A group of journalists from national and local media institutions visited on 30 April 2015 a few places where are realized development projects, implemented by South Regional Development Agency (South RDA). The visit was organized by API, a project which aims to increase the visibility of regional development programmes in the audio-visual media. Journalists from television and radio channels: Moldova 1, Canal Regional (NTS Taraclia and ATV Comrat), Aici TV/Elita TV, Radio Moldova and Radio Chisinau saw on spot how works are performed, in the context of regional development projects, and have also discussed with people from the localities, to find out what significance do these projects have for their communities.

In Cahul journalists visited Lacul Sarat (Salt Lake) which is rehabilitated under the project ‘Rehabilitation of rest and recreation area ‘Lacul Sarat’, Cahul town’. The project’s objectives are to develop tourism leisure infrastructure in the South Development Region, sustainable and balanced economic growth of the region, but also integration of the area in national and international tourist circuits.

Petru Burlacu, Mayor of Cahul town says that following the rehabilitation of the lake, 50,000 inhabitants of the city, visitors of ‘Nufarul Alb’ (550 persons/shift), tourists from the country and abroad will have benefits: ‘There are only three mineral springs as the one in Cahul across the globe, and we do not take full advantage of this; we have to capitalize and create an area where people would come from all over the world. Thanks to this project, after more than 30 years, Lacul Sarat area from Cahul town will get back its old image and become one of the few areas of leisure and entertainment in the South of the country, but also in the whole region’.

Sergiu Gosudareov, resident of the town says that he remembers how much visited used to be this lake: ‘People were coming from all over the region, and for us, residents, it was very good  … I am glad that the area will be rehabilitated, it will only bring benefits to all inhabitants and the city’ says the enthusiastic inhabitant.

Lacul Sarat area and the adjacent area offer unique natural features with opportunities for rehabilitation and treatment of a large number of musculoskeletal diseases, central nervous system, blood system etc. The project was initiated in 2013; works are to be completed by the end of 2015, and people will be coming here for treatment already in 2016. The project is financed by the National Fund for Regional Development (NFRD) with a total cost of MDL 12119, 4 million.

Also in South Development Region, journalists have seen the road built under the project ‘Construction of local road Saratica Noua-Tomaiul Nou, Leova rayon’. More than 1,900 residents of Saratica Veche and Campul Drept villages and all the inhabitants of Saratica Noua and Tomaiul Nou communes directly benefit of the road with the length of 3.8 km that connects the villages of Saratica Veche and Campul Drept, villages belonging to the above mentioned communes.

Mayor of Saratica Noua commune, Mihail Raevschi says that the link between the two villages before was a country road that was practically impassable: ‘Even though these two villages are so close, there was no connection between them, and people were forced to complete a 29-km road, when they go now just 4 km. The value of this road is priceless for residents, it also cut short the access to Leova town’ explains the mayor.

Alexandru Bejenari, resident of Saratica Veche village, who was travelling to the neighboring village by tractor, using the new road, said that the road makes their life and work easier: ‚This road made our life easier, a new road to a village means lot, now we reach faster the neighboring village and rayon, and until recently we had to travel about 24 km extra and fuel costs were higher’ said the resident.

The road in white variant was built in nine months and costs MDL 10,476 850.0, the amount allocated from NFRD.

For two weeks, during 22-30 April 2015, the group of journalists visited six projects implemented by Centre, North and South Regional Development Agencies.

The visit took place within the project ‚Increasing the visibility of regional development programmes in audio-visual media’ funded by the German Development Cooperation through GIZ and based on a partnership and cooperation agreement signed by API and Ministry of Regional Development and Construction.