Preconditions for attracting investments in Moldova, as seen by Union Fenosa president

The improvement of infrastructure is an essential condition for attracting foreign direct investment to Moldova, said Silvia Radu, president of RED Union Fenosa. In an interview broadcast by Radio Moldova and quoted by Info-Prim Neo, Silvia Radu spoke about a number of problems that should be solved to attract investments. “During the ten years while on Moldova's energy market, we have notified of this the government and the international organizations that are Moldova's development partners. It is very hard to provide services of a high quality when we do not have access to our installations because there are no roads or the exiting roads are in a deplorable condition. Our specialized vehicles and trucks get stuck in the mud and cannot get to the substations or transformer units, especially when there is ice and hoar frost. Some of the local public authorities, instead of fulfilling their duties, blame Union Fenosa. We have to hold serious discussions with the given authorities and this saddens us,” Radu said. She also said that some of the large consumers do not pay for the consumed electric power, arguing that the state budget is blocked and they do not have access to their accounts, even if they have money there. Among other problems, Silvia Radu mentioned the inflation rate and the size of salaries in Moldova. “All the companies in Moldova should declare openly what salaries they pay and not pay salaries 'in envelopes'. One cannot live on a monthly pay of 2.000 lei. On the other hand, it seems inexplicable why the salaries at our company are 3-4 times higher. Measures should be taken so that the economic entities declare the real salary,” she said. The president of Union Fenosa also highlighted problems related to the stability of the legislation and the adjustment of the national legislation to the European standards, the functioning of the legal system and the implementation of court decisions. According to Silvia Radu, bureaucracy in the state institutions is excessive and sometimes inexplicable. She said that if the procedures for obtaining the digital signature and using electronic documents will be simplified, the relations between UF and its clients will improve and the people will not have to come to the company to sign a contract or bring a bill and spend time. In the same connection, Silvia Radu said the 70% dependence on power supplies from abroad cannot ensure the country's energy security. “The investments in electricity generation inside the country should be encouraged so as to improve the energy security. The interconnection capacities with Romania and Ukraine should be improved. The EU and a number of international and European bank institutions are ready to finance related projects, but such activities should be stimulated,” Radu said.