Foreign donors to pour $200+ M into Moldovan budget

The Moldovan authorities expect the 2009 state budget will be supported with $234 million from external donors, compared to $164.3 million in 2008, Info- Prim Neo reports. According to the draft budget, the foreign support will come in grants amounting to $145.7 million, as $88.3 million will be loans. In order to balance the deficit and payments relation, the authorities expect grants worth $61.2 million and $10 million in loans. The remaining foreign support will be steered to investment projects, including building roads (31%), healthcare (17%), agriculture (12%), water supply and drainage (11%). The main donor in this respect is the European Commission, as the World Bank will mainly support the investment-related projects. Grants are to come the Netherlands, Great Britain and other external donors.