European Investment Bank to support Moldova with technical assistance, consultancy services

Chisinau, 17 October /MOLDPRES/ - The European Investment Bank’s (EIB) department specialized in financing for development , EIB Global, today signed a memorandum of understanding with Moldova’s government, in the context of the Moldova Support Platform conference of donors. The memorandum’s goal is to provide services of consultancy and technical assistance, in order to promote investments projects in key sectors, such as transport, energy, environment and micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).        

As a result of the regional instability triggered by the war in Ukraine, Moldova will benefit from support up to 15 per cent of the EIB’s technical assistance and consultancy, worth 100 million euros, financed from its own funds. The package, as part of the EU for Ukraine initiative of the Bank, will be at the basis of the priority investments of improvement and resilience in Ukraine and Moldova. It is meant to help the two countries overcome the challenges caused by Russia’s war against Ukraine, providing, at the same time, vital backing on the period of pre-accession to EU.  

„Russia’s continuous war against Ukraine hits Moldova deeply and extensively. In the capacity of EU’s bank, we extend the unconditional support provided to Moldova. Our goal is to catalyze Moldova’s economic improvement and facilitate its preparation for accession to EU. Aligned with the national priorities and needs of Moldova, EIB stays firm in the commitment to the country, especially in contributing to boosting the long-term essential political reforms and covering the urgent infrastructure needs. I am sure that the present commitment to provide services of consultancy and technical assistance will allow us developing projects with high impact for the country, which will not only help Moldova overcome the challenges of these difficult times, but will also speed up its way towards the accession to EU,’’ the EIB deputy president in charge of the bank’s operations in Moldova, Teresa Czerwińska, said.      

For his part, Moldovan Government’s Secretary General Artur Mija thanked the European Investment Bank for partnership and the signing of this memorandum. ‘’The consultative and technical support is essential in the preparation and implementation of projects of crucial importance for priority sectors, such as the transport, energy, environment and small- and medium-sized enterprises. These initiatives are vital, significantly contributing to the well-being of our citizens and to the development of Moldova as we advance on the way of integration into EU,’’ Artur Mija said.     

Since the starting of its work in Moldova in 2007, EIB has directed 1.19 billion euros for 33 projects, backing EU’s policy goals in more sectors, such as transport, energy, SMEs, agriculture and municipal infrastructure. The 2022 year was a record one for EIB in Moldova, providing new loans worth 250 million euros, signed with the public sector. In 2023, the Bank provided its first corporate loan in Moldova, a project worth 30 million euros with Premier Energy Distribution – the main private operator of electric energy distribution in Moldova, with the goal to improve the quality and reliability of the electric energy network.