Chisinau - 1 May, 2015 - Development Partners of Moldova engaged today in a full-day policy retreat with the Prime Minister of Moldova Chiril Gaburici and the Cabinet. The retreat provided an opportunity to discuss key development challenges and policy recommendations presented by the development partners in their Briefing Book, and the Government’s specific action plans.
The Briefing Book recommended immediate and medium term actions based on evidence, best practices and Moldova’s international commitments. It highlights the need to ensure a stable economic environment and sound management of public finances; to overcome major inequalities and the deep influence of corruption on public life; and the need to promote inclusiveness and citizen engagement.
Since the presentation of the Briefing Book on 4 March 2015, the Government has begun to engage with Moldova’s development partners in sector-based, in-depth consultations in several areas, and this is expected to continue following the retreat.
Today’s policy retreat concentrated on five themes: governance, macro-fiscal questions (including the financial sector), social sectors, productive sectors, and infrastructure. Thematic sessions were moderated by heads of international agencies and diplomatic missions, representing development partners of Moldova. Ministers presented their action plans, listed the Government’s main priorities and discussed technical points in parallel sessions.
The retreat was a joint initiative to help the Government respond to Moldova's key challenges and represented the next step in the spirit of policy dialogue and strategic partnership with the Government that was marked by the presentation of the Briefing Book in March. “Moldova needs to address its development challenges with a whole-of-society approach, solid institutional coordination and practical evidence-based policies. We had a constructive dialogue today and now look forward to supporting the Government as it redoubles its efforts to achieve national priorities and promote sustainable human developments”, said Dafina Gercheva, Resident Coordinator of the United Nations (UN) in the Republic of Moldova.
Alex Kremer, World Bank country manager for Moldova said in his closing remarks on behalf of the development partners, “Today’s policy retreat was a fantastic example of teamwork and frank discussion among ministers and development partners. All Moldova’s critical political choices got an airing and the development partners look forward to seeing the concrete actions that will result.”
Prime Minister Chiril Gaburici thanked the development partners for their engagement with the country’s modernization agenda and identified the government’s priorities: national unity, supremacy of law and sustainable economy. “We appreciate enormously this dialogue with development partners. Their opinions and proposals, as discussed in detail today, are important to us”.
EU Ambassador Pirkka Tapiola said, "The main purpose of the Briefing Book is to engage in a development policy dialogue between the Government and the community of development partners and the event today comes to showcase the practical implementation of this goal. We are looking forward to fruitful results of the meetings held today."
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For more information please contact:
Office of the UN Resident Coordinator: http://www.un.md/viewcontacts
Lilia Surdu, UNDP Communications Consultant, Tel. + 373 22 269 112, e-mail: lilia.surdu@undp.org
