Government recommends local public authorities to attract investments through projects

The publication of the draft investment program for 2010 as annexe to the draft budget law for next year on the Ministry of Finance's website made the local public authorities have controversial comments and questions, Info-Prim Neo reports. A number of district heads who attended the Government's meeting of December 2 said that they cannot understand why some of the districts will be allocated 10 million lei from the state budget, while others only 2 million lei and what criteria are used to distribute the resources. The Governor of Gagauzia Mihail Formuzal said problems concerning the distribution of budgetary resources appear every year, but nothing is done to clarify the situation. Minister of Finance Veaceslav Negruta said the value of the resources is different because the projects implemented in districts are also different and are at different implementation stages. “The districts where the projects are at advanced implementation stage will get money to finish them. No money will be allocated for new projects yet as there is no money. In general, the budgetary resources next year will go to carry out extensive repair works, not to erect new buildings,” he said. Premier Vlad Filat said the government has permanently negotiated with the development partners, who expressed readiness to help Moldova promote reforms and strengthen the democratic changes. The European Union will provide 130 million euros in budget support to Moldova. Other backers also promised support. The talks are now being completed. “This money will be used on public investments, especially to rehabilitate the infrastructure, including the rural one,” the Prime Minister said. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Valeriu Lazar said the investments that will not be covered from the state budget owing to the large deficit should be compensated through development programs financed from abroad. He recommended the local authorities to strengthen their capacities to formulate viable projects so as to attract investments. “It is bad that we did not manage to set up regional development agencies yet and did not work out strategies for attracting investments to districts. There are many international organizations and funds as well as private investors that can be attracted. We must take steps quickly and devise attractive investment projects,” he said.