Moldovan premier says government's major goal remains continuing investments in infrastructure projects

Chisinau, 19 October /MOLDPRES/ - Prime Minister Ion Chicu today held a discussion with Deputy Executive Director of the International Monetary Fund Mitsuhiro Furusawa and Director of the IMF European Department Alfred Kammer, the government’s communication and protocol department has reported.  
The event took place at annual meetings of the IMF and World Bank Group, held in Washington in online format. Attending the meetings were Finance Minister Serghei Puscuta and Governor of the National Bank of Moldova (BNM) Octavian Armasu.   
At the videoconference, the sides made an analysis of the effects of the implementation of the previous programmes with international institutions. Emphasis was put on the progress of reforms from the financial and banking sector and measures undertaken by the government to ensure the country’s macro-economic stability. At the same time, the sides analyzed the progress made by the Moldovan authorities in the carrying out of the preliminary actions agreed upon with IMF, for the signing of a new programme with this institution.
PM Chicu thanked the Fund’s representatives for the support provided in the process of reforms’ implementation. ‘’The government approved the needed package of laws which meets the conditions of the new financing programme with IMF. We take all efforts, in order to continue implementing the vital reforms for Moldova. We have prepared a string of measures on backing the business environment and protecting the investors’ interests,’’ Ion Chicu said.  
The prime minister noted that ‘’one of the major goals of the cabinet remains the continuation of investments in infrastructure projects, construction of aqueducts, the country’s industrialization, which will lead to the development of the economy and improvement of the citizens’ living standards.’’  
An experts’ team of the International Monetary Fund, led by Ruben Atoyan, on 19-27 October 2020 will hold discussions with Moldova’s authorities in online format, from the IMF headquarters in Washington. The mission’s goal is to carry out the regular exercise of collecting information on the recent economic developments, to collect facts on the implementation of the commitments assumed in the context of the programme agreed upon with the authorities at the level of experts. The programme is to be supported through the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) and Extended Fund Facility (EFF). The purpose of the mission is also to discuss the policies promoted by the authorities, in order to maintain the macro-economic and budgetary stability, including in the context of the 2021 budget.
The value of the new cooperation programme between Moldova and IMF is 558 million dollars and will be implemented during three years (2020-2023). The financial assistance will be used to re-launch Moldova’s economy and overcome the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as for implementing institutional reforms.
Photo source: Government