Innovations and opportunities for urban development in the Republic of Moldova: The goal of the business forum organised in Edineț, with financial support from the European Union
The municipality of Edineț hosted the “Smart City Solutions” Business Forum from October 24-25, 2024, a unique event held as part of the project “Edinet – Insight into Tomorrow Cities.” This event celebrated the remarkable results achieved within the “Edinet – Insight into Tomorrow Cities” project, funded by the European Union and implemented by the Edineț City Hall, in partnership with the Alba Iulia City Hall in Romania. The forum provided a platform for exchanging experiences and best practices in the field of smart cities, aiming to improve citizens’ quality of life through advanced and sustainable technologies.
The forum began with the launch of a municipal bike-sharing service, an initiative designed to integrate eco-friendly transportation into Edineț’s urban mobility system, made possible with the financial support of the European Union. A bicycle lane approximately 800 meters long was constructed, connecting two major city roads. Additionally, 20 electric bicycles were purchased for the sharing system, and three new bike parking stations were built and equipped. This service, developed under the EU project “Edinet – Insight into Tomorrow Cities,” will be managed by the municipal enterprise “Edineț Public Transport” in partnership with a private operator from Chișinău. For the creation of this service, European funds amounting to approximately 150,000 euros were invested, of which 50,000 euros were allocated for purchasing mobility units (20 bikes, GPS system mounted on each bike, showing each bike’s location in real time, and bike tracking app).
The “Smart City Solutions” exhibition also showcased the latest technologies and services for small and medium-sized cities in the Republic of Moldova, promoting their digital and sustainable transformation. The exhibition featured around 20 smart service providers from Moldova and Romania, including those who have already implemented many of these solutions in Edineț.
“The European Union is about and for people. This is clearly demonstrated by the significant improvement in living standards in all member countries after joining the EU. Similarly, EU assistance in the Republic of Moldova is also about and for people, and the progress in Edineț, thanks to EU support, is evident,” said Jānis Mažeiks, the European Union Ambassador to the Republic of Moldova.
“The project “Edinet – Insights into Tomorrow’ Cities” continues to raise the living standards of city residents through new or improved public services and their impact on the city’s economic, social, and ecological environment. The effects of smart city development initiatives are already being felt by residents of several cities in Moldova, and these initiatives must continue by expanding partnerships with more cities in Moldova to unite efforts and expertise to ensure synergy in a sustainable development process for localities in the Republic of Moldova,” stated Constantin Cojocaru, Mayor of Edineț.
During the forum, participants learned first-hand about the outcomes of the EU project “Edinet – Insight into Tomorrow Cities” and were able to assess the impact of these outcomes on the quality of life of Edineț residents. In December 2023, the project inaugurated a series of other modernized and digitized public services, including the sustainable public transport system, smart street lighting, investments in the education system, five impactful projects in residential neighbourhoods, public safety, local governance, and more. Additionally, the grand opening of the “Dream Island” in the “Vasile Alecsandri” park in Edineț is scheduled for the end of this year. The island will be fully modernized with financial support from the European Union and will include areas for walking, recreation, sports, exhibitions, a playground, a cinema, an amphitheatre, a dock, and other amenities.
The “Smart City Solutions” forum brought together around 100 participants: national and international urban planning experts, companies from Moldova and Romania, as well as professionals specialized in innovative solutions for the development of smart cities. Participants included representatives from the European Commission, government officials from Moldova, and mayors from over 50 localities across the Republic of Moldova, who discussed innovative solutions in public transport, smart lighting, water management, education, local governance, and urban residential neighbourhoods.
Background Information
The project “Edinet – Insight into Tomorrow Cities,” which is being implemented from March 1, 2021, to February 28, 2025, aims to improve urban development quality, public services, and overall living conditions for the citizens of Edineț by applying smart solutions across various areas of urban development: local governance, public services, residential areas, business, and education.
The project budget is 4,358,886 euros, of which 4,140,186 euros is a grant from the European Union through the “Local Authorities: Partnerships for Sustainable Cities 2020” program and 218,700 euros is contributed by the implementing partners.
The project started with the development of a General Urban Plan, outlining the city’s territorial development plan for the next 15 years.
