Moldova: EIB Global invests €41.2 million in railway infrastructure rehabilitation
The specialised development finance arm of the European Investment Bank (EIB) — EIB Global — has signed a €41.2 million loan agreement with the government of Moldova to rehabilitate the country’s railway infrastructure. Complemented by a €12 million EU investment grant, announced at the Global Gateway Forum earlier this year, this investment will improve Moldova’s internal connectivity and offer a crucial export route for Ukraine, fostering regional stability and economic resilience.
The project’s central point is the rehabilitation of Moldova’s north-south rail corridor. Of its total length of 370 km, approximately 128 km will be rehabilitated, including the replacement of 50 switches at stations. This corridor serves as a vital link from western Ukraine to key ports along the Danube and Prut Rivers, providing access to international waters. The enhancement of the existing railway connection between Moldova and Ukraine is designed to stimulate trade, promising significant benefits for Ukrainian exports and the Moldovan economy, especially in the context of the EU-Ukraine Solidarity Lanes initiative.
The project will be implemented by the Moldovan railway operator Calea Ferată din Moldova and will cover the rehabilitation of railway infrastructure on Moldova’s Vălcineț-Ungheni-Chișinău-Căinari corridor. This effort is part of an overarching countrywide reform to improve the existing rail infrastructure and bring Moldova’s railway network in line with EU standards and practices in the longer term.
This initiative will ease road and border traffic by shifting freight from trucks to railways, enhancing mobility and reducing environmental impact. It aligns with the EU Global Gateway’s focus on sustainable transport, contributing to greener, more efficient logistics