The Ministry of Regional Development and Construction (MRDC) launched today a new competition for projects to be financed from the National Fund for Regional Development (NFRD) during 2017-2020.

The competition is organised in compliance with Law no. 438 from 28.12.2006 on the regional development in the Republic of Moldova and aims at developing the regional economies, regional and local infrastructure and modernize local public services across the entire country.

‘Projects in the total amount of one billion lei will be selected for funding from NFRD. Thus, we wish to achieve a balanced and sustainable development of regions. We will combine the efforts and synergy of all parties involved at national and regional levels to avoid a narrow sector approach and to ensure conditions for economic recovery in the development regions’, said Vasile Bitca, minister of regional development and construction, during the launch of the call of proposals conference. Also, the minister pointed out that local public authorities (LPA) level I and II within North, Center, and South development regions, and ATU Gagauzia are eligible for this competition.

Valerian Binzaru, head of Division for Regional Development within MRDC, presented the main areas for funding, conditions of competition, deadlines for submission of project concepts and duration of competition.

‘From today and until 3 May 2016, the LPAs level I and II can submit project concept notes to the Regional Development Agencies. After that, other stages will follow: filling in of concepts notes, selection, and approval for funding. The whole process will take five months. The projects must fall under following categories: road infrastructure, water supply and sanitation, environmental factors improvement, business infrastructure development, enhancing tourist attraction and energy efficiency in public buildings. It is to be made clear, that if during the implementation of a project additional works, besides those foressen by technical design will appear, they will not be financed from NFRD’, underlined, Valerian Bînzaru.

Also, ministry officials pointed out that in all development regions a series of workshops will be organised to inform LPAs on the competition approaches, project evaluation conditions and criteria. In order to ensure maximum access to the competition provisions, user guidelines on submission of project proposals for funding from NFRD will be placed on the following websites: www.mdrc.gov.md, www.adrnord.md, www.adrcentru.md, www.adrsud.md.

Finally, minister Vasile Bitca urged citizens to mobilize their authorities to develop and submit projects that would address communities’ priority issues.