On 23-27 September 2024, the Competition Council of the Republic of Moldova hosted an official visit of the World Bank, carried out within the MSME Competitiveness Project and Moldova M-Grow/CJET projects. This visit had as main objective the strengthening of the institutional capacities of the authority in the areas of competition, state aid and information technologies, as well as the identification of new opportunities for long-term cooperation.

During the visit, the World Bank delegation and representatives of the Competition Council participated in multiple meetings and discussions on topical issues, including dawn raids, use of IT tools during inspections (IT Forensics), and, prioritization of sectors, regulation of state aid. 

At the same time, the employees of the Competition Council received two days of intensive training, during which were presented advanced techniques aimed at increasing the efficiency of obtaining information in the investigation process. The interactive sessions included simulations on the correct preparation and conduct of dawn raids, giving participants the opportunity to improve their skills in this essential area.

The visit ended with an closing meeting of the Competition Council Plenum with the World Bank delegation, led by Melanie Trost, senior economist. At this meeting, the President of the Competition Council, Alexei Ghertescu, thanked the World Bank team for the valuable expertise offered during the week. The parties discussed the priorities of the Competition Council for the next period and the ways in which the World Bank can provide support in the implementation of these objectives.

This visit represents an important step in developing the institutional capacities of the Competition Council and in strengthening the partnership with the World Bank to support a fair and sustainable competitive environment in the Republic of Moldova.