Top news:

- 23.12.2009 Lada, Dacia and Skoda were the most well sold cars in 2009 in Moldova

As many as 593 new Lada, 431 Dacia and 410 Skoda cars lead in the top most well sold new cars in Moldova in 2009.

The Mitsubishi and Toyota brands rank on the fourth and fifth places with 356 and 288 new cars sold.

- 22.12.2009 The 18th death caused by pandemic flu registered in Moldova

Moldovan physicians registered one more death caused by pandemic flu. The number of dead people reached figure 18.

Asked by BASA-press Tatiana Zatic, chief department of the Ministry of Health specified that the victim is a woman of 49 years old, of Chisinau. The woman died on December 21 at the “Sfanta Treime” Hospital of Chisinau.

- 21.12.2009 Population’s revenues reduced by 4.3% in third quarter of 2009

The available revenues of the population in the third quarter of this year amounted on average per person to 1272.5 lei monthly (103 USD), 4.3% down against the similar period of 2008, show recent data of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

In real terms, adjusting to the consumption price index, the population’s revenues increased by 6.1% compared with the similar period of 2008.

- 17.12.2009 A Business Incubator was inaugurated in Soroca

A business incubator to offer ideas, plans, low cost production spaces or offices, financial support, consultations and training to entrepreneurs was inaugurated in Soroca.

The newly-inaugurated incubator will host 17 companies that will offer 70 new working places, specialized in clothes manufacture, glass processing; glass furniture manufacture, granulated fodder, windows; provision of legal, architectural, accounting services; organization of events and festivities; photography and advertising services etc.

- 17.12.2009 Moldovan Government requested EU to cancel interdiction for leaders of the separatist regime of Tiraspol to travel to EU countries

The Deputy Minister for Reintegration, Victor Osipov, AMN, presented today in front of foreign diplomats a new position of Moldovan Government toward the interdiction to travel to EU countries, imposed for several leaders of Tiraspol.

The presented initiative by Osipov supposes to cancel this interdiction for 6 months.

- 16.12.2009 Tobacco companies concerned about excise tax increase for filter cigarettes

The tobacco companies express their deep concern about the abrupt increase of the ad-valorem component of the excise for filter cigarettes for 2010 and suggest its gradual increase.

According to the representatives of Philip Morris, JT International, British American Tobacco and Imperial Tobacco states that the Ministry of Finance proposal supported by the Parliament in the first reading without simultaneous increase of the fixed excise component and introduction of minimum excise tax would encourage consumers to trade down to lower tax yielding substitutes and thus may erode the taxable base.

- 16.12.2009 Moldovans pay twice more for internet than in other European and Central Asian countries

Moldovans pay twice more for internet access than in other European and Central Asian (ECA) countries. At the same time, the costs for mobile telephony services are 70% higher than the average in the regions, according to a World Bank study.

In Moldova, internet access is four times lower compared with the average figure in ECA region, while access to mobile telephone is almost twice of the average in the region.

- 15.12.2009 Actions of NBM on foreign exchange market are totally irresponsible, considers Igor Dodon

The actions of the NBM on the foreign exchange market are totally irresponsible. The government solved the problems in the medium term; however in the long-term we are going to witness a galloping inflation and a price raise, stated for BASA-press former Minister of Economy and Trade, Igor Dodon.

“The current depreciation of MDL is not a phenomenon determined by the market conditions. For the winter holidays the trend was reverse. We are then assisting an implication of the government in the actions of the NBM that was an independent structure over all these years”, said Dodon.

- 15.12.2009 Depreciation of national currency should not be a concern for the population, NBM Governor

The depreciation of the national currency – Moldovan leu – should not be a concern for the population as it is the result of consolidation of international reserves by the central bank and seasonal purchase of foreign exchange by importers.

NBM Governor, Dorin Dragutan, specified in a meeting of Prime Minister with the presidents of the commercial banks that the recent situation on the foreign exchange market should not be a concern for the population as it is a normal phenomenon, the result of consolidation of international reserves by the NBM and seasonal purchases of currency by importers.

- 12.12.2009 Over 68 000 Moldavians to celebrate Saint Andrew Day on Sunday

Over 68 000 persons, who bear the name Andrew and its derivatives, will celebrate Saint Andrew Day on December 13, informs BASA-press in regard to the electronic service portal of the Ministry of Information Development.

According to statistics, the names Andrew, Andrea and their derivatives belong to nearly 68 975 citizens. About 68 822 Moldavians bear the name Andrew, and about 153 women bear the name Andrea.

- 11.12.2009 Irrigation systems to be managed by Water User Associations

The Moldovan irrigation systems will be transferred from “Apele Moldovei” management to the Water User Associations management, informs agravista.md.

According to the cited source, deputy director of “Apele Moldovei”, Mihail Penicov, said in a round table organized by ”AGROinform” federation that the networks will be transferred to be managed by the associations whose share of irrigated territories will amount to 30% of the irrigated farmland.

- 11.12.2009 CMC approved municipal budget for 2010

On Friday, December 11, Chisinau Municipal Council (CMC) approved in first reading the municipal budget for 2010.

Next year, the municipality will have revenues of 1 bn 695 mln 756 thousand lei, or 37 mln lei more than this year.

- 11.12.2009 10 companies with highest sales received over 21 bn lei in 2008

EVM Consulting developed the top 50 companies with highest volume of sales and the top 50 companies with the highest return on sales. The tops were compiled after the stock companies published their financial reports for 2008.

Thus, in terms of sales volume, the energy companies dominated among the first 10 - Moldovagaz is the first with 7.79 bn lei sales, RED Union Fenosa is on the third place with sales of 2.12 bn lei, Petrom-Moldova is the fifth with sales of 1.74 bn lei, Tirex-Petrol is the sixths with 1.26 bn lei sales and CET 2 is the tenth with 0.97 bn lei sales.

- 10.12.2009 Braghis to present his resignation at PSD Congress in spring 2010

Dumitru Braghis, leader of the Social Democrat Party of Moldova (PSD), will resign at the party Congress that is likely to be in spring 2010.

Braghis told for BASA-press that he will present his resignation at the PSD Congress, as “the party status provides for”.

- 09.12.2009 Number of A (H1N1) cases registered in National Laboratory decreases

The number of cases confirmed in the National Laboratory decreases, and only 20 cases were registered.

Epidemiologists confirm the reduction and motivate it through the fact that from the beginning of November patients with mild forms are treated at home and their cases are not investigated in the laboratory.

- 08.12.2009 Two pupils of Moldova obtained bronze medals at Balkan Olympiad in Informatics

Daniel Mogoreanu and Alexandru Grigoroi, pupils in XII-th and XI-th form, respectively, of the ”Orizont” lyceum of Chisinau obtained bronze medals at the Balkan Olympiad in Informatics.

According to the Ministry of Education, between 27 and 29 November, in Shumen, (Bulgaria) the XVII-th edition of the Balkan Olympiad in Informatics for pupils aged between 16 and 19 years old and the III-rd edition for those aged up to 16 years old. Teams of Bulgaria, Greece, Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Romania, Serbia and Moldova took part in the contest.

- 08.12.2009 Moldova paid external debts of over 65 mln USD in ten months

In ten months this year, Moldova paid external public debts totaling 65.07 mln USD (719.4 mln lei), informs the Ministry of Finance.

According to the cited source, in accordance with the schedule set for payment of external debts contracted by Moldova, the payment of the main amounted to 48.2 mln USD (533.18 mln lei), and the payment of the interest amounted to 16.8 mln USD (186.25 mln lei).

- 08.12.2009 Number of unemployed increased by 27.5 thousand in third quarter 2009

In the third quarter of 2009, the number of unemployed amounted to 76.2 thousand, 27.5 thousand up against the similar period of 2008, show the data of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

According to the cited source, the unemployment affected to a greater proportion the men (65.4% of the total number of unemployed), as well as the urban residents (58.6%).

- 07.12.2009 Repeated elections of the president of Moldova failed

The second attempt to elect the president of Moldova, which took place today, December 7, failed. The Democrat Party of Moldova leader, Marian Lupu, was not elected as the head of state, as he did not gain the needed number of votes.

The chair of the Special Commission for electing the president, Ion Plesca, mentioned that following the voting procedure 53 MPs received ballots and all of them were introduced in the ballot box. According to the cited source, all ballots were declared as viable, although one of them has a little cross, instead of the necessary sign.

- 07.12.2009 Moldova reported 1% inflation in November

The inflation rate in Moldova was of 1% in November compared with October 2009. Cumulatively for 11 months, the IPC had a negative value of minus 0.5% against December 2008.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), in November food price raised by 1.6%, non-food prices by 0.9% and tariffs for the services provided to the population by 0.2%.

For further information: Basa press