● MONDAY, June 6
Tourism sector has recovered swiftly, Veaceslav Ioniță
After the restrictions were lifted, the situation in the tourism sector has improved swiftly and the losses caused by the pandemic will most probably be recovered in 2022, stated economic expert Veaceslav Ioniță, of the Institute for Development and Social initiatives “Viitorul”. According to the expert, owing to the restrictions, the Moldovans were unable to leave the country, but took part in the development of domestic tourism. In 2021, following the relaxation of restrictions, the Moldovan travel agencies served 320,000 foreign and national tourists. “The number of Moldovans traveling abroad has increased considerably. We also have a first record of 24,000 foreign tourists who came officially, in an organized way, to the Republic of Moldova. We haven’t had such a figure earlier. The tourism sector in the Republic of Moldova has recovered on account of organized tourism.
Premier Energy asks for 20% increase in electricity price for households
The electric utility Premier Energy is asking the National Energy Regulatory Agency (ANRE) to raise the electricity rate for household consumers by about 20%, from 2.17 to 2.71 lei for a kilowatt-hour.
● TUESDAY, June 7
Price of electricity expected to increase for consumers from northern Moldova too
The consumers in northern Moldova could pay more for electricity. The company “Furnizarea Energiei Electrice Nord” requested the National Agency for Energy Regulation (NAER) to increase the rate for household users from 2.51 to 2.93 lei/kWh. According to the provider, it needs to cover the costs following the rise in the purchase price of electricity as from May 1. Also, the company makes reference to the average annual exchange rate of the Moldovan leu against the U.S. dollar, which is another factor that leads to a rise in the average purchase price of electrical energy.
NBM governor: We are honest with society and speak openly about what NMB does
Octavian Armașu said that as the governor of the National Bank of Moldova (NBM), he is ready to go to Parliament to explain the monetary policy decisions as often as necessary. “I assumed responsibility as governor of the central bank and will do my best to fulfill my duties with professionalism and with civic engagement. The law clearly stipulates the conditions in which the governor can be dismissed,” Octavian Armașu stated in an interview for the press. According to him, the monetary policy instruments will not work if the market participants do not have confidence in the way in which these are applied and in the Bank’s strategy for achieving the objective set by law. That’s why the NBM explains its strategy to the public. Using the monetary policy instruments, the National Bank aims to ensure the economy swifter overcomes the shocks and returns to equilibrium, which is the inflation target of 5%.
NBM will take all necessary measures to bring inflation down to 5%, governor
“It is our main objective and all the instruments of the NBM are used namely to achieve this level of 5%, depending on how the situation on the market develops. Depending on the subsequent economic developments, we will correspondingly adjust the monetary policy instruments,” the governor stated in an interview for the press. By restrictive monetary policy, the NBM creates conditions that would encourage saving to the detriment of immediate consumption. It is evident that high inflation slows down economic growth and diminishes the purchasing power of the citizens. When a restrictive monetary policy is applied, the government should pursue an expansionist fiscal policy that would have a solid social component for supporting the vulnerable people. The NMB increased the base rate to 18.5% so that the interest rate on deposits could grow.
● WEDNESDAY, June 8
Head of Romanian Customs Authority: We will set up corridors intended for empty trucks
Chisinau and Bucharest are making a concerted effort to ease border traffic. The head of the Border Police of the Republic of Moldova Rosian Vasiloi said the priority of the authorities is to institute joint border control to reduce the border crossing period. For his part, the head of the National Customs Authority of Romania Claudiu Ardeleanu said they are considering a number of solutions to unlock borders, including the creation of special corridors intended for empty trucks and of corridors deigned for perishable goods.
Official reserve assets over US$209m up
The official reserve assets at end-May were US$3.554,36 billion, an increase of US$209.41 million on the end of April, when these came to US$3.344,95 million. The rise was primarily determined by the loans provided by the International Monetary Fund.
Moldova joins Convention concerning International Carriage by Rail
The Republic of Moldova will apply the Uniform Rules concerning the Contract for International Rail Transport throughout the railroad infrastructure, with a total length of 1,086 km. The Cabinet on Wednesday approved a bill to amend the law on the Republic of Moldova’s accession to the Convention concerning International Carriage by Rail (COTIF). By the given amendment, the process of joining the Convention will be completed.
Electricity prices get higher
Electricity prices have gotten higher. Household consumers in the center and south of the country serviced by Premier Energy will pay 2.64 lei/kWh, by 0.47 leu or 21.6% more than before (VAT excluded). For household consumers in the north of the country, who are serviced by the company Furnizarea Energiei Electrice Nord, the increase is 0.35 leu or 14.0%, with the new rate being 2.86 lei/kWh. The prices approved by the National Energy Regulatory Agency are slightly lower than those requested by the suppliers.
● THURSDAY, June 9
Shortage of diesel fuel, experts blame improper capping
Farmers complain that there is a shortage of diesel fuel in Moldova and they cannot purchase fuel to cultivate the land. They said they cannot find diesel fuel to buy wholesale, while the filling stations sell diesel fuel only directly into the reservoir. Experts explain there is a regional shortage of diesel fuel owing to the war in Ukraine and to the fact that the fuel stores are perceived as military targets in the neighboring country. “It is a shortage of diesel fuel. NAER misleads the people. At the customs posts, the rows of trucks are 10 km long. It is a problem related to logistics. Instead of an oil company performing two-three routes a week, it performs one route in two weeks. The filling stations do not have diesel fuel as a result. I hope tour Government and the Government of Romania will find a solution to unlock customs clearance,” said energy expert Sergiu Tofilat.
Surprise inspections at filling stations where some types of fuels were absent
The National Agency for Energy Regulation initiated a series of unplanned inspections at oil companies to determine the cause for the absence of particular types of fuels at a number of filling stations, primarily diesel fuel, following reports about a shortage of fuels.
Grant of over US$3m for increasing agricultural production
The Republic of Moldova will benefit from a grant of US$3.105million for increasing agricultural production. Parliament on Thursday gave a first reading to the bill to ratify the grant agreement between the Government of the Republic of Moldova and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development. The money will be used to attenuate land degradation and to increase agricultural production. The fourth part of financing under the Moldova Agriculture Competitiveness Project has a number of components, namely the strengthening of the capacities of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry and the Ministry of Environment, grants for women, and support for the rehabilitation of protective wooded areas.
Seven Moldovan goods should soon enter the European markets duty-free
Moldovan plums, grapes and other agricultural products will soon have to enter European markets duty-free. The European Commission proposed a regulation to temporarily improve market access for the remaining seven goods from Moldova, which are still subject to tariff quotas when imported into the EU.
● FRIDAY, June 10
Average consumer prices up 17% since January, NBS
Since the beginning of this year, the average consumer prices grew by 17.57%. Food prices rose by 20.81%, nonfood prices by 12.26%, while the services provided for the population by 20.77%. According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the price of oil increased by 21.86%, of fresh fruit by 25.61%, of vegetables by 53%, of meat, meat products and cans by 15.85% each, of sugar by 14%, of milk and dairy products by 11%.
Contest to choose final beneficiaries of wheat from state reserves
The Material Reserves Agency of the Ministry of the Interior has announced a contest to choose the final beneficiaries of wheat from the state reserves, in the amount of 1,300 tonnes, from the harvest of 2018. The contest is open to national business entities. The wheat will be provided primarily to bakeries and mills, based on contracts, on the presentation of a financial/bank guarantee. If no requests come from these, all the applicants will be able to receive wheat. If the wheat supply is not distributed, a new contest will be held. The piece of food wheat set by the joint commission that decided the prices of goods from the state reserves is 5 275 lei/tonne. The deadline for applications is June 17, 3pm.
● SATURDAY, June 11
Public appeal in regard to the case against businessman Vitalie Perciun
The lawyer of businessman Vitalie Perciun, Oxana Eșanu, encourages those who disseminated false information about the detention of her client to withdraw it, stopping its coverage in the media. The lawyer also calls on the authorities in charge and supervision of the criminal prosecution to urgently consider petitions for protection from the abuses committed in this case.
"Participants in the act of justice must be honest, fair and decent," Counsel
It is important that those involved in the act of justice be honest, fair and decent. This is the statement of lawyer Oxana Eșanu, representing the interests of businessman Vitalie Perciun. According to the lawyer, her client's case involved abuses and lawlessness, attempts to take over his business with the participation of law enforcement agencies and persons from the criminal world.
