Chisinau hosts international conference on housing-related issues

Chisinau, 8 September /MOLDPRES/ - Chisinau hosts a two-day international conference titled „Strengthening national capacities for sustainable housing and urban development”. During the event, more experts will present solutions to improve the situation in the sector.

At the forum's opening, Regional Development and Constructions Minister Vasile Bitca said that about 80 per cent of blocks of flats from Moldova had been built before 1993. “Therefore, we have an old housing fund and most blocks of flats do not comply with the new energy efficiency standards and regulations,” Bitca said.

For her part, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Moldova, UNDP Resident Representative Dafina Gercheva said that the UN and UNDP would back the Moldovan government to implement a viable programme due to ensure the sustainable development of dwellings.

According to a survey conducted by foreign experts, the Moldovan towns and cities are endowed with aqueduct and sewerage, heating and hot water supply systems at a level of 85 per cent, whereas the rural regions are covered with such facilities in a quota of 20 per cent. Specialists made an analyses of the situation in the area and worked out recommendations, on the basis of which an action plan will be developed, meant to improve the situation.

The conference is organised by the Regional Development and Constructions Ministry, Academy of Public Administration, in partnership with UN-Habitat, UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). The conference fits into a UN project meant to support sustainable houses and urban development, implemented in four countries with economies in transition, namely Moldova, Armenia, Serbia and Tajikistan in 2014-2017.

(Reporter L. Grubii, editor M. Jantovan)