World Bank grants Moldova $30 mln for economic governance policies

The World Bank said it has approved a $30 million (25.6 million euro) financing to help Moldova reduce fiscal risks and level the playing field for private sector development.

The current operation is a key component of the World Bank’s Moldova Country Partnership Framework for 2018-2021 and supports the government’s National Development Strategy “Moldova 2020, the bank said in a press release on Thursday.

“The approval of this financing is an acknowledgement of the recent reforms implemented in Moldova to enhance the pension system, increase functionality of the National Integrity Authority, strengthen banking sector governance, and improve the business environment, to name a few,” World Bank country manager for Moldova Anna Akhalkatsi said in the statement.

The financing will support a wide range of structural reforms which will foster the sustainability of the pension system, improve health outcomes through higher tobacco taxes, strengthen the transparency of state-owned enterprises through better financial reporting requirements, and advance transparency in the public sector through an enhanced assets declaration regime for high-level officials.

The operation also contributes to the development of the private sector by streamlining the process of obtaining authorizations and permits by firms and simplifying domestic procedures to boost agricultural productivity.

Finally, this development policy financing will help strengthen the governance regime of the banking sector and improve transparency in the electricity procurement process.

“Economic growth is expected to moderate in the medium-term and remain highly reliant on consumption. Boosting growth and maintaining macro-economic stability requires addressing economic governance challenges that undermine both public and private sector efficiency,” World Bank senior economist for Moldova Elisa Gamberoni said, as quoted in the statement.

Since Moldova joined the World Bank Group in 1992, over $1 billion has been allocated to approximately 60 projects in the country. Currently, the World Bank portfolio includes 10 active projects with a total commitment of $357.9 million. Areas of support include regulatory reform and business development, education, e-governance, healthcare, agriculture, local roads, environment, and more.