Alexandru Munteanu
The prime minister said that Moldova continues to develop even against the background of global economic crises.
“Remember: even the International Monetary Fund did not believe that we would manage to register economic growth at the end of last year. They predicted about 0% and we registered 2.4%. Based on last year’s results… revised, but it’s still growth. There are many countries in the world that are not growing right now amidst the crisis. But we are growing, and I think we will surprise our partners with our growth. We need to keep working, doing what we are doing. I think we will succeed,” Munteanu told Exclusiv TV.
Investment deficit
Regarding the budget deficit, the prime minister said that it is an “investment” deficit and that more than half of the borrowed funds are directed to projects.
“We have put our finances in order. Yes, we have a budget deficit, but even the International Monetary Fund has agreed that our deficit is, although not perfect, an investment deficit. We invest more than half of this deficit in economic projects. Our friends from Romania have much more acute macroeconomic problems from this point of view,” Munteanu said.
Still, the government plans to reduce the deficit, because “as in any family, there are incomes and expenditures, and somewhere they should meet, and if they do not meet, it is a problem”.
Moldova does not need money from IMF, it needs “certification”
Commenting on the interaction with the IMF, he confirmed the previously repeatedly voiced idea that a new program is being discussed – the Policy Coordination Instrument (PCI), which does not provide for direct financing, but involves “certification”.
“I think that in this situation, at this stage of Moldova’s economic development and taking into account that we have the known 1.9 billion euros from the European Union, we do not need their (IMF – Logos Press note) additional funds, but we need “certification.” In principle, it is not a secret that it is quite easy to move from PCI to the monetary program of the International Monetary Fund. But I don’t think we will need it”.
According to the Prime Minister, such “certification” from the IMF is important for raising the country’s rating:
“I hope that financial markets in the world will calm down. Maybe some wars in the world will stop, and then interest rates will go down, which is very important for lending to our real sector.
