OREANDA-NEWS. September 19, 2011. Prime Minister Vlad Filat met European Investment Bank (EIB) President Philippe Maystadt, the government's communications and press relations department has said.

The sides reviewed the projects under implementation and those that have been carried out so far within the bilateral cooperation. The officials also discussed ways to foster the Moldova-EIB collaboration.

Prime Minister Vlad Filat thanked Philippe Maystadt and the institution he leads for the support given to Moldova. He noted that, so far, the EIB has initiated seven investment projects worth 235 million euros in Moldova, of which six in the public sector.

The prime minister specified that Moldova benefited from the EIB's support in such important fields as roads' restoration, modernization of the Chisinau-based airport, supply with water and sewerage of several Moldovan towns (Floresti, Soroca, Leova, Orhei, Hincesti and Ceadir-Lunga); renewal of the Chisinau public transport sector; support for the vine-growing and wine-making sectors; crediting for small and medium-sized enterprises via the banking system.

A special subject of the meeting was the opportunities of financing offered by the recently created "Eastern Partnership's Fiduciary Fund for Technical Assistance". In the nearest future, the fund will allow identifying joint projects in such sectors as energy, transport, environment and telecommunications.

The officials also considered the opportunity to start partnerships in order to set up agricultural markets, which will help develop agriculture in Moldova and enhance the competitiveness of the Moldovan farming goods. The prime minister said these projects are important also because they will make it possible to create new jobs.

Vlad Filat voiced hope that the EIB will further support Moldova to implement projects aimed at upgrading the energy sector by ensuring energy efficiency; modernizing capacities of the thermal-electric power station to generate electricity; restoration and thermal rehabilitation of buildings; decreasing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to the climate changes; creating industrial marks; opening credit lines and consultative services in commercial banks.

"Presently, we can surely say that we have an efficient cooperation with the EIB, and that over this period, we have felt the strong support of our partner, which makes us look into the future with more optimism," the prime minister said.

Vlad Filat assured the EIB president of the Moldovan government's firm commitment to contribute to an efficient implementation of the projects under implementation, ensure full transparency and the enforcement of the rules and good practices within the projects.

"The support of the European Investment Bank is extremely valuable for Moldova, therefore, I want to express confidence that out cooperation, based on consideration and mutual trust, will continue developing successfully and for reciprocal benefit," the prime minister said.

For his part, Philippe Maystadt thanked the prime minister for the invitation to visit Moldova. The EIB president said he is for the first time on visit to Chisinau. The official described the visit as full of content and useful, and voiced hope that this will not be his last visit to Moldova.

The bank's president said the European Union initiated the Eastern Partnership as it is interested in the stability and continuous development of the bordering regions. He also said the EIB is an institution meant to finance development projects.

"In this respect, we have an excellent cooperation with Moldova," Philippe Maystadt said. He noted that Moldova is the biggest beneficiary of the EIB services as compared to the size of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) within the Eastern Partnership.

The EIB president also said the cooperation sectors announced by the bank at the initial phase had been the transport infrastructure, energy and water supply. Nevertheless, Moldova managed to expand the cooperation area, so that it was possible to sign a financing agreement for the vine-growing and wine-making sectors worth 75 million euros. The accord's first installment will be disbursed till late 2011.

Philippe Maystadt said the EIB is willing to further provide Moldova with assistance to carry out new projects, some of which are presently under elaboration.

"We have a rich experience in financing projects in the above-mentioned fields, and we are willing to back Moldova in continuation," Philippe Maystadt said.

At the end of the meeting, the prime minister said all the projects implemented in partnership with the EIB are focused on strategic objectives for Moldova and on the country's development. Vlad Filat emphasized that these projects are important also in terms of ensuring the state's security in the sectors of utmost importance.