
Moldova will take measures to optimize the traffic at the border checkpoints in Sculeni and Leuseni and improve their infrastructure.
This was discussed during a government meeting on Wednesday, where Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilita again drew attention to the problem of large transport queues at checkpoints on the border with Romania and called for a solution as soon as possible, in order to facilitate trade, among other things. Finance Minister Dumitru Budianschi explained that queues at checkpoints on the border with Romania were formed due to the increased traffic flow recently due to two factors. In particular, the first factor is the economic growth trend of trade with the West, and exports through these checkpoints on the border with Romania increased by 37% compared to the same period last year. And the second factor is the increase in transit from Ukraine due to the war and the blocking of trade through ports on the Black Sea. Dumitru Budianschi noted that the Ministry of Finance is initiating a number of medium-term organizational measures to optimize the movement of transport to customs points in Sculeni and Leuseni. In addition, it is necessary to take long-term measures, in particular, to improve the checkpoint in Sculeni and develop its infrastructure. According to him, closer cooperation was initiated with the Romanian Ministry of Finance at the level of customs chiefs at all checkpoints, so that they conduct constant monitoring to solve organizational problems, and then the parties will discuss medium and long-term projects to solve traffic problems. The head of the Ministry of Finance recalled that it is important to implement current infrastructure development projects at the border in a timely manner. According to him, additional funds may also be needed to widen the road to the Sculeni customs checkpoint, which currently has only 2 lanes, which creates inconvenience for access. In addition, work is underway to provide additional information for drivers in the field on an electronic panel so that they can see in more detail what the process is at customs. The Prime Minister called on the head of the Ministry of Finance to personally monitor the solution of the problem, to take urgent organizational measures to streamline the movement of transport, since the result of trade also depends on this. She stressed that in this situation, the construction of a new bridge in Ungheni becomes relevant. // 04.05.2022 — InfoMarket