The European Investment Bank (EIB) on October 27 opened an office in Chisinau to support business, develop contacts with the public and private sectors, and strengthen relations with promoters, partner banks and other international financial institutions in Moldova, IPN reports.
EIB Vice-President Wilhelm Molterer said the opening of the EIB office in Moldova is the result of intense cooperation with the Moldovan Government. “Moldova is the No. 1 recipient of EIB loans among the Eastern Partnership countries in per capita terms and this is due to the fact that the Government of Moldova has a clear orientation, a set of clear principles: where investments are needed, where progress is necessary, where support for the economy is required,” he stated.
“In order to cope with the challenges and your requests, which are concrete and repeated daily, we must be here, on the spot; we must be seen on the spot, both in the public sector, in transport and infrastructure, energy, sewerage and drinking water supply projects, and also as a partner of the business sector. This means that we must be present, be active and communicate and cooperate daily.”
“Only by the investment projects we implemented in concert with the EIB, we managed to create over 20,000 workplaces, which is an impressive figure for such a country as Moldova. And we should not forget that many projects are being yet discussed,” Prime Minister Iurie Leanca said in the event. He underlined that without the support of the European and American partners, Moldova’s transition to a modern, democratic society at political level and competitive society at economic level will be a much longer and more difficult process.
The Head of the EU Delegation to Moldova Pirkka Tapiola said the opening of the EIB office is a proof of the development of the Moldova – EU relations. “Five years ago, we had a small delegation of the EU in Moldova. Today we have the Association Agreement, the Deep and Compressive Free Trade Agreement and a medium-sized delegation, the highest level of assistance per capita in the region and now an EIB office,” stated the diplomat.
The European Investment Bank is the European Union’s bank owned by the 28 Member States. It was empowered by the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union to support by advantageous loans projects to develop the private sector, the social and economic infrastructure and to manage and protect the environment in the EU and the EaP. The EIB has signed 13 projects in Moldova since the start of its operations here in 2007, for a total loan volume of €586 million.
