EBRD ready to provide €150m to Moldova for roads

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) may offer €150 million to Moldova for the reconstruction of roads and modernization of the Chisinau International Airport. The possibility of granting the loan to Moldova was discussed in a meeting of Prime Minister Vlad Filat and representatives of the EBRD on February 8, Info-Prim Neo reports. According to a communiqué from the Government, Sue Barett, director of the EBRD Transport Department, confirmed the bank’s readiness to give Moldova a loan of €150 million for the reconstruction of 213 km of road. This project will be co-financed together with the European Investment Bank that will also provide €150 million. The sides also discussed the possibility of offering technical assistance in making a feasibility study for the project to restructure Moldova’s Railways. Sue Barett said the bank is ready to help work out a plan for reforming this company and to provide the necessary support to implement it in partnership with the European Investment Bank. The project includes the plan to rehabilitate and renovate the company’s railcars. Vlad Filat said Moldova’s Railways should be modernized, while the EBRD’s intention to carry out an all-inclusive analysis of the road infrastructure is welcome. The officials also spoke about the readiness of the president of the EBRD to visit Moldova. The Republic of Moldova asked for a loan from the EBRD for rehabilitating the roads on September 21, 2012.