● TUESDAY, November 24

Mobile phone users spoke 4.7bn minutes over phone

The volume of voice traffic in the mobile phone networks in January – September 2015 rose by about 5% on the corresponding period last year, to over 4.7 billion minutes. The statistics published by the national ICT regulator show the average volume of monthly traffic per user increased by 8.2% to 225 minutes or 3.45 hours. According to the National Regulatory Agency for Electronic Communications and Information Technology, the clients of Orange Moldova spoke most of all on the mobile phone - 274 minutes on average a month. The clients of Moldcell spoke 167 minutes over the mobile phone a month, while those of Moldtelecom (Unite) - 113 minutes. Following the increase in the volume of voice traffic, the revenues of the three providers rose by about 2% to over 2.7 billion lei. In particular, Moldcell and Moldtelecom augmented their sales by 8.4% and, respectively, 7.7%, to 741.1 million lei and 101.4 million lei. The sales of Orange Moldova fell by 0.8% to 1.8 billion lei.

Chisinau hosts CEFTA Week 2015 for first time

The essence of the policies pursued by the CEFTA member states resides in the stimulation of sustainable growth and progress on the path of European integration, acting Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Stephan Christophe Bride said in the opening of the CEFTA Week 2015 Forum that is held in Chisinau on November 24-25. This year Moldova holds the CEFTA presidency. The event involves about 100 experts, businessmen and representatives of the authorities of the CEFTA member states. The discussions focused on the benefits provided by the CEFTA and the accomplishments of the member states in fully liberalizing trade between them. This year, for example, there was liberalized the visa regime with the CEFTA member states Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Macedonia. As regards the commercial relations between Moldova and the CEFTA member states, acting deputy minister of economy Octavian Calmic said the volume of trade in the first half of this year rose by 9.3% compared with the corresponding period last year, but the potential is much greater.

● WEDNESDAY, November 25

IBAN code for national cash transfers

The IBAN (International Bank Account Number) code will be used in the banking sector of Moldova to perform national cash transfers starting with January 1, 2016. The move is aimed at providing modern advantages and is envisioned by the amendments made to the regulations on cash transfer approved by the National Bank of Moldova. This is the second stage of the implementation of this code. The first referred to transfrontier transfers. During the period of transition, the banks and other institutions will accept payment documents containing the IBAN codes, but also documents referring to accounts in the previous formula.

Specialists trained to use sophisticated gas equipment within “GazTrain” project

The project to train specialists to use and repair sophisticated gas equipment “GazTrain” is close to an end. The goal of the project was to popularize efficient energy technologies in Moldova. The modern center “GazTrain”, which was created within the project, was founded by the company “Viessmann”, which is one of the German and European leaders in the field, in cooperation with the Training Center “Flacara Albastra” (“Blue Flame”). In a news conference, Sergiu Ghetiu, project manager at Spelleken Associates, which implemented the project, said “GazTrain” was designed to offer the local consumers the possibility of benefitting from German technologies. “In the areas that are the furthest from the center of the country, particular works are not executed because there are no specialists in the field. The training of technicians is an important objective of the project. Furthermore, the consumers also gain as they can benefit from long-term repair services, with guarantees,” he stated.

Dozens of persons learned new specialty within “GazTrain” project

Sixty-seven persons became experts in using and repairing sophisticated gas equipment after they attended courses at the Training Center “GazTrain”. Some of these are employees of state institutions, while others are private individuals who learned a new specialty, director of the Training Center “Flacara Albastra” (“Blue Flame”) Iurie Truhin said in a news conference. The Center “Flacara Albastra” merged with “GazTrain” and staged the courses in concert. “These persons studied and received certificates for the German boilers Viessmann and permits for servicing and exploiting these boilers. By these courses, we help the specialists improve their skills as they are able to attend the courses once in two years. Furthermore, new jobs are being created,” stated Iurie Truhin. Within the second phase of the project, the center “GazTrain” was equipped with a training info-automobile outfitted with operational boilers and other installations. This travels through Moldova’s districts and is used in seminars, presentations and training courses for engineers who already work in the field. Our priority is to reduce the accommodation and travel expenses for the participants. Furthermore, each client feels better at home than when coming to Chisinau,” stated Truhin.

● THURSDAY, November 26

Best exporting companies of Moldova will be named next year

About 200 producers and exporters on November 26 came together for the third PRO EXPORT FORUM 2015 that is held under the aegis of the Moldovan Investment and Export Promotion Organization (MIEPO) with support from the organization’s partners. MIEPO director Dona Scola said that this annual forum represents a platform for dialogue for exporters and companies that plan to export products and this helps them familiarize themselves with the particularities of a successful export strategy. The discussions within the PRO EXPORT FORUM 2015 center on three aspects: access to markets; access to financing, and access to information. “Currently, 85% of Moldova’s exports are duty-free under the free trade regimes agreed with the EU, the CIS and other countries. But our exporting companies are less competitive than those from other states. Competitiveness is a factor that will help us to better use the opportunities of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement with the EU, which took effect over a year ago,” acting deputy minister of economy Octavian Calmic said in the opening of the event.

Chisinau hosts Innovation in Governance Forum

The second Innovation in Governance Forum held in Chisinau brought together practitioners from Sweden, the UK and Moldova, who shared their experience in reshaping the model by which public services are provided and public policies are drawn up, with the involvement of the people. There were presented methods by which the governments of the world created social innovation labs to be able to deal with challenges in an efficient way, by using information technology, and in response to the crises and increased budget austerity in a number of states. “We are at the beginning of the road in implementing innovative approaches to reform the public services and work out public policies. That’s why the need to learn about the successful practices of the more advanced governments in this field, by adjusting them to the particularities of our country, is an imperative of the time,” said Sergiu Ceaus, deputy secretary general of the Government.

Most of young people want to start a business, but consider corruption is an impediment, survey

Over 50% of the young people who took part in a sociological poll said they want to start a business, but many of these are discouraged by corrupting, the current political situation in the country, bureaucracy and other negative phenomena. The national study among existing and potential entrepreneurs was carried out by Magenta Consulting in September – October 2015. This shows that the traditional sectors – agriculture, trade and services – hold an increased interest for starting a business. The survey revealed that the young people from rural areas are more enthusiastic about starting a business in agriculture and trade than those from urban areas, while the young people from towns and cities are more interested in the service sector.

● FRIDAY, November 27

 Gas supplier must review tariffs for end-users, experts 

“Moldovagaz” will have to review the tariffs for end-users if the courts find it guilty of illegally supplying gas to some firms and of including the incurred costs in the tariffs paid by domestic consumers. The issue was discussed in the talk show “Fabrika” on Publika TV channel. Sergiu Ostaf, executive director of the Resource Center for Human Rights (CReDO), said the supplier must find a method of restoring the money stolen from the domestic consumers. “I saw the sum of 50 million lei only in one episode. The sums included unjustifiably in the tariffs paid by end-users are enormous. The gas supplier must find a method of paying this money back to the people,” he stated.

Number of Internet users up almost 4% in nine months 

The number of Internet users in the first nine months of this year rose by 3.7% to 1.7 million, shows the data provided by the National Regulatory Agency for Electronic Communications and Information Technology. The Internet traffic generated by the users increased by 38% to 28.229,9 million, while service providers’ revenues grew by 19.5% to over 429.5 million lei. According to the data made public by the three providers of public mobile communications networks and services (Orange Moldova, Moldcell and Moldtelecom), over 1.3 million users used broadband mobile Internet, through 3G and 4G networks and modems/cards/USB, which ensure high-speed Internet access.