A European grant worth EUR 12 million will be offered to the government in Chișinău to modernise the railway in the Republic of Moldova.
The grant will be provided as part of the EIB Global project to rehabilitate and modernise two key sections of railway line.
The European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, Olivér Várhelyi, and the President of the European Investment Bank (EIB), Werner Hoyer, signed a contract to this effect at the Global Gateway Forum in Brussels. Supported by a further EUR 42 million loan from EIB Global, the upgraded railway infrastructure will not only improve Moldova’s internal connectivity, but also provide an important export route for Ukraine, promoting regional stability and economic resilience.
Modernisation of the railway in the Republic of Moldova to EU standards
The project will be implemented by the Moldovan Railways operator Calea Ferată din Moldova and will aim at rehabilitating the railway infrastructure on the Vălcineț-Ungheni-Chișinău-Căinari transport corridor.
It is part of an overall country-wide reform aimed at improving the existing railway infrastructure and aligning Moldova’s rail network with EU standards and practices in the long term. The rehabilitation of Moldova’s north-south rail corridor will be a central element of this project, providing a key link between western Ukraine and key ports on the Danube and Prut.
“As the Republic of Moldova becomes an integral part of the movement of goods, people and services, the modernisation of the state’s transport infrastructure is imperative. I am therefore pleased that this investment will strengthen the resilience of Moldova’s rail infrastructure, improve Moldova’s connectivity with Ukraine and Europe, and benefit Moldova’s economy. In the context of our Eastern Partnership Economic and Investment Plan, we will continue to modernise all necessary routes,” said Olivér Várhelyi.
Attending the Global Gateway Forum, Chișinău Prime Minister Dorin Recean thanked the European Commission and the EIB for supporting efforts to develop a modern and efficient railway network in Moldova. “The rehabilitation of the north-south rail corridor of the Republic of Moldova, which is a project of particular importance in the context of the Solidarity Corridors, will bring long-term economic benefits to the entire region. The project is a crucial part of our efforts to fully integrate Moldova into the European rail network. We will continue to rely confidently on the support of the EIB and the EU to achieve this goal”, said Dorin Recean at the signing of the investment grant.
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