The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) this year has invested €94 million in Moldova, as opposed to the planned €70 million, in 13 projects in different areas of the national economy, EBRD Moldova Director Julia Otto said in a news conference, quoted by Info-Prim Neo. Among the EBRD projects are the €16 million project to modernize the infrastructure of IS “Moldelectrica”, the €22 million MoSEFF II project that releases loans to companies for substituting the equipment that consumes a large quantity of energy, and the €35 million project to enhance energy efficiently in the residential sector MoREEFF. “We opened credit lines at Moldova Agroindbank and Moldinconbank. We know that there were examined 40 projects presented by associations of dwellers and other potential beneficiaries. Twenty of them were approved for lending. There are projects that had been implemented already. We will soon open a credit line at the third bank. I’m sure that this project to support the energy efficiently in the residential sector will be successful,” stated Julia Otto. Money from donors is attracted to every project for a grant component or for technical assistance projects. Julia Otto said that the cooperation with the local public authorities was extended in 2012 by signing an agreement with the municipality of Balti for the purchase of 23 trolleybuses to the value of €3 million, by attracting a grant of €1.4 million for increasing the capacity of the municipal urban transport company. Financing for the rehabilitation of roads will continue to be provided in 2013. The last tranche within the €75 million project that is financed together with the European Investment Bank was allocated recently. A new project is being designed in this area. The SME sector will continue to be supported by credit lines opened at local banks and by other projects. The EBRD is also ready to finance next year a project that would enable IS “Calea Ferata din Moldova” to reduce operational costs. Speaking about the developments in Moldova’s economy, Julia Otto said that they depend a lot on the developments in the partner countries. “Anyway, regardless of the way things develop, we will provide support to our partners in Moldova. We do not intend to withdraw form Moldova,” said the EBRD Moldova Director. The total investments of the EBRD in Moldova amount to €1.1 billion in 90 projects, €711 million of which represents loans, while the rest is grants.