
The EBRD will continue to support the rehabilitation of Moldova's road infrastructure, and negotiations are underway to provide new loans for this.
This was discussed during the meeting held by the Minister of Infrastructure and Regional Development Lilia Dabija with the Executive Director of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development for Eastern Europe and the Caucasus Matteo Patrone and the head of the EBRD office in Moldova Angela Sax. The parties discussed infrastructure projects that are being developed and implemented in Moldova with the support of the EBRD. Lilia Dabija expressed her gratitude for the support and experience provided by the EBRD to improve the road infrastructure. “Thanks to EBRD investments, we have initiated and implemented a number of important projects in this sector. The disbursement rate in 2022 was very good. This allowed us to put into operation more than 172 km of roads of national importance, which were restored, modernized or built from scratch,” the minister said. The parties reviewed the most important road and rail infrastructure goals that are currently being implemented. In this regard, it was noted: the restoration of 2 sections of national roads - R34 Hincesti-Leova-Cantemir, 83 km long and a section of the bypass road to Slobozia Mare, 18.2 km long, the completion of which is planned before the end of this year; restoration of the railway section of Bender-Causeni-Basarabeasca-Etulia-Giurgiulesti with a length of 233 km; repair of some sections of the Valcinet-Ocnita-Balti-Ungheni-Chisinau-Cainari corridor with a length of 128 km within the framework of the European Paths of Solidarity initiative. Lilia Dabija also noted that negotiations are currently underway to sign a new financing agreement for the 2nd section of the Chisinau bypass road and for the M1 road, Chisinau-Leuseni section, 85 km long. The EBRD representatives confirmed their readiness to continue assistance to Moldova and share experience for the implementation of infrastructure projects, as well as for the harmonization of national legislation in the field of transport with the European one. As InfoMarket agency reported earlier, the EBRD is the largest institutional investor in Moldova. To date, the EBRD has invested more than €2 billion in 159 projects in Moldova in strategic areas such as infrastructure, financial institutions, industry, trade, agribusiness and more. // 21.03.2023 — InfoMarket