Prime Minister Maia Sandu signed on October 22, 2019 the decision establishing a new composition of the Economic Council.

According to the document, today the platform has 118 members compared to 100 until the change.

The number of business associations has increased. Now there are 56, compared to 41 until the change. From the associative sector within the Council, now also belong organizations representing the interests of persons with disabilities, women entrepreneurs and Small and Medium Enterprises.

The composition of the representatives of the civil society in the Economic Council has also changed – with two more, 8 in total. Thus, members of the Council are now the National Center for Studies and Information for Women’s Issues and the Center for Entrepreneurial Education and Business Assistance.

To the 10 members of the platform among international organizations active in the field of business environment reforms, the International Labor Organization has joined.

The number of representatives of public authorities and institutions in the Economic Council remained unchanged – 43, although changes were made among these members as well. Following the reform of the central public administration, some institutions have been merged and others have been optimized. As a result, the number of state institutions present in the Council has not changed.

The members of the Economic Council are appointed by the Prime Minister. This is provided by the Regulation on the organization and functioning of the Economic Council to the Prime Minister, approved by the Government Decision no. 631 of August 22, 2011.

The composition of the Council includes business associations, the scientific and research community, international organizations active in the field of business environment reforms and state institutions.

Business associations can apply for membership of the platform through a letter to the Prime Minister of Moldova, who is the President of the Economic Council, or of the Minister of Economy and Infrastructure, who also holds the status of Vice President of the platform. The modification of the composition of the platform is made periodically, by a decision of the Prime Minister.

The Economic Council is established to the Prime Minister as a consultative body. The platform has the mission to facilitate the dialogue between representatives of the business community, donor institutions and policy-makers, in order to develop a transparent and investment-friendly business environment.

The members of the Economic Council can approach within the platform only systemic  problems, which are hindering the development of a sector of the economy. The members of the platform warn of the existence of these obstacles, by addressing the Prime Minister or the Ministry of Economy and Infrastructure. If the interested parties do not find a consensus on the alerted subject, it is discussed at the Economic Council.

In the last years, with the support and expertise of the members of the Economic Council, a series of reforms have been promoted, among which the reform of permissive acts, dual education has been implemented, the issuance of work and residence permits has been facilitated, changes have been made in the Labor Code.

The Secretariat of the Economic Council to the Prime Minister is  supported  by  the  European  Bank  for  Reconstruction  and  Development, funded by the UK Government’s Good Governance Fund, and the World Bank Group project “Investment Climate Reform”, funded by the Sweden.

The Secretariat of the Economic Council to the Prime Minister is supported by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, funded by the UK Government’s Good Governance Fund.