The Head of State met today with Niels Annen, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. The German official came to Chisinau on the occasion of the negotiations regarding the Moldovan-German technical and financial cooperation for 2023-2024.
The interlocutors discussed the challenges facing our citizens and the government's reform agenda. President Maia Sandu appreciated the close partnership that our country has with the German authorities and the effective bilateral cooperation for the development and modernization of the country, which we benefit from through the programs of the German International Cooperation Agency (GIZ).
For more than three decades, Germany has been supporting Moldova's transformation efforts by funding projects related to good governance, regional development, agriculture, energy efficiency, as well as defense and public order. In 2022, the Federal Government granted us €40 million in budget support to manage the energy crisis, money that went to offset citizens' bills.
The head of state stressed that Russia's war against Ukraine has serious consequences for the country's economy and our society. In order for the authorities in Chisinau to increase the resilience of the economy in the face of challenges, we are further counting on German help. Moldovan-German negotiations take place every two years, during which project proposals and financial commitments of the German side for the next period are formalized. Germany will provide assistance in the following areas: sustainable economic development, training and employment, capacity building for small and medium-sized businesses, climate and energy, and other important sectors.