State Secretary for Reintegration: Revenue from taxes imposed in Transnistrian region will return to population through Convergence Fund

The Convergence Fund will help strengthen social, healthcare and education support for citizens of the Republic of Moldova in the Transnistrian region, while the revenue collected through the gradual introduction of taxes for businesses operating in the region will return to the population in the form of concrete benefits. State Secretary for Reintegration Ivan Țurcan made the statements during “În context” program on Moldova 1.

The official said that the draft government decision on the Convergence Fund, including its operating regulations, had been submitted for public consultation until November 2. According to him, the mechanism aims to strengthen the support provided to residents of the Transnistrian region, as more and more citizens are requesting public services offered by the constitutional authorities.


“Chișinău takes care of its own citizens, regardless of their place of residence. The overwhelming majority of people in the Transnistrian region are citizens of the Republic of Moldova with valid documents, which means that we are already actively providing public services. We are referring to social, healthcare, education and other types of support. We are seeing a continuously growing interest among our citizens from the Transnistrian region. The trend shows that the numbers are doubling and tripling over relatively short periods, which is why this support needs to be strengthened, particularly in the education, healthcare and social sectors,” Ivan Țurcan said.


He explained that the Convergence Fund is linked to the process of gradually introducing taxes for businesses operating in the Transnistrian region. According to him, approximately 2,500 businesses in the region had previously not paid VAT or excise duties, and the application of these taxes is to be expanded gradually.


“As is known, the first taxes for businesses from the Republic of Moldova operating in the Transnistrian region came into force on September 1. There are approximately 2,500 of them. Until September 1 of this year, they did not pay taxes. From now on, they will pay only customs duties. They did not pay VAT or excise duties. From now on, these taxes will be introduced gradually, and through the Convergence Fund we aim to strengthen support and assistance in these areas for citizens of the Republic of Moldova,” the official said.


Țurcan emphasized that the purpose of the fund is not to accumulate a certain amount of money, but to ensure concrete benefits for citizens and gradually bring the economic rules applied on both banks of the Dniester closer together.


“What matters in this context is the process itself, the fact that gradual economic reintegration is taking place and that we are bringing fairness to businesses on both banks. Regardless of everything, Chișinău will support its own citizens. The goal is not the size of the fund, especially since the taxes collected are being introduced gradually. The goal is to provide confidence that what is collected from these taxes will be converted into concrete benefits for the citizens of the Republic of Moldova. The money will return to the Transnistrian region,” he said.


Some of the benefits envisaged could involve expanding access to healthcare and social services. In this regard, the authorities have proposed opening a Family Doctors’ Center and social services in the building of Moldsilva Agency in Tighina (Bender), where space is available.

According to Țurcan, the initiative would allow residents of the region to obtain services closer to home and reduce the time and costs associated with travel. He noted that in the village of Varnița, more than 15,000 citizens of the Republic of Moldova from the Transnistrian region seek medical services, placing considerable pressure on medical institutions near the region.

Regarding the proposal involving Moldsilva building, the official said that it is still under consideration and that the authorities in Chișinău are awaiting developments in discussions with Tiraspol. He expressed cautious optimism about the possibility of implementing the initiative.

The Convergence Fund is being established in the context of gradual economic reintegration and the expansion of residents’ access to public services provided by the authorities of the Republic of Moldova.

The fund will be managed by a council headed by Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration Valeriu Chiveri, with representatives of the ministries and agencies responsible for proposing and implementing programs as members. Social assistance may be transferred to accounts opened with banks in the Republic of Moldova, while companies and non-governmental organizations will not receive direct grants or subsidies from the fund. Funding may also come from external sources.

Project implementation will be conditional on the authorities’ ability to carry out the work without impediments and verify the results at every stage. The next stages for applying VAT and excise duties to businesses in the Transnistrian region are scheduled for January and April 2027.