2020 will be a year of investments and a large part of these investments will be financed with external funds. Premier Ion Chicu, in a video interview for IPN, said the investments in infrastructure, airports, roads and other sectors are an element of ascension. If these investments are not made, the Republic of Moldova will remain stagnant, as during the past 30 years.
As to the initiatives aimed at developing the airports in Bălți and Mărculești, the Premier said the state will not invest budget funds. The airport in Mărculești has the necessary infrastructure. “Only a passenger terminal and control elements are absent there, but the airport’s administration can build these. Flights from the Mărculești airport could be operated as from next May or June. We calculated that at most 30 million lei is needed to make it functional,” stated the Premier.
He noted the airport in Bălți is attractive from commercial viewpoint as it is situated near the town, the highway. An international airport should be developed there and private investments are needed in this regard. The state does not consider it necessary to make investments in this business. A feasibility study will be carried out, with the involvement of foreign experts, to determine the costs and conditions in which the state can enter a public-private partnership. A contest will be announced later. The procedure can last for two-three years.
As to the investments in road infrastructure, Ion Chicu said a sum of 6 billion lei was earmarked for the purpose for next year. This money could not be stolen as the Mtender government procurement system will be used. Large companies could take part and quality guarantees will be required through the public procurement contracts.
The investments represent the largest part of the 7.4bn lei state budget deficit for next year and these cannot affect the sustainability of the budget. There are resources for making investments in infrastructure projects. Moldova will fulfill the conditions for receiving the installments of macro-financial assistance from the EU. In the last Cabinet meeting this year, a bill to amend the government procurement law with reference to utilities will be approved and this will be adopted by Parliament next February, when it returns from vacation. The initiative concerning the fighting of money laundering will also be approved at one of the first meetings next year.
The interview “Prime Minister Ion Chicu’s view about the state of affairs in Moldovan society at the intersection of years” forms part of the series. “Crossroads of years through the angle of the ideal of living better at home” that also involves President Igor Dodon and the leaders of the main parliamentary parties Andrei Năstase, Pavel Fillip and Maia Sandu.
