By bne IntelliNews The industrial production index in Moldova (chart) contracted by 3.6% y/y in 2023, after a 5.0% decline in 2022, the statistics bureau announced. The activity in the core manufacturing sector contracted by 5.3% y/y in 2023. Moldova’s industrial facilities had to reduce operations dramatically in the winter of 2022 to 2023, as the natural gas resources were limited and costly. The first annual positive growth rates were thus seen (partly on low base effects) in Q4, 2023: +8.3% y/y in October and +11% y/y in December. The outlook remains, however, gloomy although more affordab…