Romania becomes leading European donor, trading partner for Moldova

Chisinau, 21 July /MOLDPRES/ - Romania allocated 70.3 million dollars to Moldova in 2014 for assistance projects, and thus became the second bilateral donor after the United States, and third on the overall list of donors after the USA (121.5 million) and European Union (116.8 million), according to a press release by the Romanian Embassy to Moldova.

Romania's contribution consisted of financial transfers dedicated to various projects with a major social impact, such as "renovating and equipping kindergartens (with a total budget of 23 million euro; over half of Moldovan preschool children benefit from this project), rehabilitation of the Institute for Mother and Child Health Care or the renovation of cultural landmarks (Organ Hall, National Museum of Fine Arts, both Chisinau-based, and the Cahul-based B. P. Hasdeu Theatre)".

The Romanian Embassy also said that Romania had donated 100 school buses, five fully equipped ambulances to carry out Mobile Emergency Service for Resuscitation and Extrication (SMURD) missions, 50 cars for central public administration as well as buses for more theatres in 2014. Furthermore, significant sums were allocated for young Moldovans to participate in annual programmes for free schooling in Romania, and for the transfer of expertise in various fields for central and local authorities, particularly on topics relevant to European integration.

During the last two years, Romania became the main market for Moldovan goods, deliveries to this market exceeding exports to Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) markets in the first five months of 2015, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. Romania's share in total Moldovan exports amounted to 22.2 per cent compared with 17 per cent in the same period of the previous year.

Trade with Romania, the largest foreign trade partner of Moldova, increased by almost one billion dollars in the period 2010 - 2014, reaching 1.6 billion dollars.

Thus, Romania consolidates its position as strongest supporter of the Moldova’s efforts on the European path, having major economic and social impact on the welfare of the population, added the Romanian Embassy.

(Reporter V. Bercu, Editor M. Jantovan)