Chisinau: Council coordinating external assistance in regional development and construction held meeting

Council coordinating external assistance in regional development and construction held their first meeting to discuss priorities. They also met to coordinate mechanisms within the dialogue between partners, including institutions involved in regional development, the development agencies and the regional councils.

In his opening greeting, Minister of Regional Development and Construction, Marcel Raducan, stated: "The Ministry is responsible for implementing regional development policy at the national level, but coordination is important in the regions through the development and coordination by the regional councils and their implementation by the Regional Development Agencies. We have these institutions in the region and to capitalize on their work."

Valentina Plesca, General Director of Regional Development, presented challenges in coordinating external assistance for the field named. He specified that external assistance is needed in drafting the National Regional Development Strategy and Action Plan for its implementation in close collaboration with sectored ministries and State Chancellery. Some of these actions will be implemented with the support of EU-funded Twinning Project 2011-2013 and by working more closely with the UNDP project "Joint Integrated Local Development Program" in strengthening the institutional capacity of regional actors (DRF, RDA, LPA 1 and 2). Also the timing of the decentralization policy with regional policy in developing regions is important.

Also, Elena Bejenaru, Director architecture, construction and housing construction, mentioned that priorities for external assistance such as sustainable development and urban space. There is a need for upgrading laboratories in institutions under the Ministry for rehabilitation of housing built to fund energy efficiency of buildings.

Also, Svetlana Rogova, Head International Relations Directorate, presented the projects that are underway at the Ministry of Regional Development and Construction. He said the support of partners from Estonia, Czech Republic, Latvia, Romania, noting that today's meeting will foster dialogue with external partners, including with the business.

"It was an opportunity to benefit from aid agencies and regional development councils in the dissemination of good practice. Overcoming some institutional differences will allow development of the regions, and promoting institutional partnership is one of the key objectives of the project." said Philipp Johannsen, GIZ representative in Moldova.

Also at the meeting, Philip Johannsen, presented the progress of projects by the GIZ: "Modernizing Local Government Services in the Republic of Moldova" and "Capacity Development for Regional Development and Cross-Border Cooperation in Moldova."

Ministry of Regional Development and Construction expectations are that these sectored meetings of the Council to contribute to good programming, implementation and monitoring of external assistance.

Press Service of the Ministry of Regional Development and Construction