The World Bank is ready to support new projects in the area of information and communication technology of Moldova, with emphasis on projects with a social impact, so as to contribute to the development of sectors and regions that are disadvantaged from economic and technological viewpoints. The identification of ways by which Moldova could be helped to achieve the goals of the agenda “Digital Moldova 2020”, concerning the creation of infrastructure for broadband Internet in rural areas, was discussed in a meeting of ICT Minister Vasile Botnari and a WB team, IPN reports, quoting a communique of the Ministry.

“The goal assumed by the ICT Ministry by promoting the program to develop broadband networks for 2016-2020 is to reduce the discrepancy between the Internet connection speeds and disparities between the urban areas and rural ones, increasing thus the quality of life in the given settlements and offering the people more opportunities for developing at economic and cultural levels,” stated Vasile Botnari.

The implementation of the common emergency telephone number 112 is another project with a powerful social impact, according to the minister. “We count on the support of the partners in implementing this important project that will ensure the people’s access to emergency services by calling one number - 112,” said Vasile Botnari.

Jerome Bezzina, senior regulatory economist at the ICT Department of the World Bank, said the WB supports the Moldovan Government’s efforts to extend the public services intended for the people and economic operators by using information technology. The World Bank will consider the instruments by which it could provide assistance in implementing these projects.

The WB representatives also said that the Government should now agree the priorities for the immediate period of cooperation with the Word Bank so as to be able to rapidly make progress in implementing the discussed projects.