Improvement of economic growth is Government’s major concern - Vasile Tarlev

The Government’s major concern is to improve the quality of economic growth with a view to ensuring its sustainability and transforming it into higher life standards, stated Premier Vasile Tarlev at the session of the Consultative Group (CG) of donors for Moldova that is held in Brussels, Belgium, on December 12. “We realize it is not sufficient to build up an economy that meets the main conditions of the market economy. The challenge consists in building up a potent, sustainable, competitive economy that would meet the requirements of the international competition”, Premier added. In his speech, Vasile Tarlev mentioned that the promotion of the necessary reforms that needs support is not only an objective of the Government but also of the whole country. Moldova-EU Action Plan, active participation in the processes that are underway in South-East Europe and Economic Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper are essential elements on which the present government Programme stands. “The programme presented to the donors is a necessity and reflects the Government’s concern for the real situation and proposes policies that can ensure the success under the present conditions”, Tarlev said. Despite the significant achievements registered over the past years, Moldova continues to confront with such problems as excessive migration and an economy highly exposed to foreign shocks. “We are sure that the progress achieved until now, thanks to the new opportunities created by the extension of the European Union, offer the country a good chance to make an important step towards development, Premier emphasized. As he states, the Government is sure that the implementation of the reform programme debated today is the instrument due to which this chance can be turned to good account and is intended to mobilize all the domestic public resources aimed at financing the Programme’s priorities. Vasile Tarlev said earlier that he will present to the donors a portfolio of investment projects worth USD 1.5 bln, especially infrastructure projects, including road building; energy projects, designed to ensure the production of energy in the country; projects to implement the reform in agriculture etc. The Moldovan government delegation also includes the First Deputy Prime Minister Zinaida Grecianii, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrei Stratan, the Minister of Economy and Trade Igor Dodon, and the Minister of Finance Mihail Pop. The meeting is jointly hosted by the European Commission and the World Bank. The World Bank organizes and chairs Consultative Group meetings where recipient countries and donors meet to discuss the overall reform programme and future plans. The first full CG meeting for Moldova took place in March 1995, and the second in December 1997.