Chisinau, June 23, 2017 —The World Bank has appointed Ms. Anna Akhalkatsi as the new Country Manager for Moldova. Ms. Akhalkatsi will replace Mr. Alex Kremer, who has been the Country Manager since August 2014 and who will be moving to Minsk to take up the position of Country Manager for Belarus.
Ms. Akhalkatsi, a Georgian national, is currently the Program Lead for IFC’s Advisory Solutions. She joined the Word Bank Group in 1999 as an economist with the World Bank Office in Tbilisi, Georgia. Ms. Akhalkatsi has a Master’s Degree in Development Economics and International Development from the University of Clermont Ferrand in France. Her appointment is effective July 24, 2017.
“The World Bank has been a steady partner to Moldova for 25 years and welcomes the country’s commitment to reforms” said Satu Kahkonen, World Bank Director for Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine. "Ms. Akhalkatsi will contribute to the successful implementation of the new Country Partnership Framework for Moldova during her tenure as Country Manager.”
Since Moldova joined the World Bank Group in 1992, over US$ 1 billion has been allocated to approximately 60 projects in the country. Currently, the World Bank portfolio includes 8 active projects with a total commitment of US$ 333.3 million. Areas of support include regulatory reform and business development, education, social assistance, energy, healthcare, agriculture, local roads, environment, and more.
The International Finance Corporation’s committed portfolio in Moldova is US$ 53.8 million (US$ 50.9 million outstanding). IFC’s committed portfolio consists of 95 percent loans and 5 percent equity. The Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency has provided guarantees totaling US$ 95 million. Both institutions are members of the World Bank Group.
