The Prime Minister of Moldova, Pavel Filip, has called on World ORT to increase its role in his country.

He made the call at a meeting with World ORT’s Chair of the Board of Trustees, Dario Werthein, and Director General and CEO, Shmuel Sisso, during which they discussed the cooperation that has existed between the organisation and the government over the past 16 years.

World ORT supports two highly regarded Jewish schools in the capital, Chisinau, which also provide education services to the general community.

The Prime Minister said that he had prioritised education in order to further the development of his country and he called on World ORT to increase its involvement.”

Shmuel Sisso, World ORT Director General and CEO

Approximately one-fifth of Moldova’s 3.5 million people live below the poverty line but the country has enjoyed better than expected economic growth in recent years as it works towards closer integration with the European Union.

Chair of World ORT’s Board of Trustees, Dario Werthein, and the Prime Minister of Moldova, Pavel Filip.

In his meeting with World ORT, Prime Minister Filip expressed a particular interest in the organisation’s expertise in vocational education to help overcome a shortfall in people with practical qualifications in fields such as IT, mechanics, agriculture and electronics.

“He was also interested in creating an education service for hospitalised children similar to the SASA Setton Kav Or programme we run in Israel,” Mr Sisso said.

“I look forward to further discussions on how World ORT and Moldova can create partnerships that will benefit the general community such as the development of vocational training centres,” he added.