The signing of the agreement with the IMF is the most important event of last year, Prime Minister Pavel Filip said in a meeting with U.S. Ambassador to Moldova James Pettit on February 17. The Premier underlined that the support of the U.S. and the EU was crucial for stabilizing the economic-financial situation in 2016. As to 2017, Pavel Filip said this should become a year of sustainable economic development and investment growth, IPN reports, quoting the Government’s press service.

“Both the Government and Parliament are determined to keep the implementation of the Moldova-EU Association Agreement at the top of the list of priorities and to continue to make concerted effort to fulfill the assumed commitments,” said the Prime Minister.

For his part, the U.S. Ambassador encouraged the Government of Moldova to continue the efforts to do reforms aimed at improving the living standards of the population. The diplomat referred to the cooperation in the economic sector and to strengthening of democracy. In these areas, the Governments of Moldova and the United States last year signed two assistance agreements. Their value is of about US$98.7 million.

The U.S. is a strategic partner of Moldova. Since 1992, the United Sates has offered over US$1.4 billion in assistance to Moldova, including US$45 million in 2016.