Smirnov looks to introduce New Deal-type measures to fight crisis

An anti-crisis plan elaborated by the Transnistrian ministry of economy was discussed on Monday by Transnistria's leader Igor Smirnov and the head of the legislative body Yevgeny Shevchuk, as well as district heads and mayors, Novyi Region reported, quoted by Info-Prim Neo. The plan in its current verision has two stages. The first stage, spanning over the first quarter of 2009, aims to freeze prices of gas and electricity services and other utilities. Households will be able to take out government loans to pay their taxes. To maintain social stability, the Transnistrian authorities are looking to implement a sort of a New Deal plan, aiming to give jobs in public enterprises to the workers sacked in the aftermath of the economic slowdown. The second part of the plan is supposed to last until late 2010, but its measures are not defined yet. Smirnov set March 10 as the deadline until relevant agencies must submit anti-crisis proposals to complete the plan. The economic slowdown has affected severely the Transnistrian region. For example, wine exports in January-February 2009 were just 59 percent the level registered in the same period last year. t.