US$10 million more for Giurgiulesti port
Thomas Moser, the director of Bemol Retail and Danube Logistics, announced that the shareholders of the Dutch group Easeur Holding BV, which includes the given companies, decided to invest US$10 million this year in the completion of projects that are now under implementation at the Giurgiulesti International Port and in the connection of the port to the European railroad, Info-Prim Neo reports.
In a news conference on February 16, Moser said the companies enjoy tax concessions because the foreign investor committed itself to settling Moldova's debt to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).
“The investor promised to clear the Moldovan Government's debt of about US$25 million to the EBRD. We created more than 900 workplaces and invested about US$50 million so far, in accordance with the investment agreement,” Moser said.
Presently, Bemol runs 38 petrol stations. Under the agreement with the Government of Moldova, Bemol must set up 50 stations, which is about 1/12 of the total stations working in the country.
As regards the modifications concerning the retailing of oil products, the representatives of Bemol said these changes will help some companies become market leaders to the detriment of other companies, but this is a natural process for a market economy.
“Personally, I'm not against tickets, but we reached the conclusion that they are not the best practice and replaced them with cards that work better and with which the consumers are satisfied,” said Moser.
At its meeting on February 17, the Government will return to the given modifications. The subject divided the operators into two camps. The Oil Importers Union “Importcompetrol”, which brings together most of the small operators, is categorically against them.