Moldova’s development partners met yesterday, 8 October 2015 in Chisinau to discuss the prospects of regional development in our country and opportunities to support concrete projects in the field.
Vasile Bîtca, Minister of Regional Development and Construction thanked in his opening speech the Development partners for their support in promoting regional development policy, both through financial and technical assistance. ‘I want to remind that regional development policy was initiated and promoted by the Government of Moldova in the spirit of EU rules and practices, assuming certain obligations on its European path including through the Association Agreement. This policy is oriented towards reducing territorial imbalances in terms of socio-economic development. The process involves central and local public authorities, local communities and NGOs, which, through coordinated actions, ensure balanced territorial socio-economic development and directly supports development regions. Partners’ support in this area is important and beneficial, given the limited resources of the National Fund for Regional Development. Only through consolidated efforts we can accelerate the implementation of planned activities’, said Vasile Bîtca, Minister of Regional Development and Construction.
At the same time, the minister said that the event is a platform to exchange views with key development partners on results and challenges achieved in implementing the National Regional Development Strategy and presenting details on Regional Sector Programmes.
In this context, H.E. Pirkka Tapiola, Head of EU Delegation to the Republic of Moldova said that regional development is an essential element for a prosperous country. ‘The European Union supported regional development projects since 2000. Moldovan citizens must feel personally regional development projects’ results. What is needed now is that the regional development process have greater involvement of civil society and the private sector’, said H.E. Pirkka Tapiola.
Thomas Weithöner, head of Economy and Economic Cooperation section, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Republic of Moldova, said that Germany is one of the main partners for Moldova in terms of regional development projects, and since 2010 have been granted approximately EUR 20 million for Regional Development projects.
In turn, H.E. Marius Lazurca, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Romania to the Republic of Moldova, said that Romania supports regional development projects in Moldova since 2000. ‘It is very important that the authorities attach great importance to this area, in order to ensure that citizens receive quality water and sewerage services, waste management and energy efficiency in buildings’, said H.E. Marius Lazurca.
At the end of the meeting, development partners have expressed willingness to further support the balanced development of our country’s regions and possibility of launching new partnerships.
The presentation made by the Deputy Minister Anatol Usatii ‘Regional Development in the Republic of Moldova: Status quo and Prospects’ you can access HERE.
