On 22 February, 2018, the director of the Regional Development Agency South, Mrs Maria Culeșov, and the representatives of the Projects Department, Mr Andrei Popușoi - the head of the department, and Mr Nicolae Cotruță, the specialist in projects implementation and monitoring, met the representatives of the LPAs of the first and second levels from Cantemir, Căuşeni, Cahul districts and Hîrtop village from Cimişlia district, the beneficiaries of the investment projects carried out in 2017.

The meeting was also attended by the economic operators contracted to carry out the works within the projects implemented by the RDA South in the mentioned localities, the project managers and the technical responsible.

The working sessions were organized in order to inform the actors involved in the implementation of the regional development projects about the finances to be allocated in 2018 from the National Fund for Regional Development, according to the Decision 3/18 on February 16, 2018, of the National Coordination Council for Regional Development.

Mrs Maria Culeşov, the Director of the RDA South, has informed the participants about the 7 proposed for financing in 2018 projects, initiated or in progress, of a total budget of 31 235 711,59 MDL, which are for the Development Region South.

These projects are: "Sustainable Development of the Industrial Park Cahul as a Business Support Structure of a Regional Importance", for which 3 million MDL are given this year; "Opportunities for Investment Attractiveness in the Economy of the Development Region South", of 1 million MDL, which foresees the construction of the networks, communications and the access road, and the landscaping of the Căușeni Branch of the Free Economic Zone Bălți; "Development of the Business Infrastructure by Connecting Localities and Local Roads on the Corridor 20 - DR South, R34-Sîrma-Tomai-Sărăteni-Hîrtop - to the National Road Network", for which 9 million 850 thousand MDL are allocated.

Also, about 9 million is directed to the "Construction of the Inter-Communal Road Feşteliţa - Marianca De Jos - Ştefan Vodă and its Connection to the National Road R30 Chişinău - Căuşeni - Ukraine Border"; 1 million 896 580, 08 MDL - to continue the construction works on the sewerage system in Traian valley area and the modernization of the sewerage treatment plant from Căuşeni.

In order to complete the works within the "Thermal rehabilitation of the Cantemir District Hospital (Surgical Block)" project, about 5 million MDL are allocated from the NFRD.

1 million MDL is allocated for the construction of the Leova-Iargara aqueduct, a project which is carried out in cooperation with the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany through the German Federal Enterprise for International Cooperation (GIZ).

The director of the RDA South specified that certain criteria had been taken into consideration while selecting the projects: co-financing from other sources, accumulated score in the framework of the inter-ministerial commission evaluation, level of preparation of the project for the immediate launch of public procurement and the presence of updated technical documentation. At the same time, the projects supporting the development of the private sector should be considered as a priority, especially those related to the creation and the development of the conditions for the activity of the Free Economic Zones, Industrial Parks and Business Incubators.

The participants discussed about the issues that need to be addressed in the context of the resumption or commencement of the work, the activities to be undertaken and the responsibilities of each stakeholder. At the same time, revising and updating the technical documentation for each project is needed.