This statement was made by Nicolai Mîndra, State Secretary of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Regional Development, during public consultations organized by the parliamentary committee on the economy, budget, and finance.
According to the official, the current road tax for a trailer is 1,500 lei per year, while in the European Union the minimum rate is around 900 euros. He noted that a gradual increase in the road toll is planned for the period from 2028 to 2034 to bring it closer to European standards.
As the state secretary noted, the extremely low level of road tolls hinders the development of rail transport, which currently lags behind road transport in terms of competitiveness.
“We see no way to encourage carriers to choose rail when road tolls remain very, very low,” Myndra explained.
The official also reported that the Republic of Moldova is currently implementing the European Directive on Combined Freight Transport, which provides, among other things, for mechanisms to incentivize rail and port-based transport.
At the same time, the authorities are preparing reforms aimed at liberalizing the rail market, which will allow operators from other countries to transport cargo using Moldova’s infrastructure.
“As a state, we must maintain the railway infrastructure in such a condition that it remains attractive to carriers. Railway infrastructure is strategic, and the responsibility for its development lies with the state,” emphasized Nicolai Mîndra.
In this context, the government also plans to develop major logistics hubs, including in Chisinau and Merculești.
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