Limba romana

WORLD BANK MAY CONSIDER SAC-III POSSIBILITY ONLY AFTER IMF RESUMES LENDING

Chisinau, October 19 (INFOTAG). The World Bank Board will begin considering
SAC-III furnishing not before the International Monetary Fund resumes
lending for Moldova, WB Permanent Representative in Moldova Mr. Carlos
Elbirt told a news conference here today to cover the results of the visit
paid this week by Mr. Roger Grawe, World bank Regional Director.

While in Chisinau, Mr. Grawe assessed positively the started privatization
of the RED Nord and RED Nord-Vest electricity distribution enterprises, as
well as the national telephone operator, Moldtelecom.

Carlos Elbirt said Mr. Grawe's negotiations with the Government were
productive and sincere, so now everything will depend on how the Government
will be fulfilling its commitments. Its progress is to be discussed in
mid-November.

Carlos Elbirt said the World Bank remains optimistic and believes the
Government will continue reforms. Much has to be done yet, and some
processes need to be sharply accelerated.

He presumes negotiations to begin financing under the Third Structural
Adjustment Credit (SAC-III) may last two days to one week. If Moldova gets
down to implementing the poverty reduction program more energetically, then
the republic will not lose its chance to receive WB credits. Moldova has to
more confidently improve its investment climate and eliminate all forms of
administrative pressure on private investors, the WB Representative said.

World Bank Chief Economist on Moldova Mr. Mark Davis said privatization is a
key question at the SAC-III negotiations, especially in what regards the
privatization of Moldtelecom, wine and energy sectors. He pointed out the
presence in Moldova of all conditions for a lasting macro-economic stability
in the future. WB experts pointed out "a good 2002 Budget" submitted to
parliament for approval.

The World Bank expects from Moldova the continuation of the land reform,
development of the crediting market, and, essentially, preserving the
liberal policy in agriculture, and is recommending to Moldova to adopt a law
on enterprise insolvency.

The Bank expects from the Government concrete actions in reforming the
public sector, for which the WB is ready to work out a special program, Mark
Davis said.

In the SAC-III frame, this republic may receive $15-20 million yet by the
end of this year. And the SAC-III total sum is estimated to be $30-40
million intended for covering the Budget deficit.

Moldova's collaboration with the World Bank began in 1992. By now, the Bank
has initiated 38 projects here totaling $448.8 million, of which nearly $300
million has already been financed.
 

BM VA DISCUTA POSIBILITATEA ACORDARII CATRE MOLDOVA A CREDITULUI SAC III DOAR DUPA CE VA FI RELUATA CREDITAREA REPUBLICII DE CATRE FMI 

Consiliul Directorilor al Bancii Mondiale (BM) va proceda la discutarea posibilitatii acordarii catre Moldova a unui credit SAC-III in cadrul proiectului de ajustari structurale doar dupa ce Fondul Monetar International (FMI) va relua creditarea republicii. Acest lucru l-a declarat Carlos Erbirt, reprezentant permanent al BM la Chisinau, intr-o conferinta de presa sustinuta vineri.
Conferinta de presa a fost sustinuta cu prilejul vizitei pe care a efectuat-o la Chisinau Roger Grawe, director regional la BM pentru Moldova.

In timpul vizitei, Roger Grawe a apreciat pozitiv procesul de privatizare a intreprinderilor RED Nord si RED Nord-Vest, precum si a operatorului national de telefonie Moldtelecom SA.

Dl Elbirt a afirmat ca negocierile pe care Roger Grawe le-a avut cu guvernul au fost "productive si sincere".

"Mai departe, totul va depinde doar de faptul cum isi va onora guvernul angajamentele asumate". Se preconizeaza ca modul in care acestea sint onorate va fi discutat la mijlocul lunii noiembrie 2001.

Carlos Elbirt spune ca "BM ramine optimista si crede ca guvernul va continua reformele".

"Noi constientizam faptul ca mai sint multe de facut, iar in unele chestiuni procesul trebuie accelerat", a afirmat Elbirt.

El considera ca negocierile pentru acordarea de credite in cadrul ajustarilor structurale SAC-III pot dura intre doua zile si doua saptamini.

"Noi speram ca ele se vor incheia cit mai curind, insa ne este greu sa prezicem cit de degraba va fi pregatita intreaga documentatie necesara", a afirmat Elbirt.

"Daca Moldova va implementa cu mai multa incredere programul de eradicare a saraciei, inseamna ca nu si-a pierdut sansa de a obtine credite de la Banca Mondiala. Ea trebuie sa amelioreze cu mai multa incredere climatul investitional, precum si sa elimine toate formele de presiuni administrative asupra investitorilor privati", a mentionat reprezentantul Bancii Mondiale in Moldova.

Mark Davis, economist principal la BM pentru Moldova, a comunicat ca privatizarea constituie una din chestiunile-cheie in cadrul negocierilor pentru creditul SAC-III. Este vorba de privatizarea societatii Moldtelecom, a unor intreprinderi de vinificatie si din complexul energetic.

Mark Davis a mentionat optimismul legat de existenta in Moldova a tuturor conditiilor pentru o stabilitate macroeconomica durabila in viitor. Expertii de la BM isi exprima satisfactia in legatura cu "bugetul bun pe anul 2002", care a fost depus la parlament spre aprobare.

Oficialii de la banca asteapta de la Moldova continuarea reformei funciare, dezvoltarea pietei de creditare, iar principalul, promovarea in continuare a unei politici liberale in agricultura. Expertii de la BM recomanda Moldovei sa adopte Legea privind insolvabilitatea intreprinderilor.

"In cadrul programului SAC-III, asteptam de la guvern actiuni concrete in reformarea sectorului public, pentru care sintem dispusi sa elaboram un program special", a afirmat Mark Davis.

In cadrul programului SAC-III, Republica Moldova ar putea obtine chiar pina la sfirsitul anului 2001 prima transa de $15-20 mln. Programul este evaluat in total la $30-40 mln., bani destinati pentru acoperirea deficitului bugetar.

Cooperarea Republicii Moldova cu Banca Mondiala a inceput in anul 1992. In cadrul primului proiect SAL, Moldova a obtinut circa $100 mln. pentru ajustari structurale. In anii 1999-2000, BM a acordat Moldovei $40 mln. in cadrul proiectului pentru ajustari structurale SAB-II. Pina la inceputul anului 2001, BM a initiat realizarea in Moldova a 38 de proiecte, estimate in total la $448,8 mln., din care circa $300 mln. deja au fost directionate.

INFOTAG
19 octombrie 2001]