OREANDA-NEWS. April 23, 2014. Representatives of the Regional Development and Constructions Ministry (MDRC) and a mission of experts of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) discussed a new 2014-2017 country strategy for Moldova in Chisinau.

The sides analysed and set priorities of financing and the cooperation sectors with all interested actors, the MDRC press service has said.

Deputy Regional Development and Constructions Minister Liviu Oboroc unveiled to Swiss officials the priorities of regional development in Moldova, projects under implementation, tendencies of regions development and investment opportunities in the three active development regions: North, Centre and South.

Also, the deputy minister welcomed the launch of the new 2014-2017 country strategy for Moldova in early April and emphasised that the strategy established the priority areas of cooperation with Moldova. Oboroc expressed the Ministry’s interest in deepening the collaboration with the Swiss agency in the regional development sector and implementing joint projects.

The Swiss experts showed interest in the regional development system, way the projects are implemented and work of the Regional Development Agency. They noted that a survey would be given the final touches till next June, which is to contain concrete activities due to benefit from the Swiss government’s assistance.

At the same time, the SDC representatives stressed that the goal of the mission’s visit was to analyse investment opportunities and identify areas for cooperation and financing. In this context, they highlighted the priority fields for 2014-2017: drinking water supply and health care, as well as turning to account the potential of the migration phenomenon for Moldova’s economic development.

In 2010-2013, the financial assistance provided by Switzerland to Moldova amounted to 24 million euros. In the next years, according to Swiss experts, Moldova might benefit from an aid worth 46 million euros.

The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation implements the Swiss policy for development in over 50 countries, with the main goal to promote sustainable development and poverty reduction.