Maria Prisacari: North Regional Development Agency historically most industrialized region of Moldova

Interview given exclusively with the MOLDPRES State News Agency by the director of the North Regional Development Agency (ADR Nord), Maria Prisacari.  

MOLDPRES: The 2021 year was a period of important infrastructure projects for the North Development Region. To what extent have you managed to carry out the plans established in the beginning of the year?  

Maria Prisacari:  In 2021, we recorded the greatest turning to account of funds in the North Development Region, for the first time in those 12 years of activity of the North Regional Development Agency (ADR Nord). ADR Nord turned to account 221.44 million lei in all for the implementation of nine infrastructure projects and five soft projects in the region. As much as 62.14 million lei out of the overall sum of investments registered last year was allocated from the National Regional Development Fund (FNDR) and 159.3 million lei – from sources of the European Union and other sources.    

Of the FNDR sources, one of the most important achievements was the construction of over 20 km of aqueduct networks within a project on ensuring the access to drinking water for two communes in the Prut river meadow, in the Glodeni district, as well as the building of 3.92 km of road and tourist infrastructure nearby the Assumption of the Virgin Mary Monastery from the Calaraseuca village, northern Ocnita district.    

As for the infrastructure projects financed by the European Union, we note those 25.27 km of aqueduct networks, a water treatment station, two water pumping stations and seven drinking water reservoirs constructed in the Drochia town and 32 km of aqueduct constructed in the Falesti town.

In 2021, we implemented and got involved in the process of management of another five soft projects, financed from external sources, including from European Union sources. In this respect, we turned to good account about one million lei last year.  

Besides the implementation of infrastructure and soft projects, during the last year, we organized a string of events, the goals of which was the implementation of the regional development policy and attraction of investments in the region. Among the most important events in this respect, there was the seventh issue of the Days of the North Development Region, which also comprised the economic event, Doing Business in Moldova, as well as the international conference titled, Perspectives of the regional development policy.   

At the same time, we promoted the North Development Region as an attractive destination for investors and tourists. In this respect, in cooperation with the Rediscover Moldova team, we created, for the first time ever, 15 tourist packages for a string of destinations from north Moldova. The video clips and photos made in the region were distributed in the online environment during several months.    

Till the end of the last year, we have fulfilled most of the annual objectives which we set.

MOLDPRES: How do you assess the social and economic situation in the region which you manage?

M.P.: The North Development Region is one of those four functional regions of Moldova. It is situated in the south-eastern part of Europe, neighbouring with Romania in the west, with Ukraine in the north and east.   

From the administrative and territorial viewpoint, the North Development Region includes three municipalities (Balti, Edinet, Soroca) and 11 districts (Briceni, Edinet, Donduseni, Drochia, Falesti, Floresti, Glodeni, Ocnita, Rascani, Sangerei, Soroca), with a population of 974,558 residents, ranking, from this viewpoint, second among those four functional regions of the country (27.5 per cent from all Moldova’s population).      

The most important industrial and commercial centre from the northern region of the country is the Balti municipality, being regarded as the principal economic polarizer. Besides the Balti city, another two cities were identified in the region –Edinet and Soroca – in order to be backed for their development as growth poles. At the same time, the region has a low degree of urbanization (36.6 per cent).

The demographical situation in the region continues to be critical. In 2019, the region’s population registered a loss of about 49.2 thousand people against 2010, the biggest one nationally. The region is characterized by an unbalance in the structure of age of the population, which shows tendencies specific to the process of demographic ageing.  

From the viewpoint of the economic development level, the northern region continues to be a region with a high growth potential, with many economic opportunities to develop the entrepreneurship, of attracting investments and employment. The entrepreneurial sector is characterized by a relatively high number of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which account for 13 per cent of the number registered nationally. The SMEs from north Moldova continue to represent the vertebral column of the regional economy; they account for 98.7 per cent of all enterprises, contributing with 62 per cent to the employment and with 48 per cent to overall value of the incomes from sales of the region’s economy.    

The region’s economy is based, mainly, on the tertiary sector with big share of commerce), on industry (with almost industrial sectors represented here, preponderantly the processing industry) and on the farming sector. The North Development Region contributes about 22 per cent to the formation of the industrial production delivered nationally.   

The North Development Region is characterized by a well-developed business infrastructure, which includes: free economic zones, industrial parks, business incubators, which provide all infrastructure needed for the production activities and which ensures the increase in the level of development of the regions where they are placed, enhancement of the level of employment and the incomes of the residents.    

An important role in the enhancement of the region’s competitiveness is played by the existence of higher education institutions, secondary education institutions, vocational institutions. All these education institutions represent an excellent basis for developing the human resources, with impact on the economic development of the entire region.   

MOLDPRES: Where do you think it is necessary to boost the work and which are the sectors which do not show great chances of success?

M.P.: In the next years, we will focus of efforts of enhancing the access to services of water supply and increasing the access to sewerage services. Among the priorities, there is also the development of the support infrastructure for activities of research and technological development, essential for the region’s economic development.  

MOLDPRES: Which are three plausible reasons for which someone who would like to settle in Moldova should choose the region you represent?

M.P.: The North Development Region is historically the most industrialized region of the country, where there are a lot of national and multinational companies, which provide jobs remunerated advantageously and professional qualification. At the same time, there are higher education institutions, secondary education institutions and vocational schools in the northern region, which provide quality education and diplomas accepted internationally. Besides these advantages, the North Development Region has numerous picturesque tourist locations and many ecological products. The local residents and tourists who visit our region can enjoy natural products and more unique landscapes in the world.    

MOLDPRES: In what sectors will you implement new projects? Which are the priorities for the immediate period?

M.P.: The North Development Region of Moldova in 2022 will benefit from 104.8 million lei for the implementation of 11 new regional development projects, included in the Single Programme Document for the 2022-2024 years. The sums will be earmarked from FNDR.  

This year, we are to turn to good account important financial sources for the implementation of five projects on water and sewerage supply, five projects on turning to account the historical heritage and reviving of urban zones and a project on turning to account the business infrastructure.  

Also, with the support of the European Union, on the next period, we are to finish two projects on energy optimization of two education institutions from the region, in the Flamanzeni village, Sangerei district and the Balti municipality, as well as a project in the field of water and sewerage supply in the Edinet municipality.

The main goals of ADR Nord for 2022 are: ensuring the access to quality services and utilities, facilitating the economic growth and attracting investments in the region. At the same time, we will continue turning to account the relations which we developed during time with our partners and we will be open for new cooperation.  

All these objectives are contained in the North Regional Operational Programme, the new document of strategic programming at the level of the North Development Region for the next three years (2022-2024). The document’s goal is to enhance the competitiveness and sustainable development of the North Development Region, adjusting the disparities and improving the citizens’ living standards. The programme is to be subjected to public consultations and approval by the members of the North Regional Council for Development.    

MOLDPRES: Thank you for the interview and we wish you success!