The Institute of Standardization from Moldova, the National Transport Auto Agency (ANTA) and the USAID Program for Institutional and Structural Reforms in Moldova (MISRA) signed the Memorandum of Understanding regarding the responsibilities of the three institutions in the ANTA international anti-bribery certification process.

The adoption by public authorities of the ISO 37001 anti-bribery standard is aimed at detecting and countering potential cases of corruption within state structures with control powers. The implementation of this Standard will allow ANTA to minimize the risk of corruption and strengthen the confidence of partners in its management system.

During the event, the interim Director of the Institute of Standardization from Moldova, Andrian Bunduc, stated that the National Agency for Auto Transport is the first authority with a control function in the Republic of Moldova that will be certified according to the requirements of the anti-bribery standard ISO 37001. The Institute for Standardization from Moldova has undertaken to go through the entire process of providing certification services. “We understand very well that the institutions with control functions are the institutions most vulnerable to the corruptible aspect”, emphasized Andrian Bunduc, showing confidence that other institutions will follow this path.

David Anderson, head of the MISRA program, noted that ANTA is a digitalized institution in proportion to more than 90% in the field of road transport, which is a very good result, which contributes to increasing transparency, reducing physical contact, everyone is treated fairly and equal access to public services.

The director of the National Transport Auto Agency, Vasile Chetrușca, noted that the standard that will be applied aims to detect and combat possible cases of corruption in state institutions with control functions, as well as improving the performance of employees.

In the same context, the State Secretary of the Ministry of Economic Development and Digitalization, Cristina Ceban, mentioned that the adoption of the anti-bribery standard is done not only to comply with legal requirements, but also because “we are convinced that integrity and transparency are the pillars of a society healthy. Institutions with a control function must be aware of the responsibility they bear in their activity to serve the public in an honest and fair way”.

Also, the State Secretary of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Regional Development, Mircea Păscăluță, emphasized the firm commitment of the Ministry and the National Auto Transport Agency to implement reforms in the road transport segment and that the support offered by USAID, through the MISRA program, shows that all the activities started jointly with external partners have borne fruit.