The MRDC signed a Memorandum of Understanding to improve people’s access to quality water

The Minister of Regional Development and Construction, Vasile Bitca, with the Minister of Environment, Valeriu Munteanu and Simone GIGER, Director of Cooperation of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, signed today a Memorandum of Understanding in order to implement the phase III of the Project “Water and Sanitation (ApaSan) in the Republic of Moldova”.

The document provides for ensuring appropriate conditions for successful implementation of a new phase of the project, its objective being to improve the sustainable access of the rural population in Moldova to quality drinking water and sanitation.

At the ceremony of signing the document, the Minister Vasile Bitca reiterated the importance of cooperation to improve the living conditions for the rural population and ensuring quality services.

“Providing better conditions for citizens of the country, particularly in the field of water and sanitation, is one of the priorities of the regional development policy and a strong commitment of the Ministry of Regional Development and Construction. Access to modern and quality services can be ensured only with joint efforts of ministries concerned and with support of the development partners. Thus, cooperation between institutions is essential”, the Minister Vasile Bitca said. The official also specified the importance of expanding the project throughout the country, noting that the project will reduce regional disparities.

In this context, the Minister of Environment made clear that to ensure public access in all localities of the country to quality water and adequate sanitation large investments in this field are needed. Currently the field concerned requires investment of about two billion euros.

At the same time, the Ministers thanked the development partners for their support and for effective cooperation, including for the willingness to financially support implementation of concrete projects.

Over the next 4 years, the period of implementation of the phase III of the Project, sector planning activities, dissemination of good practices at national and Rayon levels will be undertaken, and joint projects of water supply/sanitation will be implemented. The total cost of the phase III of the ApaSan Project makes up about 8 million of Swiss francs, of which 1 million francs is the contribution of the Austrian Development Agency (ADA).