Government to use Moldova’s geographical position to attract transit flows of goods

The government is determined to maximise the potential of Moldova’s geographic position in order to attract transit flows of goods, and the participation in the TRACECA programme (Transport Corridor Europe-Caucasus-Asia) offers new opportunities to this end. Transport and Roads Infrastructure Minister Vasile Botnari made statements to this effect at the tenth meeting of the TRACECA intergovernmental commission, held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan September 17.

During the meeting, the official informed the participants about the worked out infrastructure projects. "Moldova strives to develop a network of logistics knots, as well as to create attractive conditions for the development of multimodal transports, including by improving the transports infrastructure. Three out the four projects, earlier presented within the TRACECA forum, have found their investors. It is about the setting up of an international logistics centre at the Marculesti international airport, the construction of a 19.1-km segment of the M3 Chisinau-Giurgiulesti road on the Porumbeni-Cimislia portion, and the building of the Comrat belt road, that will be funded by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the European Investment Bank(EIB), " said Botnari.

The minister said that the development of efficient transport corridors also ensured, to a great extent, the further development of not only the road network, but also the economy of the countries participating in the project. "I think it is important to turn to account the TRACECA investment forums’ experience in order to create the necessary conditions for transporting goods, and we are ready, with TRACECA’s technical support, to propose new ideas to be considered by potential donors," added Botnari.

The TRACECA programme was created at the Brussels Conference on 3 May 1993. Participating in the event were the transport and trade ministers from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. Ukraine and Mongolia were accepted in the TRACECA programme in 1996, Moldova joined the programme in 1999, and Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey – in 2002.

Adapted from moldpres