World Bank postpones credit tranche for Moldova

Moldova cannot count on receiving the second tranche of the $10m SAC-III loan for structural reforms at the present stage, because it has failed to fully meet the respective conditions, the World Bank regional director for Moldova, Ukraine and Belarus declared at a news conference in Chisinau. According to the World Bank official, the WB and the government of Moldavia have not yet reached a compromise on the question of further privatization of wineries.

Additionally, the WB supports reforms in the pension system, which envisage payment of pensions depending on individual contributions by citizens and a reduction of additional payments to privileged pensioners to the minimum. The WB also supports gradual revision of fees for telephone services. For example, the bank objects to setting too low charges for pensioners and disabled people.

Disagreements on these issues between the bank and the Moldovian government do not allow the WB to approve the transfer of the second SAC-III credit tranche to Moldova.

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