In particular, this is stipulated by the relevant amendments to the Law on currency regulation, which the Moldovan Parliament adopted in the second reading.
According to the Ministry of Finance, the main purpose of the amendments is to liberalize capital currency transactions. The amendments will provide more freedom for investments, allowing operations with foreign financial instruments without the authorization of the National Bank of Moldova. These include long-term financial instruments (with a remaining maturity of more than 5 years), issued by EU countries or the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), having a rating not lower than AA/Aa category, assigned by a credit rating agency, as well as financial instruments in the form of shares or other securities of unit nature.
Another change concerns the way exchange rates are displayed in exchange offices, where currencies will be presented in a clear and standardized order: the euro and the US dollar, then the pound sterling, the Romanian leu, the Ukrainian hryvnia and, finally, other currencies. In particular, the Russian ruble will be assigned to the third group of foreign currencies.
The new wording of the law stipulates that the import into/export from Moldova of national currency in cash by licensed banks and non-resident banks shall be carried out without the permission of the National Bank.
The Ministry of Finance notes that the provisions of this draft law will contribute to the expansion of access of citizens and legal entities to international financial instruments, reduction of currency barriers, as well as diversification of investment opportunities.
