Parliament adopts National Development Strategy 2020

Parliament today adopted the National Development Strategy Moldova 2020. The Socialist and the Communist groups didn’t vote, saying the document would have little effect, Info-Prim Neo reports. The government explained in an informative note that the strategy provided a general vision of how Moldova would look in 2020. The strategy sets 7 priorities for economic growth and reducing poverty. The first is the synchronization of the education system with the requirements of the labor market in order to raise productivity and improve the employment rate. The second priority refers to increasing public investments in national and local road infrastructure in order to reduce transport expenses and boost the access speed. Another priority targets the reduction of financing costs by intensifying competition in the financial field and developing risk management tools. The strategy also stipulates the development of the business environment through the optimization of the regulation framework and by applying information technologies in public services for the business community and the people. Reducing energy consumption by improving energy efficiency and using renewable energy sources is another priority of the Development Strategy Moldova 2020. The government also wants to ensure the financial sustainability of the pension system in order to guarantee a proper rate of wage replacement. The seventh and last priority of the strategy refers to improving the quality and efficiency of justice and of the fight against corruption in order to assure equitable access to public goods for all the citizens. Unaffiliated MP Igor Dodon mocked the Strategy, saying it was written by a student and announced that the Socialist group wouldn’t vote for the document. PCRM didn’t vote either.