External assistance in the field of regional development and construction for 2014

Chisinau/16 January 2013/Ministry of Regional Development and Construction (MRDC) discussed external assistance in the field of regional development and construction for 2014. Thus, within the framework of a meeting of the Board of external assistance coordination reviewed the achievements of the MRDC for the second half of 2013 and nominated existing sectorial needs, in the hope of identifying new collaborative initiatives.

Marcel Răducan, Minister of Regional Development and Construction said that 2013 was productive, and noted that the meeting represents an opportunity to plan its activities for the year 2014. "We have been given the EU funds planned for 2014-2020, so for 2014 new programs and opportunities will open for the country in general and for regional development policy in particular. It is important to see the reflection of the collaboration between institutions in the quality of the projects carried out and the degree of satisfaction of beneficiaries by the inhabitants of the regions and the country as a whole," noted the Minister. The Minister also mentioned the effective cooperation over the past year with MRDC from similar institutions in Poland, Estonia, Latvia, with bodies and international organizations like the German Agency for International Development (GIZ), SIDA, USAID, European Commission, Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB), the project for Technical Assistance to Sector Budget Support on Economic Stimulation in Rural Areas (ESRA), Twinning project, etc.

At the same time, Svetlana Rogov, Head of the Directorate for International Relations and Attracting Investments presented in detail the successes achieved as a result of receiving foreign aid with the previously mentioned development partners, the sources of funding of projects and activities carried out in collaboration with LPA. She also appreciated the collaboration with development partners for regional development and cross-border cooperation, regional development strategies update, new bilateral cross-border cooperation programs, as well as public administrations, and local capacity development.

During the meeting they discussed initiatives for collaboration in 2014. In this context, they mentioned supplementary funding of the project "Modernization of Local Public Services" from the German Federal Government in order to continue activities this year. The Information Center for the Local Authorities from Moldova will continue to support local authorities and NGOs in the country to promote the implementation of projects and external partnerships for attracting prospective donors based on expansion of the memorandum signing form Poland. Another important cooperation which will be strengthened this year by co-financing activities and specific projects is a joint project with USAID in the city of Telenești. It will be launched in 2014 for two projects co-financed by the International Cooperation Agency of the Czech Republic to both the North and South Regional Development Agencies.

Those present concluded that the business meetings had positively influenced and contributed to the formation of a consensus vision and expanding cooperation. In this context, MRDC officials thanked the development partners for their effective cooperation and expressed a desire to expand partnership with other donors.