Prime Minister Ion Chicu said the state will invest in the airport in Mărculești so that this could start to work by next June. Up to 30 million lei is needed for the purpose, IPN reports.

“The investments in the Mărculești airport are minimal. We calculated that up to 30 million lei in investment is needed there. These investments will be made by the state. The airport in Mărculești will become operational by next June,” Premier Chicu stated in the talk show “Friday with Anatolie Golea” on RTR Moldova channel.

He noted the airport is generally functional and has all the necessary airport certificates. “We made an analysis and saw how many citizens of ours fly from the Iasi airport. These are mainly from northern Moldova. Furthermore, there are regions in Ukraine that are close to Bălți town, such as Vinița, Cernăuți.”

The official said the first analysis of the Mărculești and Bălți airports was carried out. From commercial viewpoint, the airport in Bălți is more attractive as there are many localities close to it. But very large investments need to be made there.

“The runway is in a deplorable state. We must carry out a feasibility study and a public-private partnership is needed there. We have legislation in this regard. To announce a contest and attract investors, we must conduct this feasibility study that will show what the state and the private investor should undertake to do,” stated Ion Chicu.