Ten laboaratoes from Moldovan Technical University renovated with European Union's support

Chisinau, 7 October /MOLDPRES/ - Ten laboratories of the Moldovan Technical University (UTM) have been renovated within the project, Moldova’s Orchard, backed by the European Union through the European Investment Bank (EIB). The inauguration of the modernized halls took place today in the presence of more officials.     
The direct beneficiaries of the investments worth two million euros are more than 1,000 UTM students.  From now on, they will enjoy modern laboratory equipment, as well as a lot of chemical reagents needed for the research activities.
„The Agriculture Ministry will further support the investments in the sector, modernization of the competent universities and will fully facilitate the implementation of modern technologies and innovations in the field. You, who belong to the young generation, have this task to successfully ensure the implementation of new technologies, by applying in practice the knowledge you get,’’ Agriculture and Food Industry Minister Viorel Gherciu said.   
The block of the Food Products Technology Faculty was thermally insulated within the same investment project. The works allowed significantly saving the resources.  
The investments were made through the project Moldova’s Orchard, which is a crediting line worth 120 million euros, provided by EIB, as European Union’s bank, to Moldova’s government.    
 „Despite the crisis triggered by Covid-19, 19,000 small- and medium-sized enterprises were supported and over 11,000 jobs were maintained in Moldova in 2020, within the EU4Business Initiative. Moldova’s Orchard project, which is the crediting line provided by our partners from the European Investment Bank, goes together with the technical assistance financed by EU, in order to ensure a higher efficiency and impact of investments in the horticultural sector,’’ a representatives of the EU Delegation in Moldova, Gintautas Baranauskas, said.  
UTM has earlier benefited from an investment worth 1.8 million euros, provided within the Filiere du Vin (Wine Way) project supported by EU through the European Investment Bank. The funds were used for modernizing 15 laboratories.  
„These investments will improve the quality and relevance of the training, education and research dealing with the horticultural sector from Moldova, so that it meets the European standards. As a result, the current students and future specialists will contribute to the creation of an advanced horticultural sector, based on innovation and sustainability,’’ the head of the European Investment Bank Office in Chisinau, Alberto Carlei, said.  
The horticulture is an agriculture branch providing 14 per cent of the revenues coming from export and producers from Moldova have facilitated access to a market of about 500 million consumers. The exports to EU take place based on preferential conditions, due to the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area, which is part of the European Association Agreement and implies the gradual liberalization of the trade with goods and services.
Photo: Moldova’s Orchard