Lilia Dabija: The Republic of Moldova signed an agreement with the EBRD and the EU for the repair works of 128 km of railway
In the last 30 years, the Republic of Moldova has not invested in the field of railway infrastructure, or, with the war in Ukraine and the modification of the logistics chains, there was an urgent need to invest in this transport infrastructure, stated the Minister of Infrastructure and Regional Development, Lilia Dabija. The statement was made in the context in which our country signed today with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the European Commission a grant and credit agreement in the total amount of 43 million euros, for repair works of the Vălcineț-Ocnița-Bălți railway corridor -Ungheni-Chisinau-Căinari.
Of the total number of goods that transited the Republic of Moldova through the solidarity corridors, only 35 percent were oriented towards rail transport. Obviously, the other 65% affected the road infrastructure and the environment, stated the Minister of Infrastructure and Regional Development, Lilia Dabija.
"We remain confident that, with the signing of this agreement, the more than 128 km of the solidarity section, the one that starts from Vălcineț, will be repaired, continuing towards Bălți-Ungheni-Chișinău-Căinari. This agreement will allow us to rehabilitate the railway infrastructure and to procure the necessary materials, which will lead to an increase in the speed of the railway infrastructure, safety and, why not, it will give a positive boost to the economic development of the Republic of Moldova", said Lilia Dabija.
The Minister of Infrastructure and Regional Development also stated that for the rehabilitation of this railway section, the European Commission offered a grant of 20 million euros, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development a credit of 23 million. At the same time, Lilia Dabija said that she is currently negotiating with the European Investment Bank a grant of over 10 million euros and a credit of 10 million, likewise, intended for the repair of the railway infrastructure.
The Ministry of Infrastructure and Regional Development aims to complete the works for the 128 kilometers of railway for which it obtained funding today, but also for another 233 kilometers, which are already in the evaluation procedure, by 2025.
