Romania is the top commercial partner of the Republic of Moldova and is one of the main investors. Bilateral trade in 2021 was US$2.4 billion, which is a record high in the bilateral relations, the Prime Minister of Romania Nicolae-Ionel Ciucă stated in a news conference in Chisinau after the joint meeting of the Governments of the two states. He noted that these positive developments should be strengthened so as to realize the existing huge cooperation potential, primarily by consistent Romanian investments in the Republic of Moldova, IPN reports.
“For this to happen, determined efforts should be made to improve the business and investment climate in the Republic of Moldova. We had extended discussions on this issue, which represents not only an expectation of the Romanian companies, but primarily an absolutely necessary effort for developing the Republic of Moldova in general, for ensuring the prosperity of the Republic of Moldova, for creating more and well-paid jobs, for the wellbeing to be felt by each citizen and each locality,” said Nicolae-Ionel Ciucă.
He noted that Romania follows with concern the major challenges faced by Republic of Moldova in the energy sector. The Romanian state is near the Republic of Moldova in this sensitive area with significant implications for the citizens. A memorandum of understanding for cooperation in energy security was signed today between the Ministry of Infrastructure and Regional Development of the Republic of Moldova and the Ministry of Energy of Romania.
The Romanian Premier also mentioned other agreements signed by the sides today, including in education and digitization, and the agreement on the provision of non-reimbursable financial assistance of €100 million, which is designed to support Moldova’s firm, solid connection to the EU through Romania, by roads and bridges, by electric power and gas networks, by local development projects.
Prime Minster Natalia Gavrilița said both of the teams came to the meeting determined and ready to maximally use the opportunities in the bilateral relations for taking measures with a direct impact on the life of citizens from both sides of the Prut.
According to her, the decision to build a new bridge over the Prut to connect two towns with the same name, Ungheni, has a special significance. “It is a bridge that will bring welfare to the people from both sides of the Prut. It does not go only to fuel and time saved on trips, but also to the feeling of being closer that will generate new employment opportunities, new flows of tourists and consumers, new businesses created in Ungheni and Iași. By this bridge, Iasi will come closer to Chisinau, while Chisinau will be directly connected to the network of European highways. It is the first bridge that will connect the banks of the Prut after the declaring of Independence,” stated the Premier.
She said that she handed over the certificate concerning the complete fulfillment of the contractual obligations assumed by “Eurotransgaz” by the sale and purchase contract at the investment contest of “Vestmoldtransgaz” to the Romanian side. This represents the final point in the construction of the Iasi-Chisinau gas pipeline.
“There were signed a number of important documents on digitization, education, research, cooperation in justice and the fight against corruption. The bilateral agenda was full and this makes me confident that we will soon come with new good news and accomplishments,” stated Natalia Gavrilița.
