The Interinstitutional Communication Platform held its first sitting on July 26. It aims to be a permanent consultation body involving institutions that manage development funds, partners taking part in the implementation of projects financed from these funds, local public authorities, other institutions from the field and private sector organizations, IPN reports.

“We aim to ensure an integrated vision on how to deal with the economic problems faced by the country’s regions and to identify solutions,” said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Valeriu Lazar, under whose aegis the platform was instituted. He added that the money allocated from the budget to the development funds increased from under 700 million lei in 2008, to over 2 billion lei in 2013. 

Deputy head of the Chamber of Trader and Industry Vladimir Didilica said the Ministry of Education should obligatorily delegate representatives to take part in these consultations even if it does not manage development funds. “The investors do not come because there are no skilled workers and they do not have who to work with. By concerted effort, we must solve this problem and prepare competent staff,” he stated.

Balti Free Economic Zone administrator Marin Ciobanu said that if the platform is effective, similar platforms can be created between the regional development agencies, the local authorities and other local bodies.

Alexandru Stratan, director of the Institute of Economy, Finance and Statistics, said that this coordination of activities is necessary and possible. It will be successful if the political element is eliminated when identifying projects financed from the development funds and emphasis is put on the people’s interests.

The Interinstitutional Communication Platform includes the main players involved in the implementation of balanced economic development policies. Its Council will meet quarterly and will present an annual report on the accomplishments before the partners and civil society.