Many problems in energy sector remain unsolved, economy minister

The development of the energy sector is a priority for the Government of Moldova and the development partners' assistance in this respect is very important, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Valeriu Lazar told a delegation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sweden that came to Chisinau to take part in meeting of the working group for foreign assistance in the energy sector, Info-Prim Neo reports. According to the Ministry of Economy, the delegation consists of the head of the Department for Eastern Europe Malena Mard and the head of the Department for Cooperation in Europe Ulla Anden as well as representatives of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA). Though progress was made in adjusting the national legislation to the European standards, many problems haven't been solved, Valeriu Lazar said in the meeting. Among them, he enumerated the restructuring of the energy sector, development of infrastructure, rescheduling of the historical debts, creation of the Energy Efficiency Fund. Another topic for discussion was the rural development. Valeriu Lazar said institutional reforms are needed to improve the business environment. He stressed that the Ministry of Economy is willing to cooperate with the Swedish partner and thanked the Government of Sweden for its readiness to contribute to the social and economic development of Moldova. The meeting of the working group for foreign assistance in the energy sector brought together representatives of the EBRD, the WB, the IMF, the SIDA, the UNDP, the USAID, the EU Delegation to Moldova, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sweden, the Embassy of Slovenia, as well as of the State Chancellor's Office, the Ministry of Economy, the National Agency for Energy Regulation, the State Energy Inspectorate, the Alliance for Energy Efficiency and Renewables and civil society.