The President of the World Bank Group ended his visit to Moldova. Before departure, Robert B. Zoellick and Prime Minister Vlad Filat signed two new agreements – one to finance the Economic Recovery and Development Policy Project to the value of US$25 million, and the other one, in the amount of US$10 million, to finance the Disaster and Climatic Risk Management Project, Info-Prim Neo reports. Vlad Filat said the first project aims to ensure a better distribution of social assistance and stimulate investments and exports in the post-crisis period. The second project will strengthen the State Hydrometeorology Service’s capacity to forecast the weather with the help of a new Doppler radar system so that Moldova is prepared and better responds to the natural disasters. Robert B. Zoellick said the World Bank supports the reform agenda of the Government of Moldova. “We will help Moldova in the European integration process. We know that Moldova is negotiating an association agreement with the EU, including a free trade agreement. We can help the Moldovan companies to reach the required standards so as to increase exports to the EU and other markets,” the WB official said. After signing the agreements, Vlad Filat and Robert B. Zoellick took part in the opening of a roundtable meeting centering on the electronic changes in Moldova. “In order to obtain a sustainable growth, we must invest more money in education, science and modern technologies and diversify the economic activities. These goals can be achieved by implementing information technology. The E-Government is the aim of our efforts aimed at modernizing and reforming the public administration and increasing competitiveness in the country,” said the Premier. Robert B. Zoellick stressed the implementation of information technology will allow the Government to become more efficient and transparent in the relations with the people and to reduce corruption. The World Bank will provide both financial and consultative assistance to Moldova in this respect. While in Moldova, the World Bank Group President visited a fruit processing and drying company based in Ialoveni. The company exports 90% of its products to the EU. “We intend to double production to 2,500 tonnes of dried fruit and to plant new orchards. We will employ more persons, but this is a problem at present as we bring workers from a distance of 50-60 km,” said the company’s director Dumitru Vicol. The company benefited from assistance from the World Bank in implementing the quality management systems ISO and HACPP to ensure the safety of the food products. Robert B. Zoellick said he was impressed by the results achieved, stressing the World Bank is ready to help the Moldovan companies to set up new businesses, create new workplaces and improve the living standards. “We will continue to support both the private and public sectors in Moldova. In order to increase exports, the roads must be improved. The public sector must be efficient and the bureaucracy should be reduced,” he said. Robert B. Zoellick had been in Moldova on August 11 and 12.