OREANDA-NEWS. January 21, 2014. Regional Development and Construction Ministry (MDRC) officials today discussed external assistance in this particular field in 2014. At a working meeting, members of the external assistance coordinating council reviewed MDRC’s achievements in the second semester of 2013 and revealed the present sectoral needs to identify new collaboration initiatives.

According to the MDRC’s press service, Minister Marcel Raducan described 2013 as a productive year and noted that the meeting aimed at scheduling the necessary activities for 2014. "The EU funds planned for 2014-2020 will facilitate new projects and opportunities, both for the country in general, and for the regional development policy, in particular. It is important to see the reflection of the collaboration between institutions in the form of implemented projects and client satisfaction", said Raducan.

The minister also highlighted the effective cooperation in 2013 between MDRC and its counterparts from Poland, Estonia, Latvia, international organisations, such as the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), SIDA, USAID, the European Commission, the Council of Europe’s Development Bank (ECB), the Technical Assistance Program for the Sector Budget Support Economic Stimulation in the Rural Areas (ESRA), the Twinning project etc.

The cooperation initiatives for 2014 were also discussed at the meeting. The participants stressed the need to supplement funds for the Modernisation of Local Public Services Project, funded by the German government, in order to continue the activities this year too.

The Local Moldovan Authorities’ Information Centre will continue to support local administration and NGOs in Moldova in promoting the implementation of projects and establishing external partnerships, as well as attracting possible donors, on the basis of signing a memorandum on extending joint activities with Poland. Another important cooperation, strengthened this year through concrete activities and projects, is co-financing a joint program with US Agency for International Development in the town of Telenesti. The cooperation within two projects funded by the Czech International Development Cooperation Agency for the development of the northern and southern regions will also be initiated in 2014.