World Bank approves $250M loan for Moldova
The World Bank boosts Moldova’s reforms with a $250 million loan to strengthen the economy and speed up European integration.
The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has approved the Growth, Resilience, and Development Policy Loan (DPL) for the Republic of Moldova. The $250 million financing marks the first of two operations designed to support the country’s economic and institutional reforms as it advances toward European Union membership.
According to the international financial institution, the program aims to strengthen economic competitiveness, create jobs, improve market efficiency and transparency, and deepen economic integration with the EU. It also seeks to boost Moldova’s resilience to potential economic shocks and complement the European Union’s Growth and Reform Plan for Moldova.
“A decisive shift toward productivity-driven and inclusive growth will significantly help Moldova converge with EU income levels. Moldova now has a unique opportunity to build on the momentum of its EU candidate status, and the World Bank Group will continue to fully support the country’s ambitious reform agenda,” said Ulrich Schmitt, the World Bank Group’s Country Manager for Moldova.
The loan will support a range of reforms aimed at improving the business environment and strengthening market performance. Planned measures include modernizing the public procurement system, simplifying business registration procedures, encouraging innovation, and enhancing consumer protection in the banking sector. The program also promotes sustainable finance in line with European Union taxonomy standards.
The reform package includes social measures such as expanding access to early childhood education and making it easier to formalize temporary employment. It also supports projects that strengthen economic resilience, including Moldova’s integration into the European electricity market, modernization of district heating systems, and development of transport infrastructure along the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) corridor.
The World Bank noted that the new operation builds on the pace of reforms already implemented and on close cooperation with the European Union and the International Monetary Fund.
Since Moldova joined the World Bank in 1992, the institution has financed more than 45 projects in the country, with a total value exceeding $1.8 billion. The World Bank Group remains actively involved in financial sector initiatives, private and public sector development, and investment guarantee programs.
