Government has 70% of funds needed to implement National Development Strategy

The Government possesses 70% of the resources needed to implement the National Development Strategy (NDS), Minister of Economy and Trade Igor Dodon told the reporters on February 6 following the approval of the Plan of Action for implementing the NDS for 2008-2011. Info-Prim Neo quoted the minister as saying that budgetary resources of 8.4 billion lei will be needed in 2008. The state budget includes 7.3 billion lei, while the other part of the money will be attracted as technical assistance or for implementing joint projects with private partners. These projects, Dodon said, should concern the reconstruction of thermoelectric plants. The Plan of Action includes 163 measures that would be implemented at a cost of 46 billion lei. The minister assured that they will not admit a repeat of the situation when the state budget contained only 30-40% of the 70 billion lei needed to implement the Economic Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy. At the premier’s request, a part of the measures planned for a four-year period would be implemented in two years. Igor Dodon said that they would work out a more rigid timetable for the implementation of projects in infrastructure, especially road, water and sewer infrastructure. But the given objectives will be achieved only if there are enough investments, a large part of which could be attracted as part of the US Millennium Challenge Account Programme, the minister said. The National Development Strategy for 2008-2011 was approved by the Parliament late last year. The authorities say that the Strategy is the main medium-term strategic planning document that sets the medium-term development objectives of Moldova and identifies measures and priorities for achieving these objectives. The fundamental objective of the NDS is to create the necessary conditions for improving living standards by consolidating the basis for a robust, sustainable, and inclusive economic growth. According to the Government, the formulation of the NDS derives from the need to ensure the continuity of reforms initiated as part of two major strategic development strategies – the Economic Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper and the EU-Moldova Action Plan. The NDS focuses on five main strategic priorities: Consolidating a modern democratic state based on the rule of law: Settling the Transnistrian conflict and reintegrating the country; Enhancing the competitiveness of the national economy; Developing human resources, improving the level of employment, and promoting social inclusion; Regional development.