MAYORS FROM THE REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA EXCHANGED EXPERIENCES IN THE AREA OF LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING

14 February 2019

   

On 31 January – 1 February, 50 representatives of the local authorities from the Republic of Moldova, who are signatories of the EU Initiative ”Mayors for Economic Growth” (M4EG), the representatives of the EU Delegation to Moldova, and other partner organisations gathered in Chisinau to share their experience in local economic development planning.

At the beginning of the event Iva Stamenova, project manager from the EU Delegation to the Republic of Moldova, greeted the participants and in her welcoming speech stressed once again the crucial role and importance of local administrations’ leadership for successful local economic development in the country.

The Chair of the Local Authorities’ Congress from Moldova, the mayor of Selemet village from Cimislia district, Tatiana Badan, expressed high appreciation of the importance of the “Mayors for Economic Growth” Initiative, pointing out that as many communities from the country as possible should join it. “This project allows the local authorities to improve visibly their capacities, so as to give the localities an impetus to develop and fulfill their potential, as a result”, said Tatiana Badan.

During the event, new Junior M4EG members and more experienced Acting M4EG member municipalities, who have their Local Economic Development Plans ready and approved, exchanged ideas and good practices on how to turn their localities into drivers of sustainable economic growth by engaging into public-private dialogue, promoting innovation, creating attractive business environment, and developing local tourism potential.

The participants discussed the needs and opportunities for improved local capacity in planning, including formulating the strategic vision and the concrete action plan for economic development, as well as ensuring feasibility and sustainability of interventions. With this regard, the M4EG online training for elaboration of the Local Economic Development Plan was presented to the participants, who will soon be able to access it on the official web page of the Initiative (www.m4eg.eu).

Six communities: Briceni city, Calarasi city, Ceadir-Lunga municipality, Gaidar commune, Sarata Veche commune and Sireti commune, who have recently joined the Initiative, obtained the certificates that confirm the Junior member status.

The local public authorities, which become part of the Mayors for Economic Growth initiative, benefit from the M4EG Secretariat support in the elaboration and implementation of the Local Economic Development Plans, which have to be built upon the pillars of good governance, broad participation, and public-private dialogue.