Prime Minister Vasile Tofan met with Svetlana Cerović, the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) Resident Representative in the Republic of Moldova. The discussions focused on the fiscal and budgetary situation, economic reforms, and the measures needed to strengthen public finances, TRIBUNA reports.

“I had a very direct and open discussion with Svetlana Cerović, the IMF’s Resident Representative in the Republic of Moldova. We spoke frankly about the budgetary situation and what needs to be done to improve it. We are determined to reduce the budget imbalance, and we know this will require, among other things, courageous decisions. We discussed tax reform, reducing the state’s administrative costs, and simplifying and consolidating certain structures and agencies where they overlap or are no longer efficient,” the Prime Minister said.

The Prime Minister stressed the importance of better management of state assets. The head of government highlighted the need to develop more efficient state-owned companies and, where there is no clear reason for the state to remain an owner, to carry out transparent and competitive privatization processes that can attract private investment and increase economic productivity.

The officials also discussed the high cost of government financing and more efficient public debt management, including making better use of available external financing sources and reducing the costs associated with servicing the debt.

“Fiscal discipline is not an end in itself. We need it so that we can invest more where it matters—in people, infrastructure, and economic development—without leaving the bill for future generations,” the Prime Minister said.

The parties agreed to continue the open dialogue between the Government and the IMF, including by making use of the Fund’s expertise in the process of developing and implementing reforms.

“We need partners who can provide us with expertise, but the decisions and responsibility for reforms belong to us,” the Prime Minister said.