PM, president of top European bank discuss opportunities of cooperation between Moldova and banking institution

Moldova will receive 150 million euros from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), to modernize the country's roads. The new funding adds to the previous assistance of 150 million euros, provided in 2024 for the improvement of roads’ infrastructure. Projects implemented in Moldova with EBRD’s support have been discussed by Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu and EBRD President Odile Renaud-Basso.

The officials said that the increase in assistance would allow the government to modernize and expand the M2 ring road of the municipality of Chisinau, rehabilitate the M1 Chisinau-Leuseni segment, which leads to the border with Romania, and acquire specialized equipment for a Road Asset Management System. The investment is part of a large road rehabilitation programme funded by the EBRD.

The prime minister referred to the importance of financial support and EBRD’s expertise for the Moldovan authorities, especially in terms of achieving the European agenda, implementing reforms in key sectors and attracting foreign investments into the country's economy. In the context, the PM emphasized the need to increase the capacity of funds’ absorption and of projects’ implementation in state institutions.

The sides analyzed new collaboration opportunities in such areas as energy, agriculture, waste management, public-private partnerships and support for small and medium-sized enterprises. Presently, there are 67 active projects, with a cumulative value of 1.1 million euros across various sectors, with approximately 24 per cent of the EBRD project portfolio directed toward the private sector.

The EBRD is the largest institutional investor in Moldova. In the last 3 years, the Bank has provided Moldova with 1.7 billion euros, in order to help mitigate the economic consequences of the war in Ukraine on the country's economy. In total, the EBRD has invested almost 2.9 billion euros in 193 projects in Moldova, with 64 per cent of the portfolio dedicated to infrastructure.