Moldovan economics and infrastructure ministry sums up results of 2018 year

Chisinau, 17 December /MOLDPRES/ - The Economics and Infrastructure Ministry today presented the results of its work for 2018.   

At a news conference, Economics and Infrastructure Minister Chiril Gaburici enumerated the priorities set for this year: creation of a strong economy, reorganization of the state’s institutions, better services for citizens, repair and construction of national roads, facilitating the transport, ensuring the energy security, creation of jobs and attraction of investors.  

„A great deal of these goals has been achieved. The national economy has recorded a four-per cent growth. At the same time, improvements have been registered in the industrial sector. During January-September 2018, a 13.5-per cent increase in investments was recorded, which represents 12.9 billion lei. The foreign trade registered an 18.7-per cent increase and the import grew by 21.6 per cent. According to data, 70 per cent of the exports go the European Union,” Gaburici said.   

Also, the economics minister noted that, this year, the governance had managed to repair 1,600 km of roads. “Earlier, during nine years, 1,047 km of roads have been  repaired. Next year, we are set to repair 2,600 km and the preparation works will be initiated as early as in January 2019,” Gaburici said.  

At the same time, the official specified that ministry’s representatives were carrying out negotiations on the Free Trade Agreement with China. “The economic relations with the USA, United Arab Emirates, Romania and Belarus have been boosted. Also, in 2018, we have nine new residents in the free economic zones, which allowed creating 3,200 new jobs and the investments amount to 45 million dollars. At the same time, till 2019, the gas connection Iasi-Ungheni-Chisinau will be made, which will represent an alternative source of gas and will allow us renegotiate the prices,” Gaburici noted.

The minister stressed that more than 66 million lei had been allocated for medical institutions, kindergartens and schools. Nine air routes have been launched and the transport with Turkey was liberalized. Gaburici unveiled as progress: the launch of the 112 Single Emergency Service and creation of the first IT park, which includes 300 residents, with 6,000 employees, who get salaries beginning with 23,000 lei. An important fact was also the launch of the project Chisinau Arena, which is to inaugurated on 14 October 2019.   

For his part, the state general secretary at the Economics and Infrastructure Ministry, Iulia Costin, presented the results achieved in the business sector. “Over 500 enterprises benefited from non-refundable financing worth over 70 million lei. We managed to back more than 200 enterprises led by women, with a support of about 28 million lei. We approved the programme, Start for Young People, the priority of which is to start and develop businesses. Presently, there are 11 business incubators, which allowed creating about 1,000 jobs. Also this year, the governance managed to create two regional clusters, in the Soroca and Cahul districts. We will continue the pro-business initiatives, so that citizens remain at home and those who left abroad return,” Costin added.   

In the end, the management of the ministry thanked the government and parliament colleagues for the support of the initiatives and projects carried out. “We will continue efforts to further get important results, so that Moldova grows and the citizens have a better living here, at home,” Chiril Gaburici said.