The European Union contributed €2 million to implementing in Moldova a project to ameliorate the  methodological aspects of regional statistics. The initiative includes a series of technical and organizational activities designed to increase the population’s access to statistical data and their efficient understanding. A system for monitoring and assessing statistics is to be created, IPN reports.

In a news conference held to present the project on February 4, director general of the National Bureau of Statistics Lucia Spoiala said that statistics play an important role in assisting decision makers to identify the social needs and economic development opportunities. They are needed for monitoring the environment objectives and for making public investments. Given that regional statistics also support social-economic researches and inform the public opinion, it is important to adjust them to the international trends.

The key objective of the project is to strengthen the capacity of the providers of statistical services, especially of the National Bureau of Statistics. A priority is to also strengthen the capacities of the political decision makers, such as the Ministry of Regional Development and Construction and the Regional Development Agencies, as well as of the local administration.

The project, which was officially launched last November, is implemented by a consortium headed by GFA (Germany), in cooperation with DevStat (Spain), AAM (Hungary), and the Statistical Office of Slovakia. It will last until next November.