Moldova to increase prices of cigarettes, alcoholic beverages at the IMF's recommendation
Starting from April, cigarettes will cost from 30 bani to 2.3 lei more, depending on the brand. At the same time, strong alcoholic beverages will see a price increase of 7-10 lei per bottle.
The price growth is consistent with the government's decision to hike the excises on cigarettes and strong beverages beginning with 1 April.
Finance Minister Veaceslav Neguta told journalists on 17 February that the increase in prices will be operated to secure the stability of public finances and to lower the budgetary deficit. Neguta said that the adjustment of tobacco excises is expected to bring additional revenues of about 110 million lei (over 6.5 million euros) to the national budget. The estimated additional revenues from the increase in the price for strong alcoholic beverages amount to 50-70 million lei.
The increase in excises on cigarettes on alcoholic beverages is one of the conditions of the International Monetary Fund in exchange for a new loan instalment of 77 million dollars for Moldova.
Moldpres
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