Italian businessman points out obstacles to doing business

Businessman Carlo Pennese invited the Chisinau press to a news conference, where he spoke about the institutions that erect barriers to setting up a business in Moldova, Info-Prim Neo reports. “I did not like at all how they treated me at the Migration and Asylum Office in Chisinau, from where I hardly obtained a permit for working in your country,” Pennese said. Initially, a police officer asked 50 euros from me for a minor violation of the traffic rules. But I contacted his superiors and the money was restored to me,” he said. “I encountered a number of difficulties after I decided to start a business in Chisinau. I want to set up a chain of cafes for children, where there will be sold ice-cream made from fruit processed in Moldova.” Carlo Pennese also said that he already spent over 250,000 euros, including for purchasing an apartment to which he cannot yet move. “It seems that the construction company faces financial problems, but I did not know and paid the money in advance.” At the news conference, the Italian businessman was accompanied by Fiodor Ghelici, the head of “Moldova Mea” organization, which could help Carlo Pennese solve the problems confronting him. Asked why he did not contact the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Chisinau, Pennese agreed with the answer given by Ghelici, who said that the trade chambers do nothing but defend the interests of a limited number of companies or persons. According to Pennese, the cafes will be named Papa Carlo and will be located all over Moldova. They will be manged by the foreign capital company Pennese S.R.L.