● MONDAY, 20
IDEP Moldova appreciates launch of scrappage program for home appliances
The Moldovan Government and the EU are implementing a scrappage program for home appliances (part of ECIPES) to benefit 50 thousand families starting in 2023. Iurie Calestru, program director of IDEP Moldova, appreciated the launch of the program, urging the public to learn more about the program on ecovoucher.md.
Iurie Calestru told a press conference on Monday that the program aims to support Moldovan citizens in replacing old appliances with new, more energy-efficient appliances. The program will cover up to 80% of the costs of the new appliances, and 100% in the case of energy-saving LED light bulbs.
TUESDAY, November 21
Even if fewer in number, traders continue selling pies “with cheese” without cheese
Approximately 35% of the operators checked by inspectors of the National Food Safety Agency use compounds based on vegetable and animal fats as substitutes of fresh cow cheese in the filling for pies. In February, 80% of the pie making units in the country did so.
● WEDNESDAY, November 22
NBM stages visits to National Museum of History on 30th anniversary of Moldovan leu
The National Bank of Moldova (NBM) will organize a series of public events on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the putting of the Moldovan leu into circulation. Among these are visits to the National Museum of History of Moldova which will be staged during November 25-30 in partnership with the Museum.
To export to EU, Moldovan producers must be competitive, ODA head
To be competitive on foreign markets, the national producers must enhance their competitiveness and this implies meeting a number of criteria, primarily the quality and quantity of products. The standards in the EU are rather high and must be met for being able to export to this market, said the director of the Organization for Entrepreneurship Development (ODA) Dumitru Pîntea.
Two categories of household consumers will pay full gas rate
Two of the seven energy vulnerability categories – primary and no vulnerability – will pay the full gas rate, which is currently 18.07 lei per cubic meters, VAT included. The compensated energy prices for household consumers, applied between November 2023 and March 2024, are specified in a Government decision.
For natural gas, the compensation will be applied for a consumption of 180 m3/month. Depending on the vulnerability category, consumers will pay the following rates:
Extreme – 12 lei/m3
Very high - 12.2 lei/m3
High - 12.4 lei/m3
Average – 12.6 lei/m3
Low – 17 lei/m3
Primary – regulated price/supplier price (18.07 lei/m3)
No vulnerability – regulated price/supplier price (18.07 lei/m3).
● THURSDAY, November 23
Financial education should be compulsory in schools, British expert
Financial education should be compulsory in schools because every child needs to have the knowledge, the skills, the confidence to manage their money not just as children, but more importantly as they move into adulthood, Shaun Mundy, the British expert who developed Europe’s first financial education strategy, that of the UK, stated in the National Bank of Moldova’s podcast “Give sense to money”.
Moldtelecom rises landline charges to 40 lei
The national telecoms carrier Moldtelecom increases landline charges as from next January. The clients are informed about this through letters sent by the company.
Contacted by IPN for details, Rodica Hurmuzache, marketing director of Moldtelecom, said that the landline charges haven’t been raised for over 10 years and the company sustains considerable losses due to this. Given the economic conjuncture that leads to higher costs for electricity, rent, maintenance, fuel and technological equipment, the charges must be adjusted so as to correlate the costs and services provided based on subscription.
50,000 vulnerable families will be able to buy electrical appliances with 80% compensation
A number of 50,000 households with the highest vulnerability degree as from November 23 can benefit from financial assistance to replace old electrical appliances with new, energy-efficient ones as part of the “Scrappage for Household Appliances” program that is financial supported by the EU and is implemented with the technical assistance of UNDP Moldova.
More than 100 Moldovan producers present at Entrepreneur Expo 2023
European integration requires a new business environment and much higher quality standards for entrepreneurs. Dumitru Pîntea, director of the Organization for the Development of Entrepreneurship (ODA), declared this in opening the “Entrepreneur Expo 2023” exhibition, which brings together over a hundred Moldovan producers.
● FRIDAY, November 24
Vălcineț-Ocnița-Bălți-Ungheni-Chișinău-Căinari rail corridor to be repaired
The Vălcineț-Ocnița-Bălți-Ungheni-Chișinău-Căinari rail corridor will be repaired with the assistance of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). Parliament gave a final reading to a bill to ratify a loan agreement for the purpose.
The EBRD will offer Moldova a €23 million loan in two tranches. The country will also benefit from a €20 million grant from the European Commission.
● SATURDAY, November 25
Farmers put protest on hold, but leave tractors in Chisinau’s central square
The farmers decided to put their protest on hold until Monday, as their tractors will remain parked in the Great National Assembly Square. This was decided after a several-hour meeting with Vladimir Bolea, Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry.
Maia Sandu visits Entrepreneur Expo
“I wish good luck to all those who open businesses, make products we are proud of, create jobs in our communities and contribute to the development of Moldova”, declared President Maia Sandu on her visit to the Entrepreneur Expo at Moldexpo.
