Message of Director Gheorghe MÂNDRU (”B.P. Hasdeu” Theatre, Cahul, Republic of Moldova) at the Launch Event of the Interreg Project | CAPDR🇷🇴 – ADR Chișinău🇲🇩 at the Palace of the Republic, Chișinău, 11.09.2025
Mesaje publice
Thursday, September 11, 2025 – At the Palace of the Republic in Chișinău, the launch conference of the project “Transfer of Good Practices and Strengthening Administrative Capacity in Regional Development Policy between Romania and the Republic of Moldova“, funded through the Interreg NEXT Romania – Republic of Moldova Program, took place.
The event, organized in partnership between the Center for Analysis and Planning of Regional Development (CAPDR) and the Regional Development Agency of the Municipality of Chișinău (ADR Chișinău), brought together representatives of public administration, regional development experts, and decision-makers from both countries.
Speaker:
Gheorghe MÂNDRU – Director of the ”B.P. Hasdeu” Theatre, Cahul, Republic of Moldova
Romania’s Support – Fundamental for Cultural Development
In his intervention, Gheorghe Mândru emphasized the essential role of Romania for the Republic of Moldova, especially in the cultural field.
“For the Republic of Moldova, Romania is a lifeline. I would like to emphasize that, in many fields, it is truly the only lifeline.”
The director of the theatre in Cahul recalled that the institution he leads was built thanks to financial support provided by Romania.
“Since independence, it is the only theatre that was built from the ground up, specifically with Romania’s support, through a non-reimbursable grant of 800,000 euros.”
Cross-Border Cultural Collaborations
The ”B.P. Hasdeu” Theatre in Cahul is involved in numerous cultural projects and partnerships with institutions in Romania. These include collaboration with the National Athenaeum in Iași through the Interreg program, as well as twinning with several Romanian theatres.
“We have several twinned theatres: Mihai Eminescu and Vasilache Theatres in Botoșani, the National Athenaeum in Iași, Victor Ion Popa Theatre in Bârlad, Fanny Tardini Theatre in Galați, Maria Filotti and Cărăbuș Theatres in Brăila, Jean Bart Theatre in Tulcea, as well as a private theatre in Alba Iulia, Skepsis, which annually invites us to festivals and hosts us in return.”
These partnerships strengthen cultural exchanges and contribute to closer ties between communities on both sides of the Prut River.
The European Vector – The Only Path to Development
Gheorghe Mândru also emphasized that closer ties with Romania and the European Union represent a strategic direction for the Republic of Moldova.
“This European vector – pro-European, pro-national, pro-Romanian – is not just a lifeline, but the only way, the only path, the only hope to reach a normal, civilized, European level.”
He mentioned his experience at the Vatra Dornei forum, where he could observe the positive impact of European projects.
“I have seen many achievements thanks to numerous projects, many European grants, and indeed, development is visible in all fields – infrastructure, social, cultural, medical.”
Conclusion – Romania and the Republic of Moldova, Together Towards Development
Gheorghe Mândru’s intervention highlighted not only the importance of Romania’s support for the cultural development of the Republic of Moldova but also the essential role of cross-border cooperation in the modernization process. The ”B.P. Hasdeu” Theatre in Cahul serves as a concrete example of the benefits obtained through strong partnerships and access to European resources, demonstrating that investment in culture is as important as investment in infrastructure or social domains.
The event in Chișinău showed that experience sharing and institutional collaboration between Romania and the Republic of Moldova are not merely opportunities but indispensable tools for strengthening administrative capacity and building a common European future. In this context, Romania proves to be a strategic and reliable partner, and the Republic of Moldova has the opportunity to leverage this support to strengthen its institutions, diversify its projects, and accelerate European integration.
