The government of the Republic of Moldova approved and published a National Development Plan (NDP) for 2026-2028 on April 29, outlining over 260 infrastructure and reform projects aimed at modernising the country and aligning it more closely with European standards. However, the government currently has funding for only 10% of the proposed costs.

The updated NDP, which includes 108 actions and 267 projects, is set to cost MDL164.2bn (€8.4bn), equivalent to nearly half of Moldova’s 2024 GDP.

The government can provide just MDL17.23bn, while MDL58.92bn is expected to come from international donors. The remaining MDL76.16bn remains unfunded. The government intends to use the Partnership Platform for Moldova to engage development partners and potential investors to close the budget gap.

Of the planned projects, 65% are continuations of existing initiatives, while 35% are newly developed in response to current national priorities. 

“This plan is not just a roadmap for reform, but a call for continued support from our international partners,” said government spokesperson Daniel Vodă, Radio Moldova reported on April 29.

The estimated funding requirements for the plan are MDL63.9bn in 2026, MDL47.8bn in 2027 and MDL40.62bn in 2028.

Key infrastructure initiatives include thousands of kilometres of roadworks such as the Iași - Ungheni - Chișinău - Odessa highway and rural access roads. Two regional hospitals will be built in Bălți and Cahul, and 100 ambulances are to be procured.

The plan also targets the education sector with the creation of 3,000 new nursery and kindergarten places and the renovation of 90 schools. In digital and economic development, more than 250 public services will be digitised and over 3,200 small and medium-sized enterprises will receive government support.

In the utilities sector, the government plans to extend water and sewage networks to 100 additional localities. Energy infrastructure upgrades include the construction of a 70 km power line between Strășeni and Gutinaș, and a 90 km line linking Bălți to the Dnestrovsk Power Plant in Ukraine.