Moldova will be divided into 6 development regions

There will be 6 development regions in Moldova: North, Center, South, UTA Gagauzia, Municipality of Chisinau and Transnistria. This is provided for by the bill on the regional development of the R. of Moldova, recently approved by the Government. The North region is to include: Balti municipality, Briceni, Donduseni, Drochia, Edinet, Falesti, Floresti, Glodeni, Ocnita, Rascani, Sangerei, Soroca raions; the Centre region – Anenii-Noi, Calaraşi, Criuleni, Dubasari, Hancesti, Ialoveni, Nisporeni, Orhei, Rezina, Straseni, Soldaneşti, Telenesti, Ungheni; South will be composed of Basarabeasca, Cahul, Cantemir, Causeni, Cimislia, Leova, Stefan-Voda and Taraclia raions. The Minister of Local Public Administration, Vitalie Vrabie considers that this concept of development is a result of the policies promoted by a great part of the EU member-states. The EU member-countries adopted the regional approach in the social-economic development, as a strong basis for a sustainable development and economic growth. This approach assures the best utilization of resources and capacities and contributes to attracting important funds and investments, asserts Vrabie. According to the minister, regional development in Moldova will not reshuffle existent administrative structures, but will only introduce a system formed of administrative local units groups. The Government also affirms that the implementation of the regional development concept will not imply special additional costs. TACIS (EURDIB) project of the EU will also offer technical assistance in the process of forming the capacities of all required bodies, institutions and instruments. The bill could pass in November 2006 The Strategy of attracting investments and promoting exports for the period from 2006 to 2015, recently approved by the Government, also provides the Formation of economic regions. Earlier, the former Minister of Economy and Commerce Valeriu Lazar mentioned that at present, there is a great discrepancy between the regions of RM under the territorial economic aspect. He exemplified by the great concentration of the economic potential in Chisinau and partially in Balti, the rest of the territory suffering a rather dramatic situation. According to Lazar, at a time with drafting the legislative frame, the European Union expressed its availability to “finance rather massively” regional development.