the possibilities of connecting the national grids to the European electricity system ENTSO-E. Despite the war, the neighboring country recently exported a record amount of electricity to Europe during the day. Among the countries that benefited from supplies are Moldova, Slovakia, Hungary, Poland and Romania, according to the press service of the national energy company Ukrenergo, as Ukrainian News agency reported.
Agricultural chambers to be created in Moldova
Agricultural chambers will set up in Moldova as autonomous, apolitical and nonprofit professional organizations. They will have the status of a legal entity of public law, created with the aim of representing and protecting farmers’ interests in the dialogue with public authorities in making decisions on agricultural and rural development policy and of enhancing cross-sectoral cooperation, says a draft law that was approved by the Cabinet.
Energy interconnection line to be built between Balti and Suceava
The Republic of Moldova and Romania will have a new energy interconnection line. With a voltage of 400 kV, the line will interconnect the municipalities of Balti and Suceava. Also, an electric substation with a capacity of 400 kV will be built in Balti. The Cabinet on Wednesday approved the signing of a loan agreement between Moldova and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development on the implementation of the Moldova Romania Power Interconnection Phase II project.
2024/03/06/14:19/ Competition of grants for developing energy efficient communities in Moldova
Civil society organizations have the opportunity to apply for a program of grants to develop energy efficient communities in Moldova. Through this program, around €3 million will be invested in the energy efficiency of buildings that provide social services. “The project was designed to help the social sector cope with the latest crises and so we will contribute to making social services resilient and they continue to provide services for the most vulnerable people,” said Daniela Leahu, project director at Soros Foundation Moldova.
● SATURDAY, March 9
Official reserve assets drop slightly in February
As of the end of February, Moldova’s official reserve assets constituted $5.39 billion, down by $6.86 million compared to January 31.
The National Bank attributes the decrease to payments towards the external public debt of $20.84 million dollars. Payments to the Ministry of Finance represented $15.56 million, and the revaluation of securities held in the investment portfolio constituted $11.48 million.
