OREANDA-NEWS. June 05, 2008. The World Bank will provide gratuitous financial aid in the amount of up to \\$10 million to Moldova for mitigating consequences of the global increase in food prices.

This was stated by Paul Birmingham, WB Regional Director, at his meeting with the Prime Minister Zinaida Greceanii.

According to Paul Birmingham, funds will be allocated from the special fund of WB, and the decision will be approved within the nearest 6 weeks. Mr. Birmingham has also mentioned that the grant might be used for implementing policies that facilitate reduction of the general “food inflation”, increase in agricultural productivity, as well as for reimbursing expenses of the socially vulnerable layers of population. Zinaida Greceanii thanked the World Bank for the provided assistance and emphasized that funds provided for supporting budget would be used with the highest transparency possible.

As regards developing the new strategy of partnership with Moldova, Mr. Birmingham said that he was satisfied with the use of funds previously provided by the World Bank, and added that the Moldovan Government could rely on WB support of its priority objectives.

World Bank Regional Director emphasized that the new strategy would include the possibility of providing assistance to Transnistria as well, and specified that all actions would be coordinated with a recently created Strategic Planning Committee headed by the Prime Minister Zinaida Greceanii. At the meeting, the parties have also negotiated the issues of reconstructing Moldovan roads, co-financed by the World Bank.