WB supports Moldova's rural population in overcoming crisis and improving quality of life

About 200 Moldovan villages will have the possibility of implementing infrastructure and community development microprojects using the additional financing of US$20 million provided by the Wold Bank for the Moldova Social Investment Fund II Project (MSIF), Info-Prim Neo reports. At the ceremony held to sign the lending agreement, Minister of Finance Veaceslav Negruta said the MSIF I and MSIF II have been very popular in the rural areas in Moldova. During about ten years, the project has assisted over 700 localities in addressing local development needs. It has provided access to natural gas and funded major improvements in roads, schools, kindergartens, cultural centers and other social institutions across Moldova. “The MSIF is approved of by all the local authorities. The additional financing will be used to implement about 300 microprojects. 300 local companies will be selected by contest to carry out the works. 10,000 new workplaces will be created for the period of the microprojects” the minister said Melanie Marlett, Wold Bank Country Manager for Moldova, said besides the US20 million offered by the WB, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency will provide 2 million euros as co-financing. “Building on the earlier results of the project, the World Bank is pleased to be scaling up financing to create new job opportunities and provide an income to address the impact of the current economic crisis on Moldova’s rural population,” said Melanie Marlett. Madeleine Hagg-Liljestrom, country manager for cooperation in Moldova at the Swedish Embassy, said the 2 million euros will be given as grant to help the villages achieve sustainable results in community development.