European Union invests 32 million euros in rehabilitation of North-South railway corridor in Moldova

Chisinau, 8 November /MOLDPRES/ - The European Union will invest, as grant, 32 million euros in the rehabilitation of the North-South railway corridor from Moldova – an essential project for the country’s connectivity with the international transport networks. The funds will back the modernization of the railway infrastructure and the companies Obermeyer Hellas (Greece) and DB Engineering&Consulting (Germany) will provide services of support in the supervising of the rehabilitation works, thus contributing to Moldova’s integration into the European transport networks.    

At a ceremony held at the headquarters of the Infrastructure and Regional Development Ministry (MIDR) today, in the presence of the state secretary in the transports sector, Mircea Pascaluta, a consultancy contract was signed between the Railway of Moldova (CFM) and a representative of the companies  Obermeyer Hellas and DB Engineering&Consulting,  which won the tender for the providing of services of support in the implementation and supervision of the works of rehabilitation of the North-South railway corridor: Vălcineț-Ocnița-Bălți-Ungheni-Chișinău-Căinari.     

The project is part of the Solidarity Corridors initiative, launched by the European Union and which benefits from substantial financial support on behalf of the latter. To revitalize the North-South segment, the maximal support provided by EU is of 32 million euros. The funds will be used for the modernization of an essential railway segment, which provides the connection between the northern and central regions of Moldova, as well as with the international transport networks.     

„This project is of vital importance for the development of the railway infrastructure of Moldova and the financial support provided by the European Union represents a significant step towards our country’s integration into the European transport networks. The cooperation with famous European partners will contribute to the modernization of our infrastructure and will facilitate the essential economic connections for our future,’’ Mircea Pascaluta said at the ceremony.  

The North-South railway corridor will be rehabilitated on a distance of 375 km, of which 128 km is in an unsatisfactory state and will be repaired with the European Union’s support. The rehabilitated segment will provide the connection with the industrial environment placed in the northern and central Moldova, as well as with the free economic zones from Marculesti, Balti, Ungheni and Chisinau.   

Also, the export, import and transit goods from Romania and Ukraine are carried out on the aforementioned corridor. At the same time, this corridor makes connection with the railway corridor Cainari-Cimislia-Basarabeasca-Giurgiulesti, being used also for the logistics of the goods reloaded in Danube ports and on the Black Sea.   

The project is essential for Moldova’s connectivity, facilitating the export, import and transit of goods between Romania, Ukraine and Moldova. For its implementation, Moldova’s parliament ratified the Agreement on loan on behalf of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) worth 23 million  euros, the Contract on financing ion behalf of the European Investment Bank (EIB) worth 41.205 million euros and the Amendment to the Agreement on loan on behalf of EBRD worth 18.205 million euros.