World Bank to provide 80 million dollars to restore local roads in Moldova

Chisinau, 12 April /MOLDPRES/- Prime Minister Pavel Filip met World Bank Country Manager for Moldova Alex Kremer and exchanged opinions about evolutions of social and economic development of Moldova, as well as the partnership framework between Moldova and World Bank (WB), the government’s communication and media relations department has reported.

The two officials remarked the dynamic character of the bilateral relations and opportunities of strengthening cooperation between government and WB. Kremer pointed out the WB’s interest to back economic and institutional reforms, as well as improving living conditions of Moldovan people.

The sides discussed the Moldovan representatives’ participation in a spring session of International Monetary Fund (IMF) and WB due in Washington on 15-17 April, as well as perspectives for negotiating a new agreement with IMF. Kremer welcomed the recent approval of the laws on strengthening independence of the National Bank of Moldova and National Commission of Financial Market, and expressed satisfaction with the authorities’ cooperation on preparation of a new project on declaration of assets and personal interests.

The premier appreciated Performance analysis and learning lessons, document elaborated by the WB experts, representing a summary of implementing the partnership strategy with Moldova for 2014-2017. “The set findings fully reflect our concerns. I ordered to deeply consider all assessments and to elaborate an action plan for achieving results unsettled in implementation”, he said.

Filip noted that regaining trust of development partners was extremely important, and unlocking foreign assistance would boost the pace of implementing the reform agenda.

The officials also referred to technical issues related to preparation and launch of projects funded by the WB. In the context, Kremer informed that a financing agreement on project for improving local roads had been signed. It sees providing assistance worth 80 million dollars for projects on local roads restoration (over 300 km). It is to be signed and ratified by the Moldovan authorities.

The officials approach issues on implementation of projects related to reforms for modernizing fiscal system and energy sector, as well as preparation of a new project on budget support in perspective of signing a new agreement with IMF.

(Editor A. Răileanu)