According to the Ministry of Economy and Infrastructure, although the ministry "inherited a stressed economic system, full of monopolies, fraudulent schemes and a criminalized business environment, over the course of five months of activity since the appointment of the Sandu government, it has taken actions and promoted public policies that lead directly to the demonopolization of the economic sectors". Additionally, the ministry attempted to eliminate unfair market practices and to remove criminal practices in the business environment. The details of the ministry's activity can be found in a press release submitted in the context of the motion of censure submitted by the Socialist Party.
According to the press release, problematic privatizations and cases of defective management of state assets were analyzed at Metalferos, Calea Ferata, Chișinău International Airport, Air Moldova, Chișinău Arena, Railway and Motor Stations, Tutun-CTC, Moldexpo, Moldtelecom, RED-Nord Bălți, Cricova Winery, Mileștii Mici, Mărculești Airport, Poșta Moldovei and at the Glass Factory. The findings in the Chișinău International Airport, Air Moldova, Chișinău Arena, Railway and Motor Stations and Tutun-CTC dossiers were forwarder to the General Prosecutor's Office and the Anti-corruption Prosecutor's Office.
In order to demonopolize of the economy, the ministry said that it has put forward draft governmental decisions for the elimination of the monopoly in the metal waste export ("Metalferos" demonopolization), and walnut export. According to the press release, MEI identified solutions for the demonopolization of the grain market and cereal export and it promoted provisions for the Law on deoffshorization, which provided that all companies engaging in contractual relations with the state are obliged to declare the last beneficiary. Additionally, the law package for the promotion of the Commission for strategic investments of national importance is prepared, which will aim to investigate potential investment contracts in national strategic objects and which allows to block sales, concessions or any other types of transactions in case of reasonable suspicion.
In order to develop the economic sector, MEI highlighted that economic and financial assistance programs have been re-launched with the involvement of development partners - EU and US, as well as with international financial institutions - World Bank, IMF, EBRD, EIB, GIZ and others. Additionally, MEI obtained increased export quotas for agri-food products to the EU without customs duties.
In the energy sector, MEI launched discussions on the construction of the Iași-Chișinău gas pipeline and on the observance of the terms of the gas pipeline completion so that Moldova could benefit from gas resource import diversification starting with 2020. Moreover, funds worth 61 million euros were accessed for the interconnection of Moldovan and Romanian electricity networks, namely the extension of the Vulcănești station, the modernization of the Chișinău station and the construction of the LEA 400 Kv Vulcănești-Chișinău air line.
According to the latest forecasts of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the growth of the Moldovan economy has accelerated and will register an economic growth of 3.8%. The EBRD has also improved its forecast for 2020, estimating a 4.0% expansion of the country's GDP, MEI said.
