A consortium of French companies is implementing a project to modernize the Chisinau-Ungheni railway line, new French companies are planning investments in tourism and distribution in Moldova, and the Proparco division will provide a loan for micro-credit to small and medium-sized enterprises.
This is stated in a joint statement by French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of Moldova Nicu Popescu, disseminated following their meeting in Chisinau. In the document, the parties noted that they are satisfied with the decision of the French Development Agency to work in Moldova, which will strengthen France's contribution to the implementation of public policy and sustainable development in three sectors: reforestation and irrigation; modernization of water supply and sewerage systems; energy (interconnection of power grids and ensuring energy efficiency of buildings). It is planned that the French Development Agency will organize a mission to identify projects in September, and feasibility studies will begin shortly. It is also underlined that Proparco, a subsidiary of the French Development Agency, is preparing to provide a loan this year to a Moldovan institution specializing in microcredit for small and medium-sized enterprises. The statement says that France reaffirms its support for the reform program proposed by the new Moldovan government, and Expertise France will continue to actively participate in the EU's (Team Europe) actions to support justice reform. A high-ranking French expert will soon be assigned to the administration of the President of Moldova. Also, the Foreign Ministers of Moldova and France, in a joint statement, welcomed the readiness for cooperation between the Supreme Body for Transparency of State Activities (HATVP) and the National Integrity Authority of Moldova, as well as the visit of the Director of the French Anti-Corruption Agency with a technical mission to Moldova next month. The parties also welcomed the commitment of France and Moldovan NGOs to support freedom of the press by implementing training programs for Moldovan journalists specialized in combating disinformation. The Foreign Ministers of Moldova and France reaffirmed their commitment to expanding the study of the French language in Moldova, a member country of Francophonie, and their readiness to give a new impetus to bilingual French-speaking education in Moldova. At the same time, France reaffirms its full support for stability in Moldova, strengthening the rule of law, combating corruption and consolidating democracy, transformations favorable for European stability and necessary for the implementation of the Association Agreement between the Republic of Moldova and the EU.// 02.09.2021 — InfoMarket
