Moldovan PM participates in Invest Găgăuzia 2020 international forum

Chisinau, 23 October /MOLDPRES/ - Prime Minister Ion Chicu today participated in the international forum, Invest Gagauzia 2020, organized in Comrat on 23-24 October. The event is at its sixth issue and took place with the participation of the bashkan (governor) of the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia (UTA Gagauzia), Irina Vlah, ministers, representatives of the diplomatic corps and entrepreneurs. The forum’s mission is to attract investments into UTA Gagauzia, aimed at developing the region, the government’s communication and protocol department has reported.

In his speech, the PM said that, despite the difficulties faced by Moldova and the entire world because of the pandemic, Moldova and UTA Gagauzia are reviving, as massive investments are made and tens of construction sites are launched. This year alone, 220 million lei was allocated for the construction of roads in the southern region on a distance of 105 km.  

„These efforts, investments represent, first of all, an answer to this challenge and the principal instrument of the government to back the economy. These are massive investments in infrastructure, substantial spending in the social sector as well, so that the economy can develop and the state provides support through concrete actions. The development of infrastructure is the basic condition for the attraction of foreign investors in Moldova,’’ Chicu said.  

Also, the prime minister enumerated the advantages of the country for investors, noting the ‘’sound’’ financial and banking situation (Moldova has a low rate of the state’s borrowing), successful completion of the programme with the International Monetary Fund, which represents a solid criterion for the foreign community. ‘’We are at the final stage of signing a programme with IMF. We have every confidence on behalf of the development partners under this aspect as well,’’ Ion Chicu said.  

Another advantage represents the ambitious programme of the country’s industrialization, as the development of 18 multifunctional industrial platforms was launched in diverse districts this year.  

Bashkan Irina Vlah said that UTA Gagauzia was a dynamic and open region for business with partners from all over the world. The autonomy in the last two years has invested 4.5 million dollars in the development of free economic zones and over 1,500 jobs were created. ‘’We attract investments and develop the economic zones, create industrial hubs, develop the social infrastructure, schools, kindergartens and medical institutions, develop networks of aqueducts and gas pipelines, construct roads and bridges, learn to digitalize the processes. We carry out all these things with Moldova’s government and our partners,’’ the autonomy’s governor said.      

The PM highlighted the local public authorities’ role in the region’s development and appreciated their spirit of initiative and professionalism. Chicu also expressed thanks to the foreign development partners which continuously support Moldova.   

Attending the event, Ambassador of Turkey to Gürol Sökmensüer pointed out the progress registered by Moldova on the last period, stressing that Turkey was an important partner of the country. ‘’We will continue bringing the needed contribution to boosting the bilateral and commercial relations,’’ the Turkish official said.   

In 2019, the exports of UTA Gagauzia amounted to about two billion lei, accounting for 5.6 per cent of all goods exported by Moldova. As much as 54 per cent of Gagauzia’s goods were exported to European Union member states by 1,837 companies. ‘’We will further support the social and economic development of Moldova, including in the Gagauz region. The European Commission provided Moldova with assistance worth 87 million euros to overcome the long-term consequences triggered by the epidemiological crisis, so that all infrastructure projects and reforms underway be successfully finished,’’ Ambassador of the European Union to Moldova Peter Michalko said at a video message during the event.     

Photo source: Government