World Bank ready to help Moldova overcome economic crisis

World Bank Country Manager Melanie Marlett said that the WB decided to provide immediate assistance to Moldova for overcoming the economic crisis. The announcement was made at a meeting of the WB official and Moldova's Acting President and Head of Parliament Mihai Ghimpu, Info-Prim Neo reports, quoting the legislature's press service. Melanie Marlett informed the caretaker head of state of the WB's firm intention to negotiate with the new Government of Moldova and participate together with the IMF and foreign donors in the formulation and implementation of the National Plan of Anti-Crisis Measures. After the plan is devised and a new cooperation program with the IMF is approved, representatives of the Government will have a meeting with the Consultative Group in Brussels, which will be attended by Moldova's foreign donors. According to the WB representative, in order to attract more foreign investment and support from donors, the donors should know how deep the crisis in Moldova is. Mihai Ghimpu reasserted the new Moldovan government's intention to implement economic and democratic reforms so as to make progress on the path to European integration. “We are aware of the fact that the new Government faces the difficult task of implementing unpopular reforms that had to be carried out long ago. But this reforms will help us solve many problems in the future,” Ghimpu said. Since Moldova joined the World Bank in 1992, WB assistance to Moldova totaled US$775 million for 58 projects. Twenty-nine projects to the value of US$270 million are now under implementation. The WB Board of Directors adopted a new strategy for Moldova for 2009-2012 on January 29, 2009.