The Government will intensify the cooperation relations with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). In a meeting on August 7, Prime Minister Valeriu Strelet and Head of the EBRD Office in Chisinau Julia Otto discussed the main aspects of the Bank’s activity in Moldova and set the cooperation objectives for the immediate period, IPN reports.

According to the Government’s press service, Valeriu Strelet pleaded for constructive cooperation relations for achieving the common objectives in a dynamic and efficient manner.

For her part, Julia Otto expressed the EBRD’s readiness to develop the relations in all the cooperation spheres. “Our strategy for Moldova for 2014 -2017 envisions several major directions, including: development of the private sector; facilitation of the SMEs’ access to financing; implementation of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement with the EU, and attraction of investments to Moldova’s economy. We are ready to help the Moldovan authorities by providing expertise and financial assistance in ensuring a favorable business climate and creating the infrastructure needed for the purpose,” she stated.

The sides underlined the necessity of hastening the implementation of the bill on the ombudsperson in the business sector. Another subject discussed was the work of the Prime Minister’s Economic Council whose secretariat is financed with the EBRD’s support. The Premier pleaded for extending this dialogue platform and for wider engaging interested decision makers in the process of discussing the economic policies pursued by the Government.

The EBRD is the largest institutional investor in Moldova. To date the Bank has signed over 100 investments in the country, covering the energy, transport, agribusiness, general industry and banking sectors, and totaling almost €1 billion.