OREANDA-NEWS. April 26, 2013. The eligibility area of the Compact loans was extended from 8 to 13 districts (Anenii Noi, Cahul, Calara?i, Cantemir, Criuleni, Dubasari, Hince?ti, Leova, Nisporeni, Orhei, Straeni, Teleneti and Ungheni), and the Chisinau municipality (except for the town of Chisinau) and TAU Gagauzia.

The Millennium Challenge Corporation, which provides funds for post-harvest loans through the Compact, expanded the eligibility area from the rayons where the irrigation systems will be rehabilitated to the neighbouring rayons. On the other hand, to facilitate the access of new, micro/small/medium businesses, including the ones owned by women, to such loans, the minimum loan amount was reduced from 50 thousand USD to 20 thousand USD.

The maximum amount – 600 thousand USD, and the participating banks – Moldova Agroindbank, Victoriabank, Moldindconbank, Comer?bank, Banca Sociala, Mobiasbanca – Groupe Societe Generale and Energbank, remained unchanged. Additionally by 2015 about 10 million USD are expected to be disbursed under the Compact for loans, including the revolving funds. 21 loans have been made so far amounting to 4.3 million USD, most of the funds being used for investments in cold storage.