Mayors from Central Region of country participated in consultations on investments for amalgamated localities

Mayors from the central region of the country involved in the voluntary amalgamation process took part in a new round of consultations organized at the Government. The discussions focused on the investments that amalgamated localities will be able to benefit from and on the preparation of projects that are to be financed. The consultations were attended by Prime Minister Vasile Tofan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Regional Development Vladimir Bolea, and Secretary General of the Government Alexei Buzu.

Tofan praised the involvement of the mayors who had the courage to launch the amalgamation process and, together with the citizens, to set the priorities of the communities they represent. He emphasized that the reform is necessary to build stronger local administrations, capable of providing better services and supporting economic development.

“We have much to learn from our mayors about how we build citizens’ trust and how we respond to their expectations. It is our obligation to work together, to find solutions, and to have the wisdom to reach compromises. If we want to change the country, we must have the courage to do important things,” said Tofan.

The Prime Minister also spoke about the link between the capacity of local administrations and economic development. A stronger municipality can create better conditions for enterprises, attract investment, and contribute to job creation. In this context, the Prime Minister referred to the need to analyze mechanisms through which a larger share of the revenue generated by economic activity would remain at the local level, so that municipalities are encouraged to attract businesses and investments into their communities.

Secretary General of the Government Alexei Buzu thanked the mayors for the work carried out in recent months and stressed the importance of preparing solid and competitive investment projects: “We must jointly decide how to consult the citizens, what the sequence of development priorities is, and how we turn these priorities into well-prepared projects. We must be very good at what we do and use the available resources as efficiently as possible.”

Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Infrastructure and Regional Development Vladimir Bolea underlined that the reform must create the necessary conditions for the villages of the Republic of Moldova to move from survival to development: “A commune can include five, six or seven localities, each with different problems and needs. Therefore, interventions and investments must be very well targeted. For us there are no big or small villages, more important or less important. We will take into account the needs of every locality and every citizen.”

During the consultations, the mayors were presented with the proposed mechanism for administering Stimulus No. 2, intended for infrastructure development in amalgamated localities. It provides for the allocation of 3,000 lei for each inhabitant of the new administrative-territorial unit. The resources will be managed by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Regional Development through the Regional Development Agencies and will be accessible starting in 2027.

The funds can be invested in the development of local roads, expansion of water supply and sewerage systems, public lighting, energy efficiency, social infrastructure, waste management, and the development of public spaces. The consultations also included a Q&A session, during which the mayors requested clarifications on the application of financial incentives, the way cases will be managed where the amalgamation process is not finalized, as well as the conditions for preparation, eligibility, and financing of development projects.

The consultation with mayors from the central region of the country continues the series of discussions organized by the Government with local authorities involved in the voluntary amalgamation process. The aim is for municipalities to know the financing mechanisms in advance and to prepare projects that meet the needs of all localities within the new administrative-territorial unit.

The Government is making available to localities that complete the voluntary amalgamation process an incentive package estimated at 6.5 billion lei, which includes support for preparing the process, financing infrastructure projects, and transfers to strengthen the capacity of the new local administrations.