Economy saw 6.4% growth in 2011

Moldova's economy grew by 6.4% in 2011 and by over 13% in the last two years, and state debt was reduced from 26.3% of GDP in 2010 to 23.2% in 2011, according to information presented by Prime Minister Vlad Filat at a Thursday news conference, Info-Prim Neo reports. “Exports saw an increase of over 44% and imports grew by nearly 35%. It is pleasing that these two indicators grew against the background of an increase in industrial and agricultural output and investment”, announced Filat. The average salary was 3,707 lei as of December 2011, up by 8.4% on the similar month last year. The number of employees grew to 1.173 million persons. However, “these increases are still not enough to produce a radical change in the living standards in Moldova, but the first steps in this direction have been already taken”, declared Vlad Filat. The Prime Minister also spoke about changes in the public sector. As of 1 June 2011, basic wages have been raised by an average of 8.5% for 107,000 employees in arts, culture, healthcare, social assistance, physical culture and sports institutions. On 1 January 2012, 20,000 military employees received the same raise. According to Filat, the government has continued to support vulnerable groups by means of nominative compensations and social aid, with 228,000 persons receiving such payments. Further, social aid for the cold period was increased from 130 to 200 lei in 2011. In the cold season 2011-2012, 100,000 families received aid of over 1,000 lei. The Prime Minister said that it was too soon to speak about radical changes in the social sector after these raises, but the figures proved that the undertaken actions stabilized the economy and allowed the government to increase social payments and register constant economic growth.