Transnistria could face commercial crisis in first quarter of 2009

The Transnistrian region of Moldova could be confronted by a commercial crisis in the first quarter of next year, considers Doctor of Economy Victor Belicenko, the chairman of the National Entrepreneurs Council of Transnistria, Info-Prim Neo’s corresponded in Tiraspol reports. As a result of the world financial crisis, the Transnistrian companies reduce production levels and the region could experience a shortage of goods, Belicenko said. Presently, the imports from the right bank of the Dniester, Ukraine and Russia insure up to 85% of the region’s commercial operations. The commercial crisis will start with the rise in the prices of food products, the president of the National Entrepreneurs Council anticipates. The expert recommends that the Transnistrian authorities should fix stable prices for the food products of primary necessity and freeze tariffs. Victor Belicenko considers that Transnistria could avoid the commercial crisis if proper emphasis is put on the development of agriculture and small and medium-sized businesses. This would help strengthen the region’s economy, the expert said.