A working session took place with the participation of the implementation team of the "Regional development of Moldova: Supporting the implementation of a regional strategy using GIS data" project, financed by the Government of the Czech Republic through Czech Development Agency. The implementation of the project will be carried out by GEOtest, a Czech company, in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, Regional Development and Environment (MARDE) and the Regional Development Agencies (RDAs): Center, North, South and ATU Gagauzia.

The project aims to actively use GIS technology and space data to plan interventions in regions. According to this, by the end of 2020, it is proposed to implement five projects using the new methodology, where MARDE, RDA and local public authorities representatives will be involved.

Mr Jan Oprchal, the project manager, head of GEOtest's Water Management Department, expressed his openness to effective collaboration during the implementation of the project and to the possibility of adapting some project components to the specific needs of the Development Region South, of the specialists involved.

During 2019-2021 period, the RDA South will benefit from technical and consultative assistance from the GEOtest. The specialists involved in learning the new technology will be guided in using new methods for developing regional plans, as well as for graphic presentation of concrete projects.

"We greatly appreciate the collaboration with the Czech Development Agency and we express our gratitude for the support provided in identifying opportunities for economic diversification and increasing investment in the regions. We hope that the results of this project will lead us to move to a more advanced level of implementing regional development projects. Thus, we will be able to attract investors in the Development Region South, " said Mrs Maria Culeşov, the Director of the RDA South.

The "Regional development of Moldova: Supporting the implementation of a regional strategy using GIS data" project supports the development of a complete, efficient and binding framework for the creation and functioning of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure in the Republic of Moldova.