The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is lending €68.2 million to create sustainable infrastructure for new urban areas in Chisinau
The sub-sovereign loan will be complemented by a €1.9 million investment grant and supported by the European Union, which is providing first loss risk coverage. The bank's press release notes that 800,000 residents of Chisinau currently suffer from traffic congestion, unpredictable travel times, high energy consumption, and air pollution as a result of rapid urbanization. To address this issue, the city authorities, which were among the first to join the EBRD's flagship sustainable urban development program, “EBRD Green Cities,” are developing three new urban districts on the outskirts of the city, which will be equipped with modern amenities. The project includes the improvement and construction of three urban road links: Mircea cel Batran Avenue, Mesager Street, and Industriala Street. By integrating urban improvement measures, the project will combine urban development with sustainable mobility and sustainable design, and support the city in its pursuit of an inclusive and sustainable lifestyle for its residents. It will also improve connections for freight transport and provide an alternative route for suburban transport. The project aims to provide sufficient space for all road users, including pedestrians, the elderly, people with disabilities, cyclists, public transport users, as well as private and commercial vehicles. By creating infrastructure and facilities for public and shared transport, the project will contribute to greening the environment by encouraging people to give up their private cars. In addition to stimulating industrial and economic development, the project aims to enhance the city's biodiversity through nature conservation measures, including the creation of a wetland park in La Izvor Park lake area. It will also support the city in developing further measures to integrate investments and urban improvements with intelligent transport systems and mobility policies. In addition, it will also integrate women’s perspectives into the design and is classified as Gender SMART. “This strategically important project will act as a catalyst to encourage a shift towards non-motorised transport through the adoption of modern and inclusive urban infrastructure,” the statement said. The project is one of a series of investments following the Green Cities Action Plan (GCAP) developed by Chisinau as part of its accession to the EBRD's Green Cities program. The GCAP aims to address the city's priority environmental challenges related to climate change mitigation and sets targets for sustainable mobility and transport. The EBRD is a major institutional investor in Moldova. To date, it has invested more than €2.75 billion in 185 projects in the country. // 19.08.2025 — InfoMarket
