Tiraspol, 30 June. /Novosti Pridnestrovya/. Pridnestrovie's economic downturn is explained by global and regional negative trends, the first deputy prime minister, Alevtina Slinchenko, said during a news conference. She noted that the Supreme Council's negative assessment of government activities in 2015 was based, among other factors, on the macroeconomic indicators that had worsened over a year. However, according to Alevtina Slinchenko, such a situation in 2015 had not been characteristic of Pridnestrovie only, but also of its nearest trade partners, and what is more, Pridnestrovie's economic downturn had been caused in many respects by negative economic processes of its partner states.
«Our country is not separated from the rest of the world. Our economy is not closed — we have trading relations with over 90 countries of the world, and it is natural that the global situation affects all indicators, including the general macroeconomic indicators of our country," noted Alevtina Slinchenko.
According to the minister, the analysis of certain figures shows that the economic crisis is not only Pridnestrovie-based, but is at least a regional negative trend.
«The analysis reveals that the rate of retail turnover decreased by 26.4% in the PMR, by 20.7% in Moldova, by 38.5% in Ukraine and by slightly over 34% in Russia, said Alevtina Slinchenko.
Almost the same is the case with a decline in gross domestic product per capita. It dropped by 21.8% in Pridnestrovie, by 18.1% in Ukraine and by 35.8% in Russia.
The analysis also notes negative trends in the foreign economic activities of both Pridnestrovie and its major partners. «Our country's exports fell by 14.6%. Export operations decreased by 16% in Moldova, by 27% in Ukraine and 31.5% in Russia," said the minister.
The same is the case with imports. Moldova imported 25% less goods in 2015 than in 2014. In Ukraine this rate fell by 29% and in Russia by 37%. Pridnestrovie's imports decreased by 30.4% in terms of prices. However, according to Alevtins Slinchenko, this is due to the fact that our country chiefly imports goods from the countries that devalued their national currencies in 2015, which means their goods are much cheaper.
«As for the imports of legal entities in quantitative terms, the dynamics remains on the level of 2014," said the minister.
According to her, it is not the first time when Pridnestrovie experiences the negative influence of global and regional economic recessions. As a result of the 2008−2009 crisis, caused by turmoil in the US banking sphere, the PMR also experienced a considerable economic decline. «In 2009 a decline in production volume and retail turnover was even greater. Thus, the production volume dropped by 26% in 2009 against 15% in 2016," said Slinchenko. Besides, Pridnstrovie's retail turnover was down 26% in 2015 and 36% in 2009, according to the minister.
Seven years ago, however, crisis phenomena were overcome thanks to a considerable amount of free financial resources, which Pridnestrovie lacked in 2015. «There was an anti-crisis programme back then, but it was secured with funding sources both in general and for the support of enterprises and for the granting of credits. The aggregate value of the programme was estimated at 850−900 million roubles," concluded the minister.
