Activity of the Government on December 1–16, 2007

Appointments. Reshuffles

Evgheni Pisov was relieved from the post of deputy minister of culture and tourism. Pisov was recently appointed to this office after the PCRM has lost the elections in the Orhei district council.
Rodica Scutelnic was assigned senior state adviser for social affairs.

Decisions

Decision concerning the execution in 2007 of the action plan on implementation of the 2006–15 strategy on attracting investments and promoting export. Actions in this area focussed on:

Elaboration and enforcement of the related legislation;
Organisation of training courses on opportunities of building marketing centres;
Revision and optimisation of the normative entrepreneurship regulation framework and massive revision of laws;
Implementation of the “one-stop-shop” principle;
Signing of bilateral intergovernmental agreements on mutual investment promotion and protection and avoidance of double taxation (7 agreements);
Promotion of Moldova’s image on international markets and consolidation of cooperation with South-East Europe in the field of investment promotion and improvement of investment climate (relations with six international organisations have been established, the International Exhibition Centre Moldexpo SA has hosted 15 international exhibitions, Moldova has attended international exhibitions and forums, booklets such as Investment Guide, Moldova in Figures and Actions, leaflets for potential foreign investors have been disseminated, and the official website www.miepo.md has been updated);
The investment inflow in national economy has increased (overall investments in fixed capital in January-September 2007 exceeded by 28.7 percent the indicator for the similar period of 2006);
The foreign direct investment inflow in Moldovan economy turned over 200.5 million dollars in the first semester of 2007, growing 1.9-fold or by 94.7 million dollars compared with the same period of 2006. Overall foreign direct investments in economy amounted to 1,505.4 million dollars, as of July 2007;
The foreign economic activity was featured by a high growth of export and import in January-September 2007 (the export has increased by 28.4 percent and the import by 37.3percent, compared with the same period of 2006).

Decision approving the reduction of control personnel. Although the Government had earlier decided to reduce by 10 percent the number of inspectors (GD # 1163/25.10.2007), it has recently decided to cut the State Fiscal Inspectorate personnel by 52 persons, the staff of the Fraud Investigation Directorate of the Interior Ministry by 20 persons, of the State Inspectorate of Standardisation, Metrology and Consumer Protection by 14 persons, of the State Environmental Inspectorate by 27 persons, and of the Building and Territorial Development Agency by 7 persons. It was earlier planned to reduce the number of CSECC employees, but the current decision omits this field.

Decisions approving draft laws:

Concerning the National Development Plan for 2008–2011;
Concerning the regime of weapons, munitions, explosive materials and substances;
Concerning the freedom of meetings (this is a drawback of Moldova towards the Council of Europe);

Decisions on allocation of funds:

As many as 105,000 lei are allocated from the reserve fund of the Government to the Moldovan Presidential Apparatus to pay “the elaboration and manufacturing of models of state awards and items.”

Sittings. Decisions. Statements

Investments in Giurgiulesti area

Prime Minister Vasile Tarlev has convoked governmental functionaries in charge with implementing the portfolio of investment projects in the Giurgiulesti area. Minister of economy and commerce reported that the Giurgiulesti oil terminal is operational and fuels imported by ships are being sold on Moldovan market starting last weekend. At the same time, the cargo and passenger port in the southern region of Moldova is being projected. In order to ensure the access to the port, the Cahul-Giurgiulesti railway is being built. The prime minister noted that the functioning of the terminal and port will open about 3,000 new jobs.

Meeting with Foreign Investors Association

Talks between prime minister and representatives of investors have focussed on a better investment climate in Moldova, necessary measures to attract more investments in national economy. Investors said that the dialogue between central public administration and business community has advanced much in the past years, so that many problems of businesspersons have been remedied. In particular, they stressed the receptiveness of the Government toward diverse problems, including those signalled in the White Book. At the same time, investors noted that actions aimed to improve the legal-normative and fiscal framework shall continue, in order to create new stimulatory conditions for attraction of foreign capital in Moldova. In this context, they called for an urgent promotion of the salary law on real sector of economy. The premier promised that the Government will continue creating conditions for attraction of investments in key sectors of national economy and will optimise the legal investment promotion and support framework.

Last sitting of European Integration Commission

The prime minister has chaired a sitting of the European Integration Commission which made the totals of implementation of the European Union — Moldova Action Plan in 2007. Minister of foreign affairs and European integration stated that European officials have highly appreciated the actions taken by Moldovan authorities to implement the Action Plan, during the visit of Moldovan president to Brussels and at the 7^th Meeting of the Moldova-EU Cooperation Committee. Vasile Tarlev welcomed the efforts of the European Integration Commission to efficiently implement the Action Plan, stressing among progresses the takeover of four chairmanships in the key regional organisations by Moldova for the first time, in particular, in the South East European Cooperation Process, Central European Initiative, CEFTA and RACVIAC. Also, the commission welcomed the signing of the visa facilitation and readmission agreement, which will enter into force in January 2008, and the decision by EU member states to offer Moldova the asymmetrical trade regime with the EU. According to the prime minister, Moldova will be able to enjoy the four EU freedoms — free circulation of commodities, capitals, citizens and services — with joint efforts of society and state leadership. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration jointly with other ministries was instructed to table a list of actions recommended by European experts in order to finalise the Moldova-EU Action Plan. It is worth to note that the prime minister does not insist any longer on “finalisation of all actions by November 17, 2007” and bias of independent observers and experts, after the chief of state acknowledged drawbacks and shortcomings in the implementation of the Action Plan.

Preoccupation with New Year and Christmas holidays

Under a Government decision, December 31, 2007 and January 2–4, 2008 will be days off, and December 29, 2007, January 26, 2008, February 16, 2008 and March 15, 2008 will be working days. Ministries, other central administrative authorities, heads of enterprises, institutions and organisations will ensure the efficient work of subordinated units in the recuperative days. It is for the time when the Government has assumed responsibility for such a long holiday and additional interventions were further required, in particular:

An order on distribution of social insurance services obliges the National Social Insurance Company and the Central Treasury of the Ministry of Finance to supply Banca de Economii SA and post centres in territorial branches of Banca de Economii SA with the funds needed to pay pensions and state social allocations. The Ministry of Finance will ensure the transfer of the funds needed for these pays, while the National Bank of Moldova is recommended “to provide the cash needed by Banca de Economii SA for these pays.” The State Company Posta Moldovei and Banca de Economii SA have to organise the work of subordinated territorial subdivisions in order to ensure the payment of pensions and state social allocations on time;
Under another order, central and local public bodies will work out the agendas of functionaries for the winter holidays. Also, operative groups will be created to monitor the situation and intervene if needed be;
According to an indication, the Ministry of Information Development will organise the work of subordinated services during holidays, so that to issue identity papers to all applicants in optimal terms.

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