The Government of the Federal Republic of Germany will provide two million euros for the development of infrastructure and energy efficiency projects in 18 settlements throughout Central Moldova (12 rural and 6 urban settlements). Selected towns will be awarded non-refundable assistance up to 150 thousand euros, and villages – up to 75 thousand euros, as part of the “2018 Social Infrastructure and Energy Efficiency” Grant Program, IPN reports.

According to a press release from the Chișinău branch of the Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW) Bank, the pattern of winning projects is diverse, from kindergarten and sports school renovations, to leisure zone management, to sidewalk repairs and installation of street lighting systems.

According to Maria Flachsbarth, Parliamentary State Secretary to the German Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, in spite of the great challenges faced by Moldova, such as villages without access to drinking water and modern infrastructure facilities, in spite of the people who see little potential in this region, numerous people still seek to solve current issues. “I want to assure you that the Ministry I represent, and Germany as a whole, will stand with you and support you,” said Maria Flachbarth during a work visit to Moldova on August 2-3.

The “Social Infrastructure and Energy Efficiency” Project sums up 210 community development projects in settlements with populations up to 20,000 residents from 20 districts in the South and North of Moldova, with a total value of 9.65 million euros. The Program was launched in 2003 by the Federal Government of Germany, under the management of the German Development Bank, KFW, and Moldova’s Social Investment Fund.