Interview with Valerian Bînzaru, head of the General Directorate of Regional Development within the Ministry of Regional Development and Construction

The fourth international conference on overcoming regional disparities, with previous editions held in Serbia, Macedonia and Montenegro, gathered in Chisinau several experts from different countries, including from the Republic of Moldova, for an exchange of experience in regional development.

The conference was attended by participants from 20 countries, as well as by national experts, who formed four working groups that addressed different topics and issues. Their aim was to identify mechanisms that would facilitate effective implementation of regional development policy.

– Mr Bînzaru, what kind of changes do we need both in the legal framework and in the mechanism for implementing projects in order to have significant improvements?

One problem is the lack of effective collaboration in the implementation of projects and association of activities of the available funds. This aspect can be eased once changing legislation. We have proposed to make regional development policy inter-sectorial, and the association of activities of funds to be identified as a priority issue.

In many ministries there are funds for regional development projects, the problem is that there is no national coordination.

– What will derive from synergy of funds we are talking about?

This inter-sectorial approach will give us new opportunities. For example, to participate together with the Ministry of Environment in projects of water supply and sanitation from a fund, to finance the construction of the water pipe, and from another fund – the construction of sewerage networks and treatment plants. In the association process it can be identified more collaborative methods that would increase the efficiency of financial resources’ use and exclusion of double financing risk of investment projects.

– I would like you to tell us who identifies the projects that need to be made ​​a priority in the regions of the Republic of Moldova?

Regarding the identification of projects, we started by training local public authorities. They were explained the principles and modalities of projects development and the list of their selection criteria.

As a result, following the steps of selection at national and regional level, out of 208 projects submitted by local public authorities, there were selected less than a third, they are largely aimed at improving the physical infrastructure. We can say that there is fair competition at the level of the local and regional public authorities.

– How many will be implemented this year?

In 2014, 41 projects will be implemented. Of these, nine are funded by our partners from Germany and the other 32 from the National Fund for Regional Development.

– What solution was found by the working groups in order to help the funding of regional development projects in an effective way?

At this moment, work is done in order to develop regional sector programmes for each area. By the end of the year, the programmes are to be approved by Regional Development Councils. These programmes will be the chief book of our agencies in attracting funds from the EU and other development partners. At the moment, we capitalize all resources allocated from the National Fund for Regional Development and foreign partners. For example, this year, we received from Germany EUR five million, money that we need to use for the proposed projects. However, for a more efficient collaboration, it is necessary to mention again the importance of funds synergy.

– In what way regional development policy supports economic dimension of growth and jobs’ creation?

Here I would like to highlight the priority projects in regional development by building infrastructure for free economic zones, industrial parks and business incubators. What we do today is to create conditions and conduct infrastructure projects such as access roads, water and sanitation for free economic zones and offer this economic zone the option to work.

And after the creation and development of these areas, new jobs’ opportunities arise. Sounds good, but will be even better when we see people happy because they were employed in their country and do not need to go abroad.

 

Interview by Svetlana Panta