The world’s largest museum, education, and research complex, which is home to 19 museums and galleries - the Smithsonian Institution of the United States - will offer the Republic of Moldova assistance in conserving the cultural heritage. During June 19-28, a team of experts of the Institution paid a fact-finding visit to Moldova at the invitation of USAID and the Ministry of Culture, IPN reports.

Minister of Culture Monica Babuc told a news conference that the U.S. Embassy and USAID are Moldova’s friends and partners in several very important cultural efforts, such as the open-air Classical Music Festival “DescOPERA” held in Butuceni, Orheiul Vechi, and the plan for developing the Orheiul Vechi Reserve. The U.S. Embassy also offers significant assistance in promoting the file of this reserve on the UNESCO Representative List and in carrying out very important research works. There is also the project to restore the Assumption of the Mother of God Church in Causeni, which will later be included in the national tourist circuit.

USAID Moldova Mission Director Karen Hilliard said the USAID-funded five-year Moldova Competitiveness Project has a value of US$ 22 million that is intended for four sectors, including the tourism industry. Karen Hilliard expressed her conviction that the Republic of Moldova has an enormous potential as a tourist destination. The Smithsonian Institution has partnership projects with USAID in a number of states and the Republic of Moldova could be included in these. This visit could result in the implementation of a three-four year project that will center on three-four major sites and the development of neighboring regions.

Liz Tunick Cedar, expert of the Smithsonian Institution, said that Moldova has incredible cultural heritage and this refers both to the tangible heritage and the intangible one, such as the existing cultural practices and traditions. “This week we could discover the rich cultural fabric of the Republic of Moldova. We were also enchanted with the ethnic, religious diversity and diversity of traditions,” stated Liz Tunick Cedar.

The U.S. Government offers multidimensional support to the tourism industry in a move to promote Moldova as an authentic tourist destination, while the expertise of the Smithsonian Institution will help to develop tourism and tourism products and to enhance the prosperity of rural regions and, implicitly, of the families that work in tourism, said the partners.