The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (BERD) has appointed a new director for its office in the Republic of Moldova. The appointee is Giuseppe Grimaldi, who will take office starting from October 1, reports IPN.

Giuseppe Grimaldi has extensive experience in the field of reforms and public policies in the Eastern Europe and Caucasus region. Currently, he holds the position of Head of the Department for Sectoral Reforms in Sustainable Infrastructure, at the BERD headquarters in London, where he contributed to the development of the institution’s first policy framework dedicated to state enterprises. He also worked as an economist in Ukraine, focusing on the regional energy sector.

BERD states that Giuseppe Grimaldi’s regional experience will support the reform efforts aimed at a closer alignment of the countries in the region with the standards and regulations of the European Union, especially in the context of the accession process of the Republic of Moldova.

Giuseppe Grimaldi will succeed Catarina Bjorlin Hansen, who will take over as head of the EBRD’s branch in Iraq.

BERD invests in over 185 projects in the Republic of Moldova since 1992. The European bank’s investments amount to over 2.7 billion euros.