Macroeconomics
• The Ministry of Finance and UNDP estimated potential public spending optimization at $15.50 million in healthcare and approximately $130.50 million, or 2.20 billion lei, in social protection. In 2026, spending reviews will be extended to general and higher education, SME support programs and agricultural subsidies.
Energy and Resources
• Work at the Chisinau substation is nearing completion for commissioning the 400-kV Vulcanesti-Chisinau power line: the approximately 157-km line has already been connected, and commercial operation is expected by the end of August. The total project cost is about EUR 61.00 million, including about EUR 27.00 million for construction of the line; its capacity will allow transmission of more than 50.00% of the electricity consumed in the country.
• ANRE simplified the booking of cross-border gas pipeline capacity: starting with the 2026/2027 gas year, suppliers will be able to reserve aggregated entry and exit capacities in a single transaction. The amendments align the Network Code with EU Regulation 2024/1789 and extend the mechanism to entry and exit points with third countries.
• CET-Nord will host a private BESS project with capacity of up to 70.00 MW: Esco-Voltaj will finance, build and operate it, while VIM Energy Systems AB will supply the equipment. The VIM contract was previously valued at EUR 17.20 million; CET-Nord is not financing the project.
External Economy and Trade
• Moldova's exports to the United States fell by 36.70% in the first half of the year to EUR 18.10 million, while imports decreased by 21.30% to EUR 66.40 million; the trade deficit amounted to EUR 48.30 million. Following the removal of duties on most goods from the United States, imports could increase by about 6.00%, according to government estimates.
Government Regulation
• The Public Property Agency proposes adding 19 properties to the privatization list and selling a number of assets by auction without special investment or social obligations. The 2026 budget revenue target from privatization is 700.00 million lei.
International Relations
• Moldova and the EU are launching a project to prepare for the Single European Market: it provides for an operational business support service under the Ministry of Economic Development, stronger quality infrastructure and digital data exchange between the Customs Service, market surveillance authorities and EU systems. The quality infrastructure component will be implemented with support from the Czech Republic.
Investment and Projects
• Fifteen regional development projects worth 68.00 million lei were completed during the week: more than 31.70 thousand residents, 64 public institutions and 37 economic entities gained access to water, sewerage, roads and lighting. The projects included about 50.00 km of water pipelines, 4.80 km of repaired roads and 8.80 km of street lighting.
• In Falesti District, repairs were completed on 8.50 km of the G63 road at a cost of 31.43 million lei from the Road Fund; the pavement, drainage and a bridge were restored, and road safety elements were installed.
Banks and Finance
• Banks' loan portfolio reached 114.32 billion lei at the end of June, increasing by 2.50% over the month. Loans to resident legal entities amounted to 62.90 billion lei, or 55.00% of the portfolio; lending to the energy sector (+8.80%) and construction (+7.20%) grew the fastest over the month.
• Lei-denominated deposits rose by 1.30% at the end of June to 99.80 billion lei, while foreign-currency deposits increased by 1.20% to 52.62 billion lei. Household deposits amounted to 59.46 billion lei in national currency (+2.10%) and 34.15 billion lei in foreign currency (+2.00%).
Business and Companies
• Ultracom Electronic, which operates the Enter and Darwin retail chains, increased its net profit 7.60-fold in 2025 to 21.48 million lei; sales rose by 4.00% to 2.02 billion lei. Headcount increased from 522 to 657 employees, while assets rose to 834.00 million lei.
Social Economy
• Education trade unions are demanding salary increases from September 1, 2026; no compromise with the Ministry of Education has yet been reached. If there is no solution, the union allows for nationwide protests in September and an emergency regime in the sector from October 1.
The Day in Figures
114.32 billion lei | banks' loan portfolio at the end of June 2026. |
99.80 billion lei | bank deposits in national currency at the end of June. |
EUR 61.00 million | total cost of the Vulcanesti-Chisinau power line project. |
70.00 MW | capacity of the BESS project for CET-Nord. |
68.00 million lei | investment in 15 completed regional development projects. |
EUR 48.30 million | Moldova's trade deficit with the United States in the first half of the year. |
21.48 million lei | Ultracom Electronic net profit in 2025. |
2.20 billion lei | potential budget reserve in social protection. |
AGENDA
• On August 19, a meeting of the Government of the Republic of Moldova will take place.
• On August 19, from 09:00 to 11:30, the Federation of Education and Science Trade Unions will hold a protest in the Great National Assembly Square, demanding approval of salary increases for education and research employees from September 1.
• On August 19 at 10:00, the NBS will publish data on industrial producer price indices for July 2026.
• On August 19 at 14:00, the NBS will publish data on occupancy of collective accommodation establishments for the first half of 2026 and the second quarter.