Romania has always counted on the support and expertise provided by the World Bank in the 30 years of partnership, during which the WB has developed in our country 73 projects, worth 13.42 billion dollars, Prime minister Nicolae Ciuca said, at the 30th anniversary event of the World Bank Group in Romania, according to Agerpres.
„Thank you for being there and for being with us a valuable and experienced guide on the long and complicated road of development and reforms. In the 30 years of partnership there were certainly difficult moments, strong economic crises, but Romania could always count on the support and expertise provided by the World Bank. During this entire period, our GDP increased 9 times, and the number of companies even 14 times, which confirms the economic dynamics, but also the capitalization of the development potential of our country. Together we succeeded to build a successful partnership that has generated major changes with positive results in key sectors of the economy. (…) We equally recognize the active role played by the development of the business environment in Romania, assumed through the International Finance Corporation, the World Bank branch destined to the private sector that opened its office in our country 30 years ago. Today, the IFC portfolio in Romania is the largest and most complex at the European level, bringing significant benefits for the economy of our country,” Nicolae Ciuca assessed.
The prime minister mentioned that in the 30 years of activity in Romania, the World Bank has developed 73 projects, worth 13.42 billion dollars, projects that mean „investments and reforms, development and well-being for Romanians”.
„Currently, the active portfolio of the World Bank in Romania is composed of 10 investment projects worth 1.78 billion USD and 52 technical and analytical assistance services. The investments target key areas for the development of Romania, such as healthcare, education, the environment and good governance,” Nicolae Ciuca added.
„We have to show vision and responsibility towards the challenges of the future. I particularly appreciate the commitment of the World Bank in Romania on issues related to sustainability and the climate, our country being chosen to be the first state in the European Union to benefit from a World Bank instrument, recently launched – The Country Report on Climate Change and Development. This report helps us to identify opportunities for the implementation of climate actions both by the public and private sectors, so that Romania’s development objectives can be achieved in the context adaptation to climate change,” Ciuca went on.
In the current geopolitical context, determined by Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine, which generated new challenges related to the provision of energy resources, Romania counts on the maintenance of affordable prices for consumers and also on the assistance provided by the World Bank for increasing energy security and food security.
„We have allocated the largest budget for investments and we understand the value of each euro of the 90 billion made available by the European Union. These resources are essential to fight poverty and boost the growth rate of our economy. I am confident that the European funds and the facilities offered by the World Bank Group represent an important support to access the necessary development resources. The World Bank has always helped us when we had to make system reforms, essential for the development of the country, reforms targeted in the programmes with European funds. And now, when we have to carry out deep reforms to which we committed ourselves at the government level within the National Recovery and Resilience Plan – it is about the pension reform, the reform of the Minimum Inclusion Income, the reform of the administration and the public service – the World Bank’s assistance is essential,” Ciuca added.
Agerpres
