Munteanu government promises investments in infrastructure: modernized roads, bridges across Prut, continuation of European Village, European Courtyard programmes

Prime Minister-designate Alexandru Munteanu, at the parliament’s plenary meeting, has said that the development of modern infrastructure was one of the central priorities of the future government, being essential for improving the quality of life and the country's economic competitiveness.

‘’Through significant investments in roads, railways, airports and bridges across  the Prut River, the government will pursue secure and fast connections of settlements and regions of the country, as well as better links with the European space. The modernization of public infrastructure and local services will bring each community living conditions close to European standards of mobility and comfort’’ Munteanu emphasized.

In the governing programme, the cabinet led by Alexandru Munteanu aims to modernize up to 3,000 kilometers of national and regional roads, so that the entire road network meets European standards. Another major goal is accelerating the construction of the Chisinau Beltway, aiming for the entire route to be completed by 2030. At the same time, the government plans to start the construction of four bridges across the Prut and complete the Ungheni–Ungheni bridge, which will ensure a strategic link with European infrastructure.

’’Good roads mean a strong economy, safety and opportunities for each settlement. We want each community of Moldova to be connected to the major development corridors’’ said the designated prime minister.

Alexandru Munteanu emphasized that investments in infrastructure would be carried out transparently, in partnership with external partners and with the involvement of local authorities.

"The road to Europe also runs through our highways too. Every kilometer of modernized road, every bridge and rehabilitated railway means a Moldova closer to European standards, more connected and more prosperous," Munteanu noted.

For his part, Acting Deputy Prime Minister Vladimir Bolea, who has coordinated the Ministry of Infrastructure and Regional Development (MIDR) so far and is set to continue his mandate in the new cabinet, said that, during 2021–2025, investments had been aimed at balanced regional development and improving access to basic public services.

"All these programmes will continue. Where there is no water, sewerage, road, nothing will work - neither businesses, nor welfare, nor decent life. Our objective has been and remains to provide equitable access to infrastructure and quality services," Bolea said.

He informed that the new government would continue and expand the European Village and "European Courtyard programmes, with investments of at least 9 billion lei in communities across the country.

’’Together with local authorities and the Congress of Local Authorities from Moldova (CALM), we will identify localities that urgently need modernized roads, which we will include in the projects carried out by MIDR, including with European support. Without strong local public administration, no reform has a real impact. The future of regional development lies in the authentic partnership between the state, local authorities and citizens’’ Bolea added.

Among other infrastructure objectives announced by the designated prime minister, there are the rehabilitation of the Cahul–Giurgiulesti railway segment and the electrification of the Iasi–Ungheni line; construction of the European gauge railway Ungheni–Chisinau and mobilization of resources for the rehabilitation of other railway segments; modernization of the Eugen Doga International Airport from Chisinau and transformation of the Marculesti International Airport into a regional logistics center; development of the Giurgiulesti port complex, in order to enhance the country's operational capacity and commercial connections.