Moldovan acting PM, World Bank's country director discuss projects underway

Chisinau, 11 March /MOLDPRES/ - Acting Prime Minister Aureliu Ciocoi today had an online meeting with World Bank Country Director for Moldova, Belarus and Ukraine Arup Banerji. Attending the discussion was Director of the World Bank’s Office in Moldova Anna Akhalkatsi, as well as other representatives of the Office, the government’s communication and protocol department has reported.   
Aureliu Ciocoi thanked the World Bank’s representatives for the constant openness and support provided to Moldova. He noted that, at present, 12 projects worth over 600 million dollars, financed by WB, were implemented in Moldova.  
The World Bank representatives informed the acting PM that the organization’s specialists, jointly with Finance Ministry’s representatives, worked to give final touches to three new financing projects, worth over 80 million dollars in all.  
In particular, the discussions were focused on the project, Emergency Response to COVID-19 in Moldova, which provides for offering additional financing to back the implementation of the plan on anti-COVID-19 immunization nationally through purchasing of vaccines and strengthening the vaccination infrastructure, especially the capacities of the chain of refrigerators, management of medical waste, etc.  
The second project under preparation discussed was the project, Security of supply with water and sanitation in Moldova, which sees massive investments in the water supply infrastructure, construction of sanitation systems in 100 primary schools and 25 medical institutions, development of the institutional capacities of five operators, etc.  
Another project discussed regards the providing of the third additional financing in form of grant, to carry out the High Value Agricultural Activity in Moldova project, aimed at strengthening the country’s agro-food sector.    
The participants in the meeting reviewed the political situation in Moldova. Aureliu Ciocoi voiced hope that solutions would be soon found for the swearing in office of a cabinet, the mandate of which would allow de-blocking more investment projects and vital reforms for overcoming the social and economic crisis. ‘’The current government does its utmost, within its competences, for the future cabinet to have everything prepared for starting a comprehensive process of reforms,’’ Aureliu Ciocoi said.  
The acting prime minister noted that one of the Moldova’s pressing needs was the reformation of the education system. ‘’The investments must be made in the competences of the next generations; thus, we will have promising results for long and medium terms,’’ Aurelius Ciocoi said.  
Arup Banerji reiterated the World Bank’s willingness to support, through its programmes, the carrying out of Moldova’s country priorities, including in the education’s reformation. 
photo: Government