Category Archives: Economy

admin

Posted on 01 March 2007 by Mihai Moscovici

Unité: uneste sau ataca?

logo unite Unité: uneste sau ataca?

In prima zi de primavara, Voxtel si Moldcell au primit in dar un martisor de la Moldtelecom. Albul si rosul de la Unité mai degraba i-a inghimpat, decat i-a incalzit.

Moldtelecom ofera servicii de telefonie mobila in standard CDMA2000 de generatia a treia (3G). Investitiile initiale au fost de 25 mln. dolari SUA, iar echipamentul tehnic al Unité este produs de compania chineza Huawei. Apropo, Moldtelecom a ales standardul CDMA intentionat, deoarece aceasta tehnologie permite acordarea ambelor servicii intr-un singur pachet: telefonie fixa + telefonie mobila.

Moldtelecom spera ca pana la sfarsitul anului sa atraga circa 40 mii abonati. Insa cred ca aceasta marja va fi depasita.

Preturile din oferta Unité sunt de 2-3 ori mai mici decat ale celorlalti operatori. De aceea, cred ca un procent semnificativ din cei 1,3 mil de utilizatori de telefonie mobila din Moldova vor considera faptul de a “emigra” la Unité. Aceasta, desigur, in cazul in care ceilalti doi operatori nu vor putea oferi ceva mai bun si mai ieftin.

Presupun ca multi clienti corporativi vor emigra la Unite. In primul rand, de facto Moldtelecom este o institutie de stat si de aceea exista posibilitatea ca majoritatea (a se citi toate) institutiile de stat vor “emigra” la Unité atunci cand vor primi “ordinul” de sus (asa zisa sustinere a producatorului autohton). Doi, multe companii mici si mijlocii de asemena vor prefera pretul mai mic si nici macar nu pierd calitatea serviciilor, ba chiar unele servicii sunt mai calitative. Trei, companiile mari vor negocia preturile cu operatorii sai actuali si in dependenta de situatie vor lua o decizie.

In acelas trimp, faptul ca Moldtelecom, de facto, este o institutie de stat poate fi si un dezavantaj. Multe institutii/organizatii/companii (ONG-uri, misiunile internationale, diverse companii interantionale, etc.) pot prefera serviciile unui operator independent.

Cei trei operatori au aproximativ aceeasi arie de acoperire: Unité – 94%, Moldcell – 93.11% si Voxtel – 91%. Insa, Unité are un avantaj considerabil fata de concurentii sai: reteaua sa include toti abonatii telefoniei fixe de la Moldtelecom (857 mii case sau 99,5% din telefonia fixa din Moldova).

Desigur, Voxtel si Moldcell au avantajele sale: puterea brandului, traditia corporativa, relatiile de afaceri deja formate, etc. Intr-o masura oarecare acestea pot pastra clientii vechi si chiar atrage clienti noi. Insa cel mai important pentru ambii operatori GSM este sa adopte o strategie de contraatac pe termen mediu care ar include revizuirea politicii de preturi, investitii in tehnologiile de ultima generatie, imbunatatirea constanta a calitatii serviciilor, actiuni de PR cu scopul de a diminua riscul migrarii clientilor, etc.

Cu siguranta, Unité a revigorat piata telefoniei mobile din Moldova. Insa povestea nu se incheie aici, deoarece pana la sfarsitul anului se asteapta aparitia unui nou operator GSM, compania moldo-cipriota, Eventis Mobile.

Cel mai imbucurator lucru este ca avantajul final ne revine noua: consumatori de rand. Noi avem posibilitatea de a alege serviciile si preturile care ne convin si putem spera ca, pe parcurs, concurenta va indemna operatorii sa imbunatateasca serviciile si sa acorde atentie cerintelor consumatorului.

P.S. Va invit sa participati la sondajul din coloana dreapta si sa raspundeti daca lansarea ofertei Unité v-a facut sa considerati optiunea de a pleca de la operatorul actual si sa deveniti abonat Unité.

Later add: Venitul pentru 2006 al operatorilor de telefonie mobila a crescut cu 34% fata de anul precedent si a constituit $148.5 mil, dintre care Voxtel a efectuat vanzari in marime de $103,6 mil, iar Moldcell de $44,9 mil.
Venitul mediu lunar generat de un abonat a constituit $10,1: Voxtel aungand la $11,25 per abona pe luna, iar Moldcell la $8,18 per abonat pe luna.
In 2006 cei doi operatori au impartit piata serviciilor de telefonie mobila. Cota de piata Voxtel a fost de 69,75%, si Moldcell 30,25% [via].
Aparitia celui de-al treilea operator va schimba intr-o masura oarecare cota de piata si veniturile generate, insa aceasta ramane sa o vedem in datele statistice la sfarsitul anului.

Later add: Un articol extrem de interesant despre Eventis Mobile, noul operator GSM ce se asteapta sa ofere servicii in Moldova pana la sfarsitul anului. Se asteapta, dar poate si sa nu vina curand.

admin

Posted on 06 February 2007 by Mihai Moscovici

Start a business in Moldova

81381870 973bb65d8b Start a business in Moldova

I am starting to write a comparative analysis of business cultures in the three different countries: Moldova, Romania and Latvia. I found it very interesting what are the procedures to start a business in Moldova.
Starting a business in Moldova is the cheapest, just $117.39, but it takes the longest, 10 procedures in 30 days. In Romania there are five procedures within 11 days, but you would pay little more, around $168. Latvia is the most expensive, around $237, and you are done in five procedures within 16 days.

Two fast conclusions: (1) Moldova has the most bureaucratic procedures; (2) Moldova just seems to be the cheapest. In fact, comparing prices to the economic data of the three countries, we will observe that the price paid by a Moldovan is quite the same as in Latvia, while Romanians pay the less. Considering Moldovan corruption, final expenses could even double.

Procedure (2006) #Proc
Days Cost$
1. File all the documents with the State Registration Chamber for the registration of the company; Obtain IDNO number 1 15 107.26
2. Open a temporary bank account and deposit at least 40% of the registered capital of the company; pay the registration fee 2 1* 0.00
3. Obtain the Registration Certificate and Constitutive Act; obtain an official stamp from the Department of Information Technologies 3 1* 0.00
4. Register with the local Fiscal Inspectorates of the Ministry of Finance for VAT 4 2 0.00
5. Register the company with the Statistics Department of Republic of Moldova 5 1 0.92
6. A notary certifies the company’s bank account signature cards required for the conversion of bank account 6 1 9.21
7. Convert the company’s temporary bank account to a permanent one 7 1 0.00
8. Obtain the permission from the State Inspectorate of Labor 8 7 0.00
9. Register the company with the Social Security Fund 9 1 0.00
10. Register the company with the National Medical Insurance Company 10 2 0.00
Totals: 10 30 $117.39

* Procedures sometimes take place simultaneously.

Source: Doing Business

Photo: self-portrait / marianne

admin

Posted on 31 January 2007 by Mihai Moscovici

Improvement for Moldovan economy?

g406 Improvement for Moldovan economy?

The last report of the National Bureau of Statistics of the Republic of Moldova states that there is a significant improvement in the Moldovan economy. This is due to the fact that the average salary in 2006 increased 14% comparing to the previous year. Now the average salary in Moldova is approximately $129 per month.
Well done! But I believe the picture is not full without mentioning some facts that make me doubtful about how well an average Moldovan will feel the improvement.
In the late March 2006, Russia, the main importer, banned Moldovan wines on its market, causing a loose of $30 millions for Moldovan economy. Moldova exported wines in 2006, 50% less than in 2005. This means that hundreds (thousands) of people entertained in wine industry lost their jobs, did not receive any salary and were not counted for the statistical report.
Starting with February 2007 people living in Chisinau, the capital city of Moldova, will pay 250% more for the heat provided by the state heating company Termocom.
Indeed; there are many more facts that make an average Moldovan not able to enjoy the improvement of the national economy.
Still, the officials promote the idea that Moldova is getting better year by year, but the reality seems to be the opposite. This is an old propaganda that the governmental party in Moldova uses to make people belive that “it has done the impossible”.

P.S. I’m not an economist and may be wrong in some instances. Please, express your opinion on this post and help us understand whether Moldova is getting better or not.

Photo: Stefan Landsberger’s Chinese Propaganda Poster Page

admin

Posted on 11 January 2007 by Mihai Moscovici

Patentele de intreprinzator dauneaza economiei?

228433860 a376f5ad96 Patentele de intreprinzator dauneaza economiei?

Din 1 ianuarie 2007 legea interzice anterprenoriatul in baza de patenta in (1) transportul auto de pasageri si marfuri, (2) cultivarea si vanzarea florilor, (3) producerea si vanzarea varului, (4) a mobilei, (5) a unor marfuri de uz casnic.
Incepand de anul viitor vor fi interzise (1) comertul cu amanuntul an chioscuri si ancaperi cu suprafete care nu depasesc 8 si 12 metri patrati, respectiv. Iar din 1 ianuarie 2009 – (1) comertul cu produse la tarabe, din autovehicule in pietele autorizate, (2) comertul cu apa ambuteliata si (3) cu diverse publicatii si tiparituri.
Cu alte cuvinte, guvernul planifica sa lichideze antrepronoriatul in baza de patenta pana in 2009. Anul acesta 36.6 mii (60%) de detinatori de patente nu mai pot activa legal si de aceea trebuie sa-si re-inregistreze activitatea de antreprenoriat, acum gratuit.

Ministerul Economiei si Comertului considera ca antreprenoriatul in baza de patenta dauneaza economiei nationale, adica bugetului de stat. Astfel, datele oficiale confirma ca “unor titulari de patenta le revine un volum de comert de la cateva mii lei pana la 1,2 mln. lei pe luna, pe cand impozitul real, platit la buget costituie sub 0,2% din suma care trebuie sa fie platita conform valorii patentei. An anul 2006, din cauza patentelor, statul a suportat pierderi de 2 mlrd. lei. Din volumul total al operatiunilor comerciale pe tara, de circa 20 mlrd. lei (43%) revin comertului neorganizat.” [via]

Nu sunt economist si de aceea nu pot sa imi dau seama daca guvernul a luat o decizie corecta. Oficialii afirma ca aceasta masura este benefica pentru economia tarii, insa poate aceasta decizie sa aiba si efecte secundare?

[via]

Later add: Dupa ce am prezentat preponderent opinia si argumentele guvernului, trebuie sa mentionez si replica reprezentantilor antreprenorilor in baza de patenta. Ei spun ca Guvernul le-a anuntat oficial razboi.

Photo: Moldova 1 Leu 1994 Face / tiffibunny

admin

Posted on 04 December 2006 by Mihai Moscovici

European Union evaluates Moldova

101236281 b0380c05bc European Union evaluates Moldova

There are 18 months passed since the Action Plan EU-Moldova has been signed. On a half of the way, the European Union evaluates Moldova.

Minuses
- the business climate;
- reforms related to the freedom of press;
- reforming the judicial system;
- fighting corruption.

Pluses
+ the situation at the Ukrainian border;
+ creation of the EU border assistance mission;
+ negotiation of the asymmetric trade system and of the GSP;
+ renewing the financial program with IMF (which determined other international bodies to aid Moldova).
4 pluses vs 4 minuses

Also, European Union will finance Moldova within the frameworks of the Good Neighborhood Program for 2007-2013. The total budget of the program planned for 16 neighbor countries of EU amounts to EUR 12 billion.
Cesare de Monstis, the Head of the European Commission to Moldova, said that the European Commission hopes that Moldova will obtain the second biggest part after Palestine. [via]
Photo: l’Union européenne / jdunlevy

admin

Posted on 01 December 2006 by Mihai Moscovici

Bugetul Republicii Moldova

218479151 5cf14ae364 Bugetul Republicii Moldova

English: The economist Veaceslav Ionita remarks: “There is no European country where the budget is created by consumption at such an extent. In the majority of countries, the budget is created on the ground of taxes levied from economic activities, but in our country the economic activity of both population and economic agents is missing, therefore the only field the state is taxing is the consumption.”
The budget of Moldova is formed 85% by the taxes on consumption. [via]

Romanian: Economistul Veaceslav Ionita remarca: „Nu exista tara in Europa in care bugetul sa fie format in asa proportii din consum. In majoritatea tarilor, bugetul este format din impozitele platite din activitatile economice, la noi [in Moldova] insa nu exista nici activitate economica a populatiei, si nici a agentilor economici, astfel incat singurul domeniu impozitat de stat este consumul.”
Bugetul R. Moldova este format in proportie de 85% de consumul din partea populatiei. [via]

Photo: pie chart / linguist wannabe