South Moldova official says people represent power of Gagauz-Yeri autonomy's development region

Interview given exclusively with the MOLDPRES State News Agency by Director of the Gagauz-Yeri Autonomous Territorial Unit’s (UTA) Regional Development Agency Valeri Ianioglo

MOLDPRES: The 2018 year will remain in history as the year of many important reforms and projects. To what extent they regard the Development Region you lead?

Valeri Ianioglo: Certainly, this was a year full of important events for us as well. The Regional Development Agency (ADR) from UTA Gagauz-Yeri was set up as late as in mid-2016, i.e. much later than similar agencies of the country or, in 2018, we managed to outstrip this delay. We managed to catch up with the colleagues from other regions, especially in terms of working out strategic documents, beginning with their carrying out. This fact allowed us to discuss, along with eventual donors, with concrete data, issues of regional development. If we take into account the fact that such activities have not been carried out earlier, then, of course, these are reforms. Namely in the context of the launch of projects, we managed to start a new concept of promotion and development of our region.     

M.: To what extent have you managed to implement the plans set in early 2018?

V.I.: We have managed to carry out all which we planned to do, even if it seemed that our plans are too ambitious. Along with the development partners, by involving experts in the regional development sector, we elaborated a string of programmes in important sectors, such as: developing the infrastructure of backing businesses in UTA Gagauz-Yeri on the period 2017-2022 (six projects); development of the  infrastructure of local and regional roads on the period 2018-2025 (five projects); development of the sector of supply with water and sewerage on the period 2018-2025 (nine projects); energy optimization of public buildings (eight projects); enhancing the region’s tourism attractiveness on the period 2019-2025 (ten projects).  

We rely much on the package of concepts of projects, created by agency’s specialists, approved by working groups, and afterwards by the regional board of UTA Gagauz-Yeri. It is worth mentioning that we have promising long-term projects with impact, which will stimulate the economic growth of the Gagauz region.    

At present, a project on waste management is carried out in the Vulcanesti district, which will be component part of the national programme on liquidation of waste in the zone No 1. With the support of the programme, Support to Agriculture and Rural Development in UTA Gagauzia and Taraclia district (SARD), financed by the European Union, we managed to buy more than 3,000 containers for waste, which are distributed to households from the settlement. We also purchased two special vehicles for evacuating waste. All this allows changing the mentality of the people, which more and more understand the importance of the cleanliness of the environment.   

I cannot but remind also the completion of the project which provided for the development of infrastructure and construction of a road of access to the business incubator from the Ceadar-Lunga town. It enhanced the attractiveness of the structure for economic operators – five new residents appeared and 141 jobs were created.  

The ADR UTA Gagauz-Yeri has also a decisive role in the construction of the industrial park from the Comrat municipality. In 2018, 16.6 million lei was turned to account within this project. A half of this financing was allocated from the local budget. The works are carried out according to a joint schedule with the foreign investor, Fujikura company, and an important production line is planned to be launched in the first quarter of this year.  

M.: Please, name three main reasons which, according to you, hindered the carrying out of reforms and development of the Gagauz region?  

V.I.: The Regional Development Agency UTA Gagauz-Yeri carries out its activity in more complicated conditions. This development region differs from the other ones. Territorially, it coincides with the borders of the Gagauz autonomy and therefore, it has some distinctive notes. I would say that there is a kind of jealousy on behalf of representatives of the executive power from UTA Gagauz-Yeri. They seem to see a competitor in us.  

At the same time, according to the number of residents, the UTA Gagauz-Yeri Development Region is the smallest one; therefore, we have less financial means from the National Regional Development Fund. This fact prompts us to look for alternative possibilities of financing projects. Also, the agency has not managed, for the time being, to find partners for carrying out projects in the Black Sea zone. We face a kind of suspicious attitude towards Gagauzians and UTA Gagauzia, in general. Nevertheless, this does not stop us and we are presently working much to fit into cross-border cooperation programmes.    

M.: In your opinion, which would be three elements making you confident that the economic situation will improve in the region you lead?  

V.I.: First of all, I find out that an infrastructure of backing the entrepreneurship is successfully created and this fact will necessarily yield positive results. To this end, we have a very good concept and if we manage to attract the serious business in its implementation, then I am sure that this will be the most attractive point of development of the Gagauz autonomy.   

Secondly, we are happy with the fact that free economic zones have been created in three towns of the autonomy, which will play an important role in the growth and development of the regions’ economy. And thirdly, the goal of our programme for the development of tourism in the region pursues namely the economic growth. Each concept implies possibilities for carrying out more projects, meant to turn more active the residents, attract investments, boost the reanimation of traditions, culture of Gagauz, famous through vine growing and wine making, cuisine, namely through the light of developing tourism, etc.    

M.: Which would be the strong, as well as the weak points of the UTA Gagauz-Yeri region?   

V.I.: The strongest component of the Development Region UTA Gagauz-Yeri represents its residents, most of them Gagauzians, who, due to the ethnic specific feature, make possible the carrying out of any project. A negative factor would be that the region is excessively politicized, which complicates the cooperation and implementation of projects through support and joint efforts, by joining means of the National Regional Development Fund and the ones of the local administration, meant for capital constructions. I believe that changes are necessary at the level of country to this end and the joint management of ecological, energy efficiency, regional development funds will allow the public money to be spent more efficiently.    

M.: What are your priorities for 2019?

V.I.: Our priorities will be the same in the year which has recently started too. In 2017, we worked out a strategy of the region’s development till 2020. We have also a plan on the implementation of this strategy. We will make a detailed analysis of our work for carrying out this strategy and we will begin preparing another document, due to envisage the implementation of national strategies. We will further make efforts to participate in cross-border cooperation projects, as well as in implementation of projects included in the single document of programme for 2017-2020. In 2019, we will pay increased attention to train local public administration bodies, according to programmes working on the territory of Moldova. We will also pay maximum of attention to cooperation with potential donors, in the context of preparing more projects, due to be included in the next single programme document.     

M.: Thank you for the interview given and we wish you great success!