Fitch rating agency gives Moldova B+ country rating with stable outlook; Moldovan economic development minister says this is quite strong signal for investors

Chisinau, 29 September /MOLDPRES/ - Moldova’s authorities are determined to maintain the macro-financial stability and the results achieved in the last years provided the country an advancement in the international ratings. The Fitch rating agency gave Moldova the B+ country rating with stable outlook, by two degrees upper against the rating of the Moody’s agency. ‘’This is a quite strong signal for investors,’’ Economic Development and Digitalization Minister Dumitru Alaiba has said.      

According to Minister Dumitru Alaiba, the report stresses the Moldovan authorities’ determination to maintain the macro-financial stability, the public duty at the low level and the access to foreign financing. ‘’The rating agency appreciates the mixture of solid and prudent public policies. The National Bank of Moldova managed to moderate the inflationist pressures. The currency reserves will reach the level of 5.2 billion dollars in the end of the year, according to Fitch, which is much more among the countries with the B rating (4.2 months). Besides, the banking system is resilient, with a high capitalization,’’ Minister Dumitru Alaiba noted.    

Fitch forecasts a gradual consolidation of the budget deficit to 3.6 per cent in 2026, with the public debt being much lower in the countries with the same rating (51 per cent).  

The minister estimated that the country rating would be improved immediately as the geopolitical tensions are moderated in continuation. ‘’The current account deficit would decrease based on the increase in the foreign direct investments or the accelerated economic growth, boosted by investments and institutional capacity. We act in all directions of reform which we can control. Therefore, the principal subject on which we focus represents the investments. That is why you will hear me, in continuation, speaking about the accelerated economic growth. We cannot afford thinking differently,’’ the minister said.   

Minister Dumitru Alaiba stressed that, in the last years, the authorities had made efforts to improve the country rating. ‘’This is the most important indicator for the financial markets and institutional investors. The better the rating is, the more attractive and stable the country is, the lower the financing cost is. I am happy that our effort of at least three years yields tangible results,’’ Dumitru Alaiba added.     

Fitch Ratings is one of the three nationally recognized statistical rating organizations designated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in 1975.