On October 25, 2013, a group of 15 journalists from the national and local media visited several localities where projects of the Regional Development Agency South (RDA South) are implemented. The study visit was organized by the Independent Press Association (IPA) under a project to promote regional development in the media’s agenda, funded by the German Development Cooperation through GIZ.
The journalists visited four projects of RDA South. The first destination was the sport tourism center in Causeni, the largest gym in the country, with an area of six thousand square meters, built under “Promoting the region’s image through sports tourism” project. The total cost of the project exceeded 42 million lei, including 1 million allocated by the National Fund for Regional Development (NFRD) and 11 million – by Causeni rayon Council. The journalists wondered who the beneficiaries would be and what sources would be used for the maintenance of the gym. Vladimir Iurco, the gym’s director, said: „It will be a regional sports hall, 17 coaches will work here and various sport sections will be opened for children and athletes from Căuşeni, Ştefan-Vodă and Cimişlia rayons. The Center will be accessible to other citizens as well, they will be able to purchase fitness cards”. He also explained that the maintenance costs would reach three million lei annually, and the necessary sources would be allocated by Causeni rayon council and by service providers.
The second project visited by journalists was implemented in Zaim village, Causeni rayon, and provided for construction of an access road to the Museum-house “Alexei Mateevici”. 330 meters of road were built under the project, to facilitate the access of tourists to the museum. Ion Gaina, the director of the museum, says there are about 100-200 people from Moldova coming here daily, and it is also often visited by foreigners. Thus, the rehabilitation of the access road was extremely necessary. The project cost was about 1.5 million lei, funds allocated by the NFRD.
The third destination of the visit was “Renovation of Stefan Voda – Talmaza Road” project, providing for rehabilitation of a road segment of 7 km. Andrei Rusnac, technical officer from the State Enterprise SABOS, is convinced that a repaid road will always bring benefits both to people and to economy overall. The budget of this project amounted to about 48 million 800 thousand lei, of which 41 million 800 thousand lei – NFRD contribution and 7 million lei – the contribution of Stefan Voda Rayon Council.
The last stop made by journalists was in Sagaidac Nou village, Cimislia rayon, assisting in commissioning of the road that connects Codreni village to the national road M3, with a length of 4.8 km. Present at the opening event, the local residents expressed their satisfaction with the fact that there was a good road in their village and they would be able to forget about the mud that was previously present there.
Svetlana Panta, reporter at “Jurnal de Chisinau” newspaper, says the study visit was interesting and useful to her as a journalist and the newspaper readers will be interested to read about regional development projects. “I think I have material for at least three articles for our readers”, she underlined.
In the near future, the IPA will organize two more study visits for journalists and bloggers to Center and North RDAs. Also, a number of “media clubs” will be organized for journalists on regional development topic.
For additional information:
tel.: (22) 22-09-95 (contact person – Rodica Malic)
The study visit was conducted with the support of “Modernization of Local Public Services in Moldova” Project, from sources provided by the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The project is implemented by the German International Cooperation through GIZ in partnership with the Ministry of Regional Development and Construction.
