● MONDAY, September 21

National Wine Day to be held in a new format

The National Office of Vine and Wine provides an alternative for those who want to celebrate the National Wine Day. The institution announced that this year the holiday will be staged at the local level. Thus, the wineries will prepare an individual program for October 3 and 4. During the two days, those who are fond of the Moldovan wines will enjoy special offers and tourist programs. On October 3-4, 2015, those who want to taste Moldovan wines will be able to make visits at source. “Trips will be staged to vineyards and underground cellars. The hosts will prepare traditional dishes and will serve the most savory wines of Moldova. Some wineries will organize performances, while others will provide transport up to the vineyards. Each of the producers has the freedom to decide what to do,” said the National Office of Vine and Wine.

● TUESDAY, September 22

World Bank provides US$3m worth of grants for Moldovan enterprises

The World Bank offers US$3 million worth of grants intended for Moldovan enterprises for enhancing the competitiveness of products and obtaining access to new markets. Each enterprise can get at most 200,000 lei. The money will be provided within the Second Competitiveness Enhancement Project. The project’s subcomponent “Co-financing grants” was launched by the Ministry of Economy and the World Bank on September 21. The applicant companies will be able to increase the quality of products and services and to launch new ones, to optimize the internal processes, to improve their image and to identify new clients and markets. The grants will cover 50% of the costs of services, but will not exceed 200,000 lei per applicant.

Modified format of Wine Day will generate losses of €10m, statement

Moldova could sustain losses of €8-10 million this year owing to the change of the format of the National Wine Day. A number of tourism associations sent a letter to Prime Minister Valeriu Strelet, warning him about the pecuniary and non-pecuniary damage that the country can sustain as a result of the cancelation of the National Wine Day celebrations in the central square of Chisinau. The tourism associations express their concern about the losses that both the foreign tourists and the national tourist companies could suffer. “Moldova’s image as a tourist destination at international level could also be affected. Also, the tourism agencies and accommodation units of Moldova will not enjoy credibility among the tourists. There is no strategy for 2016 for promoting the event within the international exhibitions in which the tourism agencies take part this autumn. There is a risk that the contracts with the foreign partners will be terminated owing to the created situation,” reads the communique issued by the associations.

● WEDNESDAY, September 23

 Moldova does not have a viable alternative to IMF, expert 

Moldova does not have a viable alternative to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) even if it receives a loan from Romania, lawyer Roger Gladei, who specialized in financial and banking law, said in the talk show “Pahomi” on Realitatea TV channel. “Greece also tried to turn its back to the IMF during over two years. They expected their Russian friends to give them money to build ships and ports. But the hope deflated like a balloon and ultimately the same Tsipras Government returned to the negotiating table with the IMF,” stated the lawyer. He considers that Moldova must accept and comply with the conditions imposed by the IMF. “We must obey the rules of the game. The problem is that we want to play and win in the major league, but based on the rules of the minor league. Moldova behaves like a bad student who either turns off the light or damages the blackboard because he didn’t do his homework,” stated the jurist.

“Moldova’s Railways” has new director general 

Minister of Transport and Road Infrastructure Iurie Chirinciuc signed an order to appoint Iurie Topala as director general of the state-run company “Moldova’s Railways”. Iurie Topala won the contest after holding this post on an interim basis since August 3. The contest was staged by the Administration Board of “Moldova’s Railways” between August 13 and September 4. It involved six candidates. According to Iurie Chirinciuc, the new director must aim his professional qualities at ensuring the company’s prosperity. For his part, Iurie Topala said he will make everything possible to contribute to modernizing the railroads and voiced hope that he will enjoy the team’s support for continuing the initiated reforms.

Corruption, political instability and inefficient governance affect business the most, NGO 

The Ministry of Economy initiated public debates on the draft National Strategy for Attracting Investment for Developing Export, which is designed to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) to the economic sectors oriented to export and to help reduce the competitiveness discrepancy of the country. The debates involve representatives of the Ministry, the Independent Analytical Center “Expert Grup” and of foreign companies. Under the document, the foreign direct investment represents an important means by which the national economy is connected to the world economy. Currently, many goods and services are globally supplied by foreign branches, only through commercial transactions. “The new strategy aims to develop the export by attracting foreign direct investment to the most attractive sectors with considerable export potential. This document aims not only to attract investment, but to also maintain and develop the ties between the sectors that benefit from FDI and the rest of the economy. It is important to create a favorable and attractive investment climate for the big investors that can come with large and long-term investment projects,” head of the Ministry of Economy’s Investment Policies Division Olga Badanova said in the debates.

Construction of Ungheni-Chisinau gas pipeline to start next year 

The works to build the Ungheni-Chisinau gas pipeline will begin at the start of next year, Minister of Economy Stephane Bride said in a common meeting of the Cabinets of Moldova and Romania that was held in Constanta. The Ministry of Economy said the feasibility study for building the pipeline is being carried out. When it is approved, the technical project will be worked out and the construction works will start afterward. Thus, the works will commence at the beginning of 2016 and are to be completed by May 2018. The meeting also discussed the energy projects implemented in concert with the Romanian side, underlining their importance for ensuring Moldova’s energy security. Stephane Bride spoke about the energy interconnection projects such as the Ungheni-Chisinau gas pipeline and the Isaccea-Vulcanesti- Chisinau, Suceava-Balti and Iasi-Ungheni power lines.

Sale of asbestos will be banned 

The import and sale of asbestos in Moldova will be banned, as provided in a bill approved by the Government. Minister of the Environment Valeriu Munteanu said that Moldova is the only country in Europe that allows importing, storing and selling products that contain asbestos. He reminded that the EU banned the use of such products in 2005. “The roof slates are the most spread products that contain asbestos. These, if they are pulverized, become cancerous and are thus very dangerous,” stated Valeriu Munteanu.

● THURSDAY, September 24

 Moldova is not dependent on external financing, expert 

Moldova is not dependent on external financing and can cope with its own resources, economic expert Viorel Garbu said in the program “Pahomi” on Realitatea TV channel. “The idea that we receive all the necessary money from abroad is wrong. The Republic of Moldova is not dependent on cash injections from outside as these represent at most 10% of its budget. Transnistria is heavily dependent on the financial resources provided by Russia, which represent 85% of the region’s budget. But Moldova can cope with its own resources. Only correct management is needed,” stated Viorel Garbu.

Moldova takes steps to meet European market surveillance requirements 

A new bill on market surveillance, drafted by the Ministry of Economy, lays down common requirements for all the authorities empowered to supervise the market and the mechanisms for interaction and communication between them. The draft law was endorsed by the Government on September 23. The bill establishes the legal framework for market surveillance in accordance with the EU norms so that the marketed nonfood products meet the technical compliance and quality standards. It also provides for the creation of a national communication and notification system in the area of market surveillance and empowers the customs body to monitor the imported products. Thus, the customs body will check the product compliance documents and, if doubts appear or the necessary documents are absent, will suspend the products for three days. In the period, the market surveillance authority will examine the situation and will make a decision.

● FRIDAY, September 25

Fifteenth national exhibit “Made in Moldova” to be mounted in February 

The fifteenth national exhibition “Made in Moldova”, which is traditionally organized by the Chamber of Trade and Industry under the auspices of the Government, will take place on February 3 – 7, 2016 and will include, besides the display of national products and services, a broad business program. According to the Chamber of Trade and Industry chairman Valeriu Lazar, it was decided that the next exhibit will be launched one week later than usual as it is a period of holidays and more time for preparations will be thus offered to the entrepreneurs. This time again, the exhibition will be accompanied by a broad business program that will focus on economic operators’ interests, especially in the current economic conjuncture. It will offer the possibility of discussing investment opportunities for developing businesses and attracting foreign projects. There will also be staged entrepreneurial training seminars, presentations centering on companies and foreign donors’ programs, workshops and masterclasses.

Agricultural equipment donated to Water User Associations 

Ten Water User Associations set up within the Compact Program received agricultural equipment to the value of US$800,000, including tractors, mobile pumps and irrigation equipment, on September 25. The money was provided by the U.S. Government. Millennium Challenge Fund Moldova executive director Valentina Badrajan said this equipment will facilitate the efficient management of the irrigation systems that were renovated within the Compact with about US$80 million offered by the U.S. Government. The equipment was purchased with the savings obtained as a result of the efficient implementation of the program. Millennium Challenge Corporation Deputy Chief Executive Officer Nancy Lee said that even if the program ended at the start of this month, the Millennium Challenge Fund Moldova will continue to offer support to the Water User Associations, including by providing training during another two years.

● SATURDAY,  September 26

National Apple Festival held in Soroca 

Soroca town in northern Moldova hosts one of the sweet festivals of the year today, September 26 - the Apple Festival 2015. Within the fifth festival of the kind, the guests will be able to purchase agricultural products, to take part in different contests and to admire thematic exhibitions. The event started at 8am. Those attending it can compete in a contest of costumes dedicated to the holiday and in a contest for the best exhibition of apples, agricultural machinery and saplings. A part of the festival will take place in the Soroca Fortress, which will host the festive opening and a series of interactive activities.