Great Britain has announced a contribution of £9 million to the Multi-Donor Trust Fund project M-GROW (Moldova - Growth, Resilience and Opportunities for Well-being) managed by the World Bank and the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Moldova, IPN reports, quoting the British Embassy in Moldova.
This trust mechanism forms part of the £10 million pledge made by the British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly during his visit to Chisinau in March.
“This funding will deliver results which are tangible to citizens, in terms of poverty reduction, infrastructure, energy security, gender equality, climate resilience. We must send a clear message - that we are resolute and united in ensuring that Moldova can successfully resist the efforts of Russia and its proxies to destroy Moldova’s democracy and steal her sovereignty. The Platform today reiterates that message. We are happy to partner Moldova, with other donors, on this journey”, said Steven Fisher, British Ambassador to the Republic of Moldova.
The M-GROW fund will constitute a coordinated mechanism of financing and support, which will help the Republic of Moldova to make essential and necessary investments, to enhance its competitiveness and to strengthen its efforts towards green, resilient, inclusive and European development.
Great Britain’s contribution to the objectives of the Moldovan Support Platform is multilateral. The UK co-chairs, together with Romania, the anticorruption working group.
Besides the £12.5 million offered in 2022, £10.5 million is provided in 2023 in humanitarian assistance to support the Ukrainian refugees and vulnerable families in Moldova. Through the agency of the Good Governance Fund, £3 million lei will be offered in technical assistance to support efforts to ensure the energy security, cybersecurity, integrity and to fight corruption. Great Britain also assists the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection to do the RESTART reform by providing a team of British experts who closely cooperate with the team of Minister Alexei Buzu. As to trade, all the import duties on Moldovan products were temporarily abolished. The country’s defense capacity is also supported, with military training being organized and increased assistance being offered in strategic communication and the fight against disinformation.
