In 2014 Romania allocated US$70.3 million for assistance projects, being the second bilateral donor, after the United States, and the third on the general list of donors, after the United States (US$121.5 million) and the European Union (US116.8 million), IPN reports.

In a press release, the Embassy of Romania says that Romania is strengthening its position of the most powerful supporter of the efforts made by Moldova on the path of European integration, with major economic and social impact on the population’s welfare.

Romania contributed financing for different projects with an important social impact such as the renovation and outfitting of nursery schools, with a total budget of €23 million benefiting half of the children of preschool age in Moldova, the rehabilitation of the Mother and Child Institute and renovation of such representative cultural facilities as the Organ Hall and the National Museum of Arts in Chisinau and the Theater “B.P. Hasdeu” in Cahul.

Last year Romania also donated 100 school minibuses, five fully-equipped ambulances for SMURD missions, 50 cars for the central public administration and buses intended for theater institutions. It allocated significant sums of money for the annual programs to teach Moldovan young people at Romanian education institutions free of charge and ensured the transfer of expertise by the central and local authorities in different areas, especially those related to the European integration.

Romania is the key trade partner of Moldova. The bilateral trade in 2014 amounted to over US$1.6 billion.