Morning review by the InfoMarket Business News Agency covering the previous business day: key news, major economic indicators and upcoming events. Available by subscription: plus@infomarket.md // +373 79 119 100 // In your inbox every day at 7 a.m.
Macroeconomy
Investment in long-term assets totaled 16.4 billion lei in the first half of the year, up 5.2% year on year; following a 2.4% decline in the first quarter, growth reached 10.6% in the second quarter. Enterprises' own funds accounted for 11.73 billion lei of investment, while financing from external loans and borrowings fell by 26.5%.
An IMF mission is working in Moldova on October 21–28: discussions with the government and the Ministry of Finance cover the 2027 budget, wages, tax policy, public debt, energy and social protection.
Energy and Resources
National Agency for Energy Regulation (ANRE) Director Alexei Taran says electricity prices for end users could rise by around 15% due to higher import costs and more expensive generation at combined heat and power plants. Premier Energy and FEE Nord may submit applications after Energocom's regulated purchase price is approved; no decision to raise tariffs has yet been made.
Large electricity consumers are scheduled to move to the competitive market on July 1, 2027, with integration into the European market planned by 2028. In 2027, large renewable energy producers meeting the established criteria will be able to trade directly, while Energocom will be able to manage contracts for difference.
Parliament adopted, in the second reading, laws establishing a special legal framework for district heating modernization: the projects cover 1,700 buildings in Chișinău and 296 in Bălți. Investment will total €326 million and €17 million, respectively; horizontal heat distribution systems and individual heat metering are planned.
Government Regulation
Parliament approved the 2027 tax and customs policy: the zero tax rate on undistributed profits is extended until 2029, with the turnover or asset threshold raised from 100 million to 200 million lei; the dividend tax will rise from 6% to 8%, an 18% rate is set for financial and insurance activities, and VAT for HoReCa will be 12%. From November 1, 2026, distance purchases in parcels worth up to €150 are subject to 20% VAT; the personal exemption increases from 29,700 to 40,020 lei and the child exemption from 9,900 to 11,040 lei. Expected additional budget revenue totals 5.1 billion lei.
Amendments adopted in the second reading will require taxi platforms to process payments exclusively through licensed Moldovan banks; only legal entities that are tax residents of the country will be able to use the platforms. The rules will take effect upon publication, and non-compliant platforms will have their operations suspended.
An increase in SME thresholds was approved in the first reading: annual turnover from €25 million to €50 million and assets from €21.5 million to €43 million, bringing another 147 enterprises into the category. The bill also provides for export credit guarantees, insurance and financing.
Investment and Projects
Moldtelecom signed an agreement for U.S. grant funding to establish a Security Operations Center, with the announced total amount at $3.7 million. Project preparation and implementation, including a feasibility study and a demonstration pilot, are scheduled to take 18 months.
Banking and Finance
The monetary base fell by 2.1% in September compared with August, to 84.49 billion lei, while remaining 1.3% higher year on year. Broad money M3 totaled 201.68 billion lei: down 0.7% over the month and up 11.3% over the year.
Agriculture
Moldova and JICA concluded negotiations on the MAME 2 project: an agreement for a Japanese loan of approximately $55 million is scheduled to be signed in Tokyo in November. The term is 20 years, including a 6-year grace period; ADMA will purchase machinery and lease it to farmers.
AIPA opened applications through November 20 for meat production subsidies with a budget of 28.85 million lei. Payments per kilogram of carcass weight are 10 lei for beef, 5 lei for lamb and rabbit meat, and 1 leu for pork and poultry.
"Farmers' Power" said it is ready to stage protests involving agricultural machinery if the authorities do not begin addressing farmers' demands by October 30. These include extending grain and oilseed import licensing until May 31, 2027, refunding diesel excise duties, providing direct payments and retaining 8% VAT on sugar beet.
Social Economy
According to Expert-Grup, approximately 79,000 additional people need to be employed to raise the employment rate to 61% by 2030. In 2025, the employment rate among people aged 20–64 was 55%, compared with an EU average of 76.1%.
The Day in Figures
16.4 billion lei — investment in long-term assets in the first half of the year. | 5.1 billion lei — expected additional revenue from the tax package. |
€326 million — modernization of district heating in Chișinău. | €17 million — modernization of district heating in Bălți. |
$55 million — planned Japanese loan under MAME 2. | 28.85 million lei — budget for meat producer subsidies. |
$3.7 million — announced assistance for the Moldtelecom project. | 79,000 people — additional employment needed to meet the 2030target. |
AGENDA
October 23, 09:00 — launch of renovation and energy efficiency works at the Clinical Psychiatric Hospital and the Diomid Gherman Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery.
October 23, 10:00 — ANRE meeting: regulated gas prices for Energocom as supplier of last resort, ancillary services provided by Apă–Canal Strășeni, and application of terms and methodologies approved by ACER.
October 23, 10:30 — forum of the Alliance of Hometown Associations of Moldova.
October 23, 11:30 — economic analysis by Veaceslav Ioniță on car imports into Moldova.
October 23, 16:00 — signing of the agreement for the "Moldova's Orchard II" (Livada Moldovei II) project, with the participation of the EIB, the European Union and the government.
October 23 — start of Maia Sandu's visit to Hungary; participation in events marking the 70th anniversary of the Hungarian Revolution of 1956.