Moldovan PM speaks on results of first Moldova – EU Investment Conference: benefits for citizens and business environment

The results and investments announced at the first Moldova – European Union Investment Conference, held in Chisinau on June 4, mean modern infrastructure, better roads, new businesses, jobs, decent salaries, development and economic growth for the citizens of the country. Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu made statements to this effect at the beginning of a today’s government meeting.

The PM stressed that the one billion euros in investments announced following the Conference represented a real success for Moldova.

“It was a success. Investments of 1 billion euros were announced, of which about one third comes from the private sector, which is a good sign. The private sector has confidence in Moldova, in what we are doing as a government, in our investment and legal framework. For citizens, these investments clearly mean better roads, modern infrastructure, new businesses, jobs, especially for young people, good salaries, career prospects; they mean development and economic growth. These results did not appear overnight; a great deal of work went into organizing this conference and bringing in investors. It is the result of the reforms that we have already started to implement and a sign of confidence in Moldova from our partners and the private sector,” said Alexandru Munteanu.

The PM acknowledged that there were also voices that tried to downplay the achievements and results obtained following the Conference. In the context, the official underlined the constant efforts of the authorities to attract investment and to strengthen partnerships.

“Of course there were also voices that tried to minimize these achievements; it is their right. What impressed me was that even those who usually criticize were in this case more moderate or more neutral, some even more positive. Especially those who, in a way, have understood over the course of their previous careers what it means to attract investment and how difficult it is to convince investors when we have two wars that directly affect us. Certainly, there were also completely outlandish voices that denied everything that was done, claiming that we signed only letters of intent that have no value. I have been dealing with investments for more than 30 years, at the World Bank and at those investment funds for which I worked and which I helped create. I do not know how these people who criticize – and I am sure that in their lives they have never invested a single leu – imagine that the money would somehow be distributed, thrown from helicopters, or that someone would come with a bag of cash. That is not how things are done anymore. Of course, a letter of intent is signed, whereby the parties make certain commitments and we had multinational and bilateral investors. But in any case, we signed these investments, negotiations were conducted openly and our partnerships were strengthened,” said Prime Minister Munteanu.

At the same time, the PM noted that the authorities must continue reforms and honor the commitments undertaken, in order to ensure the country’s development.

On 4 June, Chisinau hosted the first Moldova – European Union Investment Conference, which included the signing of investment partnerships, financing instruments and new investment projects announced for Moldova, which will generate investments of over 1 billion euros in the country’s economy.