PHOTO // PM promotes Moldova's investment opportunities in New York

Prime Minister Vasile Tofan has announced new partnerships for Moldova during his visit to New York, where he held a string of meetings with representatives of American companies and financial institutions focused on attracting capital and technology, MOLDPRES reports. According to the PM, the discussions were focused on such areas as AI, investments, energy and infrastructure.

The prime minister and representatives of ServiceNow, including Nick Tzitzon, the company’s vice president and leader of the AI Institute, discussed the use of artificial intelligence in public services.

“We discussed using AI to provide simpler public services and make decision-making processes faster, more transparent and easier to verify. I invited them to Moldova, in order to identify two or three concrete pilot projects,” Vasile Tofan said.

Another topic discussed was attracting investments through private funds. The prime minister said he had spoken with George Siguler and the Siguler Guff team about investment opportunities in Moldova. According to Tofan, the company manages approximately 19 billion dollars and has more than three decades of experience in private markets, including emerging markets.

During a meeting with representatives of the Washington Energy Council, the discussions focused on the possibility of turning energy projects in Moldova into bankable projects, including through solutions related to technology, suppliers, the regulatory framework and financing.

At the Atlantic Council, the prime minister presented investment opportunities of Moldova during a roundtable attended by representatives of Bank of America, CCN, DFC, Electrica, E-INFRA, GlobalVision, KVG, Marsh, S&P Global, Visa, Widelity and other companies.

“I presented Moldova’s investment opportunities and the projects where we see room for capital and new partnerships. My message was simple: we want serious investors, and our role is to provide clear rules, less bureaucracy, predictability and the simplest possible investment process,” Vasile Tofan said.

The prime minister also held talks with John Jovanovic, president and chief executive officer of EXIM Bank, on the possibility of attracting more American companies, equipment and technologies to Moldova, including in the energy and infrastructure sectors.

According to Tofan, the meeting also addressed financing options for long-term contracts concerning the import of liquefied natural gas from the United States.

“We discussed how we can bring more American companies, equipment and technologies to Moldova, including in energy and infrastructure. We also discussed financing options for long-term contracts for liquefied natural gas from the United States,” the prime minister said.

Vasile Tofan said that the objective of the discussions in New York is to turn investors’ expressed interest into concrete projects and investments in Moldova.

“Moldova is open for business. Now, we need to turn interest into investment, growing companies and concrete projects,” the prime minister said.

Vasile Tofan is in New York on September 23-26, where he is participating in the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly. The visit’s agenda includes bilateral meetings and discussions with representatives of the business community from the United States.