Iurie Leancă

Moldovan premier meets newly-appointed U.S. ambassador

Acting Prime Minister Iurie Leanca met newly appointed U.S. Ambassador to Moldova James D. Pettit today.

Leanca welcomed James D. Pettit’s appointment to the office and showed interest in a fruitful cooperation. Iurie Leanca highlighted the ascending evolution of the Moldovan-American ties and was confident that the Moldova-USA strategic dialogue, launched in Washington in March 2014, would further serve as a multi-dimension platform to boost collaboration and would allow advancing the bilateral cooperation at a new qualitative level, by creating a permanent consultation mechanism between the two states. Leanca also spoke out for increasing American investments into the Moldovan economy.

For his part, James D. Pettit underlined the importance to develop the bilateral ties and reiterated the USA’s firm commitment to support reforms and democratic transformations in Moldova.

The officials exchanged views about current issues and priority aspects on the Moldovan-American agenda. The sides spoke out for continuing joint projects and launching new cooperation partnerships in various sectors.

Over the past 22 years, Moldova received about 1.2 billion dollars from the USA. As many as 382 companies with American capital work in Moldova, the USA ranking sixth in the top of foreign investors.

Moldovan acting PM commemorates Holocaust victims

Acting Prime Minister Iurie Leanca today laid flowers and stood silent for a minute at the monument of people who died in ghettos, thus commemorating the victims of the Holocaust.

„The drama through which the Jewish people went, the mass extermination during the World War II is unprecedented. Today, we have to think about those who went through that massacre, millions of people who died. The most important thing is that we draw conclusions from this tragedy, because if we do not make conclusions from what happened to us, then there is no guarantee that such tragedies could not be repeated,” Leanca said.

Leanca added that this awful past reinforced his conviction that everything must be done, so that Europe never lived such experience, but remained a continent of peace, good understanding and dialogue. „This is an imperative as much more necessary as a true war takes place at the eastern border of Europe at present,” Leanca said.

Today, we mark the 70th anniversary of the release of the prisoners from the biggest concentration camp – Auschwitz, where, according to estimations, 1.1 million people were killed.

Moldovan PM conveys message of sympathy to French counterpart

"The terrorist attack on the office of French Weekly Charlie Hebdo is an outrageous one we vehemently condemn", acting Prime Minister Iurie Leanca's message conveyed to his French counterpart Manuel Valls reads.

"In these difficult moments, please accept, on behalf of the Moldovan government and on my own behalf, our feelings of compassion and solidarity with the French people", the message also reads.

Leanca conveys sincere condolences and deep regret to the mourning families from France for their loss.

Moldovan premier, Japanese ambassador tackle diplomacy aspects

Acting Prime Minister Iurie Leanca and recently appointed Kiev-based Ambassador of Japan to Moldova Shigeki Sumi discussed opening a Moldovan diplomatic mission in Japan and other topics today.

The sides also covered topics focused on bilateral dialogue, Japanese assistance provided to Moldova, and attracting Japanese investments into the national economy.

Iurie Leanca welcomed the appointment of Shigeki Sumi as ambassador to Moldova. Referring to the Moldovan Embassy in Japan, due to be inaugurated in the next spring, Iurie Leanca said this would be a point of strengthening and deepening the political, cultural and economic ties between Chisinau and Tokyo.

Iurie Leanca also spoke approached the need to increase economic and trade exchanges and sustained effort to attract Japanese investment to the Moldovan economy. The acting prime minister expressed, on behalf of the cabinet of ministers, gratitude to Japan for the technical and financial assistance provided to Moldova.

For his part, the ambassador said he would contribute to strengthening the relations between Chisinau and Tokyo in all sectors. Similarly, the diplomat spoke about possibilities to promote Moldovan wines on the Japanese market, some of which are already being sold in Japan.

According to the latest data put out by the National Statistics Bureau, Moldova imported Japanese goods worth 22.8 million dollars and exported goods amounting to 292,500 dollars in January-September 2014.

Japan offered Moldova, including through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), financial assistance grants amounting to 92.8 million dollars by 1 July 2014. The areas which benefited from assistance from Japan were agriculture, health, culture, science, education, security and development of small and medium enterprises.

Moldovan prime minister, US assistant secretary have telephone conversation

Incumbent Prime Minister Iurie Leanca discussed on the phone with Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs at the United States Department of State Victoria Nuland today. The officials spoke about the results of the parliamentary elections of 30 November and new government’s priorities.

The American diplomat advocated forming a professional government, with people of integrity, who would accelerate reforms to build a clean Moldova.

Iurie Leanca reiterated that the new government needed a substantial transformation programme for the country. The incumbent prime minister said that the main tasks of the new government were reforming the justice sector and combating corruption, eradicating poverty and creating jobs. In this context, Iurie Leanca said that during the implementation of all these reforms, Moldova relied on greater support from foreign partners.

The sides called for the intensification of the Moldovan-American strategic dialogue launched in Washington in March 2014. Furthermore, Iurie Leanca invited Victoria Nuland to pay a visit to Chisinau in early 2015.

Moldovan Prime Minister urges women to open businesses

Prime Minister Iurie Leanca attended an event dedicated to the Women in Business Programme of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), financially supported by the Swedish government.

In just three years, the programme provided assistance to about 90 Moldovan enterprises, owned or led by women, as well as to companies with most women employed. The Women in Business initiative focused on the development of the women entrepreneurship, through various consulting services. Thus, women were helped to launch and develop their own businesses and capacities to manage companies. The Swedish government contributed with over 1 million euros to the project's implementation.

Leanca stressed that the role of woman in society was a basic one and was confident that the women's experience contributed to improve the living standards in Moldova. „Usually, there where women are managers, we find a larger openness towards everything that means innovations, critical analysis of the situation and interest to go faster, in order to overcome current problems. Thus, we are set to increase women's chances to participate in decision-making and not only to execute them,” Leanca said.

Iurie Leanca thanked partners who, via this initiative, had enhanced the capacities of businesswomen, as well as of the companies open by women in Moldova. „I urge Moldovan women to use to maximum all possibilities of this kind, including the dialogue platforms with the government, such as: the Economic Council to the Prime Minister. And I call on the foreign partners to continue to back such initiatives,” Leanca said.

For her part, Head of the EBRD Office Chisinau Julia Otto highlighted that the Women in Business programme had recorded progress, including due to support provided by the Moldovan government. Julia Otto confirmed that EBRD would continue to foster the role of businesswoman in the Moldovan economy.

The companies supported within the above-mentioned programme have extended their activities and increased their productivity, benefited from consulting services, in order to rise up their market quota, improve the quality management system and operational and financial management. Also within the programme, EBRD organised training on launch of business and develop leading capacities, and launched a mentoring programme, due to which Moldovan young and ambitious businesswomen were able to benefit from knowledge and advices on behalf of business ladies with greater experience from other countries.

EBRD is the biggest institutional investor from Moldova, which has invested 900 million euros in over 100 projects so far.

Moldovan premier visits first company provided with authorised economic agent certificate

Prime Minister Iurie Leanca today visited the Chisinau-based Steinel company, a German investment in Moldova, which is specialised in producing electric equipment. Leanca got familiarised with the enterprise's activity, visited the production room, storage room and administrative block.

In past September, Steinel was the first company which got the certificate of authorised economic agent from the Customs Service. This document provides benefits, such as: access to simplified customs clearance procedures, decreasing of the number of physical checks, a priority during the customs clearance, as well as the exemption from certifying import rights during the active documentation procedure.

President of the company's board of directors Victor Hoffmann said this change would allow the company to direct the money, which would be blocked in the VAT, customs duties or warranties, in investments.

„It is an important step and a revolution for us, now we are in the area where we can make final products, we may diversify products and it is a start for a factory of plastics,” Hoffman said.

Iurie Leanca also discussed with the factory's employees about the education they got, work conditions and salary. The company's management said that 245 people worked there and it intended to double the capacity, following the recently approved mechanism.

Leanca highlighted that the attraction of foreign investments to Moldova and creation of optimal conditions for investors were priorities of the government.

The company has been working in Moldova for 7 years and its products are sold in over 70 countries. It is a member of the Steinel Group, which has factories in Germany, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Romania.

Moldovan PM attends National Green Day

Prime Minister Iurie Leanca today participated in an event dedicated to the National Green Day.

Leanca planted trees in Valea Perjei settlement, Taraclia disttrict.

He said that "governmnet will take every effort to back small amd medium business that will create new jobs and will contribute to development of national economy", he said.

Today, the leadership and employees of the State Chancellary planted over 3,000 oak trees on a ground of 1 hectare in Capriana forest, Straseni district.

The National Green Day is held by presidential decree each third Saturday of October. Yet, this year, it was postponed because of bad weather conditions.

European People's Party encourages reforms initiated by Moldovan government

Prime Minister Iurie Leanca met Vice-Chairwoman of the European People's Party (EPP) Group responsible for Neighbourhood Policy, Euronest and European values, Latvian MEP Sandra Kalniete this morning. Other EPP members also attended the event.

The sides exchanged views on the country's European agenda and discussed regional developments.

"Thank you for yesterday's vote in the European Parliament, for the ratification of the Association Agreement and the approval of a resolution stating that it was not the last stage of the process of rapprochement to the EU. I was in the north or the country and I conveyed the importance of this news for Moldova to the locals", said Iurie Leanca.

The prime minister also spoke about the government's determination to continue reforms to modernise the country and align Moldova to European standards. The prime minister called for greater support on behalf of the European Union to combat corruption and carry out the justice reform.

For her part, MEP Sandra Kalniete said that the Association Agreement provided many opportunities and benefits to Moldovan citizens. "I am proud that the European Parliament ratified the Association Agreement and Free Trade Agreement by a large majority. The Association Agreement is an important step in the development and modernisation of a country. The initiated reforms must continue, and we are by your side and we will support you", said Sandra Kalniete.

The European Parliament ratified the EU - Moldova Association Agreement on 13 November. The document includes political association and economic integration between the two sides.

Moldovan, European officials address cooperation, support, reforms

Prime Minister Iurie Leanca today met President of the European People’s Party (EPP) Joseph Daul, on a working visit to Moldova.

The sides exchanged views about Moldova’s European agenda, cooperation prospects between the two political parties the officials are members of, as well as the evolution of the regional situation.

Leanca stressed that Moldova had recorded important progress in the European integration process over the past years, due to efforts taken by the Democratic ruling, as well as to unprecedented support provided by development partners. Iurie Leanca reconfirmed the government’s determination to continue reforms to modernise Moldova and adjust to the European standards in all sectors.

„The justice reform, fight against corruption and building up of a functional management system, which to ensure the irreversibility of Moldova’s European path, are the priorities in this respect,” Leanca said.

For his part, Joseph Daul voiced the EPP’s solidarity and support for Moldova. The official underlined that, in this crucial period, it was very important to consolidate the pro-European forces, in order to ensure a prosperous future to Moldova.

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