CLUJ-NAPOCA, May 10, 2019 – The Cluj County Council and the World Bank Romania signed today a Reimbursable Service Agreement (RAS) – a form of technical assistance project - to support the County in developing its spatial plan that will result in boosting the sustainable and competitive development of its territory.
Cluj County is one of the main engines of growth in the country, with its capital city, Cluj-Napoca, serving as the one of the most attractive urban destinations at national level. This partnership also aims at strengthening the County’s capacity to respond to real estate market dynamics using spatial planning tools and at developing a best-practice model for stakeholder coordination and consultation.
“We are excited to be working with Cluj County Council in this important venture,” said Tatiana Proskuryakova, World Bank Country Manager for Romania and Hungary. “This new project is a great opportunity to support the local government from Cluj to develop a strategic tool for urban planning and future growth, especially given the county’s growth trajectory and economic potential.”
The World Bank will provide technical assistance to the Cluj County Council over a period of 25 months. Technical support will consist in: carrying out ten substantiation studies in key areas (for example: natural capital, protected areas and environment, population, territorial planning in the context of European policies and strategies), providing technical inputs for the elaboration of the spatial plan; supporting the drafting of the County’s Territorial Development Strategy and assisting the County Council in developing an action plan for the implementation of the interventions proposed in the spatial plan.
"By signing this agreement, Cluj becomes the first county in Romania where the Territorial Development Plan is elaborated with the support of the World Bank through technical assistance,” said Alin Tise, President of Cluj County Council. “This way, the development of the county will be achieved in a coherent way, based on a series of extremely rigorous territorial planning tools and analysis. Moreover, the most recent priorities and development directions will be taken into account."
The World Bank opened its office in Romania in 1991. Since then, the Bank has provided over $12.4 billion in loans, guarantees and grants in all sectors of the Romanian economy.
The Bank’s current portfolio includes investment lending, analytical work, and technical assistance to support Romania’s reform priorities. In 2016, the World Bank Group and Romania celebrated 25 years of continued partnership in supporting poverty reduction and inclusive growth.
