The Chisinau - Giurgiulești section of the M3 national road, which was built with financial support from the EBRD, became available for use. President Maia Sandu said that owing to this road section, Moldova contributes to food security in the region. This is one of the roads along which products are transported from Ukraine, IPN reports.

Maia Sandu stated that for the inhabitants of this region, the rehabilitation of the road is very good news, also because this will bypass several localities and will help increase citizens’ safety and will also improve the environmental indicators in these settlements. Last year, there were repaired 300 km of roads and there are yet many roads that are in need of repair. “The investments in infrastructure are very important for economic development as only with modern infrastructure, we can become competitive and only through economic development and the competiveness of our economy, we can increase citizens’ incomes and state budget revenues so as to be able to raise the living standards for everyone,” noted the official.

Attending the event, EBRD President Odile Renaud-Basso said that this road segment is very important given its proximity to the Giurgiulesti Port. A lot is yet to be done to build this road up to Giurgiulesti. The made investments are important both for the citizens of the Republic of Moldova and also for the region’s food security as the Giurgiulesti Port plays an essential role in the exportation of goods for these to reach international markets.

Sergiu Bejan, acting director general of the State Road Administration, said that the works were to last for two years and a half, but the deadlines were changed due to the pandemic and to the war in Ukraine. As the lines for supplying building materials and other equipment were changed, the works lasted for four years and a half. The works were projected at €19 million, but they later rose to €24 million owing to the increase in prices.

In June, the State Road Administration and the Ukrainian company LLC Automagistral Pivden signed an agreement to execute works to build the M3 road: Chisinau-Comrat-Giurgiulești-border with Romania (bypassing Vulcănești town). The M3 road is the shortest and most important road that connects Chisinau and Giurgiulesti, offering access to the Danube and the Black Sea.