The European Investment Bank (EIB) wants to increase the volume of investments in Moldova because it is interested in supporting the country’s European perspective, EIB Vice President Wilhelm Molterer said in Chisinau after the signing of the agreement to set up the EIB Representative Office in Moldova, IPN reports.

Wilhelm Molterer said that Moldova tops the EaP rankings by the volume of EIB investments per capita and the opening of a representative office of the European Investment Bank in Moldova is an important step both for Moldova and for the Bank.

The official noted that the EIB is interested in investing in the modernization of road and railroad infrastructure and in agriculture and in supporting the small and medium-sized companies so that the business sector and employees maximally benefit from the advantages offered by the Free Trade Agreement with the EU. He underlined the importance of the energy efficiency projects, stressing that the regions and municipalities should be involved in this exercise.

Prime Minister Chiril Gaburici said the presence of the EIB Representative Office in Moldova will offer more advantages by the access to new opportunities and projects of the Bank. “We will develop the bilateral relations and, in concert with the European Investment Bank, will move towards achieving the European integration objective,” he stated.

The Premier thanked the Bank for its support, saying Moldova has a nice history of cooperation with the EIB through joint projects. The officials took stock of the implemented projects and of the projects that are yet to be launched.