Macroeconomics

  • In January-July, the State Tax Service transferred 51.40 billion lei to the national public budget, 5.00 billion lei (+10.90%) more year on year. The state budget received more than 21.10 billion lei (+12.00%), the social insurance budget about 18.00 billion lei (+9.70%), and local budgets and the mandatory health insurance funds approximately 6.10 billion lei each.

Energy and Resources

  • On August 5, between 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m., the projected commercial electricity shortfall totaled 303 MWh: 62 MWh, 129 MWh and 112 MWh by hour. The Ministry of Energy and Energocom said they were ready to use emergency supply mechanisms; the regional shortfall was linked to the heat, higher consumption and generation constraints caused by low water levels in the Danube.

Government Regulation

  • The government approved a draft law on the recognition and operation of producer organizations in the agri-food sector, including joint processing, storage, procurement and marketing. At the same time, provisions establishing a separate Horticulture Bureau will be removed from the Horticulture Law, avoiding duplication of functions and new financial obligations for producers and exporters.

  • The Competition Council fined Labromed Laborator 683.10 thousand lei for excessive prices for breathalyzers, mouthpieces and calibration. The markup on breathalyzers reached 490%, on mouthpieces 733%, and the gross margin on calibration 1,039%; for three years, the company must disclose prices and costs to the regulator annually.

  • The government will allocate up to 75.00 thousand euros for a technical expert in the Park Avenue Capital arbitration against Moldova over management rights to the .md domain. It previously budgeted 129.60 thousand euros for legal support and an advance of $150.00 thousand to the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes.

Investment and Projects

  • The authorized capital of the state-owned enterprise Moldova Railways will be increased by 421.10 million lei to rehabilitate infrastructure and continue the modernization of the Bender-Basarabeasca-Etulia-Giurgiulești section, financed with the participation of the EBRD and EIB.

  • A tender has been announced to repair about 8.10 km of the R26 road in Causeni District; the contract is valued at 17.49 million lei excluding VAT, to be financed from the Road Fund. Bids are due by August 21.

  • The government approved the first stage of the defense program through 2030, costing 10.59 billion lei: about 40% is planned to be financed from the state budget, nearly 35% from foreign aid, while about 25% currently lacks funding sources.

Agriculture

  • Agricultural producer prices fell by 4.60% year on year in H1: crop product prices decreased by 8.50%, while livestock product prices rose by 1.60%. Open-field vegetables fell in price by 29.40%, fruits and berries by 23.50%, while eggs rose by 25.60%.

  • In July, AIPA approved subsidies totaling 56.01 million lei, versus 53.96 million lei in June. Of this, 45.68 million lei was allocated through LEADER to 507 projects, including 265 business initiatives; as of July 1, 928.59 million lei remained in the agricultural fund.

Social Economy

  • Mandatory health insurance fund revenues for January-July exceeded 9.00 billion lei, rising by 693.00 million lei (+8.30%); spending exceeded 10.70 billion lei. About 1.30 billion lei more was transferred for medical services, medicines and medical devices than a year earlier.

The Day in Figures

51.40 billion lei — State Tax Service contributions to the national public budget in 7 months

303 MWh — projected electricity shortfall on the evening of August 5

421.10 million lei — increase in Moldova Railways' capital

56.01 million lei — AIPA subsidies approved in July

4.60% — decline in agricultural producer prices in H1

683.10 thousand lei — Labromed Laborator fine

10.59 billion lei — cost of the defense program through 2030

10.70 billion lei — mandatory health insurance fund spending in 7 months

ANNOUNCEMENTS

  • On August 6, the NBM Executive Board will meet on monetary policy; the current base rate is 7.00% per annum.