Chisinau, October 16, 2007 – The World Bank Office in Chisinau launched a new format for media events covering economic and financial development issues. This new format was suggested by the new Country Manager for Moldova, Ms. Melanie Marlett, in order to have less formal and relaxed discussions with the journalists.

This first new-format event focused on the Energy II Project financed by the World Bank. The discussions and project status presentation were preceded by a short documentary video about the project and its impact, which was developed by the well-known film-maker Stefan Bulicanu.   Launch the video  

Presentations on the project implementation status were made by Messrs. Sandu Ghidirim, Project Officer at the World Bank Office, Calin Negura and Piotr Comarov, responsible for the project heating and electricity components in the Project Implementation Unit. The questions of the journalists mainly focused on the project’s current status and future actions, given its extension till the end of 2009, and particularly on the objectives to be attained under the electricity component. An updated project info-note  (pdf, 8kb) was disseminated.

During the second part of the meeting Ms. Melanie Marlett talked briefly about the World Bank’s plans for the new fiscal year (July 2007 – June 2008), including the development of the new assistance strategy for Moldova for the next years, which has a new name – Country Partnership Strategy. The new strategy of the Bank will focus on the objectives outlined in Moldova’s National Development Plan. Also, Ms. Marlett talked about the new financing operations planned for the new fiscal year, including the support that will be provided by the Bank to reduce this year’s drought consequences as part of the overall assistance provided by the donor community, clarifying that this will cover the medium-term needs and will constitute approximately USD 6 million.

Another piece of news for the mass media was the launching of a CD with all World Bank studies and reports relating to Moldova, covering the period of 1995-2006.

The next World Bank Morning Coffee event will be organized in November this year.