Ion ȘTEFANOVICI, President of CAPDR: “Chișinău and Odesa – working options for the 20th edition of FERM 2026”
Mesaje publice
Accelerating Regional Cooperation on the International Stage
Introduction
We are only three months away from 2026, and we are seriously considering how to transform the 20th anniversary edition of the Moldova Regional Economic Forum (FERM 2026) into a landmark not only for the Moldova Region but also for the entire Black Sea area.
After FERM 2025 confirmed the maturity of the regional reflection and construction process, the next challenge is clear: how can we move from a well-defined regional agenda to an international cooperation perspective, where Chișinău and Odesa become platforms for dialogue, reconstruction, and integration.
The recent political context brings a significant advantage: the climate of stability that has been sustained in Chișinău following the parliamentary elections of September 28, 2025. This stability provides the forum with a solid operational foundation and guarantees the continuity of the Republic of Moldova’s commitments towards European integration and regional cooperation.
As the Romanian organizers of FERM, we positively value the possibility of pivoting the event from Vatra Dornei to Chișinău or even to Odesa. This decision is not merely a change of location but a strategic choice through which the Forum asserts its international vocation and its role as a catalyst for regional cooperation.
The 2026 edition is both an assessment and, above all, a projection into the future. Choosing the location – Chișinău or Odesa – is not just a logistical decision but an expression of the maturity of a region asserting itself at the European and global levels.
FERM 2025 Charter – the Resolutions of a Region
All the ideas and proposals presented by the 132 speakers were synthesized into a reference document: FERM 2025 Charter. This is not just a collection of resolutions but the foundation for the next steps:
- mapping investment opportunities,
- developing the Multiannual Programmatic Document of the Moldova Region 2025–2030 (DPMRM).
The FERM 2025 CHARTER can be consulted here.
A key outcome of this edition is that for the 2025–2027 period, we have all the tools and the framework necessary to develop sector-specific programs (infrastructure, health, education, agriculture, digitalization, etc.), with direct relevance to the upcoming European financial exercise 2028–2034. Thus, the Moldova Region not only addresses present needs but also prepares proactively for the next stage of European-level funding and development.
From Strategy to Implementation
DPMRM 2025–2030 does not remain on paper. It naturally continues with the Action Plan of the Moldova Region, which transforms strategic lines into applied projects, concrete investments, and visible results for citizens.
The traceability is clear and transparent:
- FERM 2025 → FERM 2025 Charter
- Charter + Opportunity Mapping → DPMRM 2025–2030
- DPMRM → Action Plan of the Moldova Region
This guarantees that collective thinking does not remain symbolic but translates into real transformations.
Organizing the 20th Edition – FERM 2026
The anniversary edition of FERM will not be ordinary. It marks the transition from internal consolidation to the international affirmation of the Moldova Region.
Thematically, the panels proposed for FERM 2026 will cover three strategic areas with immediate relevance for the entire region:
- Energy – energy security, renewable sources, green transition.
- Construction – transport infrastructure, Ukraine’s reconstruction, regional investments.
- Cyber Security – protection of digital networks, data safety, and regional cyber defense.
Base Scenario – Chișinău
- The Forum would be hosted in Chișinău, the capital of the Republic of Moldova.
- Advantages: political and diplomatic visibility, access to institutions, embassies, and international organizations, strengthening Romania–Moldova cooperation.
- Conditions: governmental availability, modern logistics, diplomatic support, integration with the European agenda.
- Message: “Chișinău becomes the capital of regional dialogue for development and European integration.”
Alternative Scenario – Odesa (post-conflict)
- Odesa remains a strategic working option, considered for the post-conflict period.
- Advantages: Black Sea port city, symbol of resilience and reconstruction, direct connection with the Ukrainian economy and Euro-Asian corridors.
- Conditions: end or freezing of the conflict, security guarantee for participants, functional infrastructure.
- In this scenario, Ukrainian officials could participate outside Ukraine’s borders, benefiting from a safe environment and international visibility.
- Message: “The Moldova Region and the Odesa Region are building together the bridge between Europe and Asia.”
Ukraine Peace Process – a Defining Element
Regardless of the scenario, the Ukraine peace process is a defining element for FERM 2026’s credibility and success:
- In Odesa – peace creates the necessary framework for participants’ security and economic reconstruction. Hosting the forum here would symbolize the transition from resilience to reconstruction.
- In Chișinău – peace transforms the capital of the Republic of Moldova into a space for regional dialogue, connecting Ukraine’s reconstruction with Moldova’s European integration.
Therefore, FERM 2026 must be synchronized with the dynamics of the peace process: if peace progresses, the forum becomes a tool to accelerate reconstruction; if peace is delayed, the forum keeps the channel of cooperation and solidarity alive.
Coordination through Bucharest – Chișinău – Kyiv
Regardless of the scenario, FERM 2026 coordination is conducted through the three capitals:
- Bucharest – European and Euro-Atlantic anchoring, attracting strategic partners.
- Chișinău – the capital of fraternal cooperation and center of the European path.
- Kyiv – signal of solidarity, legitimacy for the Odesa scenario, and integration into Ukraine’s reconstruction.
This coordination triad provides the forum with political legitimacy, strategic visibility, and guarantees that FERM 2026 will be a benchmark not only regionally but also at the European level.
Dornei Basin – Center of Gravity
Even if FERM 2026 takes place in Odesa or Chișinău, the Dornei Basin remains the CAPDR headquarters and the center where conclusions will be consolidated and strategic documents drafted.
Scenario Justification – Dialogue and International Cooperation
Contextual Information and Analyses
- The Ukraine peace process and preparation for the 2028–2034 European financial exercise are major contextual elements that give substance to the forum.
- The Moldova Region and the Odesa Region form a strategic corridor linking Central and Eastern Europe to the Black Sea.
Possible Dialogue Directions with Romanian Officials
- Romania could act as a facilitator through governmental and diplomatic support.
- Discussions may open regarding connectivity (A7, A8, Constanța), energy interconnections, and regional integration into European networks.
Possible Dialogue Directions with Moldovan Officials
Chișinău could view the forum as a platform to consolidate the European path and the privileged relationship with Romania.
Discussions could focus on:
- regional development and infrastructure projects,
- digitalization and education,
- agriculture and food security,
- tourism and creative industries, as areas with potential for integration into European and international programs.
Possible Dialogue Directions with Ukrainian Officials
- In Kyiv and the Odesa Region, the forum could be perceived as a reconstruction opportunity and a signal of international solidarity.
- Proposals may include infrastructure, green energy, port logistics, and food security.
Possible Dialogue Directions with Eastern European States
- Poland, the Baltic states, Slovakia, and Hungary could support Black Sea cooperation and the integration of Moldova and Ukraine into European networks.
Possible Dialogue Directions with American Officials
- The USA could be interested in regional security and Ukraine’s reconstruction.
- Discussions may cover defense, energy, and digitalization.
Possible Dialogue Directions with Chinese Officials
- China could express interest in infrastructure and Euro-Asian trade corridors.
Possible Dialogue Directions with Middle Eastern States
- UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkey could have shared interests in Black Sea ports, energy, and food security.
An Exercise in Regional Maturity
FERM 2026 is not just a forum. It is proof that the Moldova Region knows how to rethink its own path and embrace decentralization as a development method.
“The true strength of Moldova does not lie in centralization but in the capacity to rise together. Based on the resolutions of the FERM 2025 Charter and the Multiannual Programmatic Document 2025–2030, the Action Plan of the Moldova Region will turn vision into reality. And FERM 2026 will be living proof of this path.” — Ion ȘTEFANOVICI, President CAPDR
Strategic Conclusion
FERM 2026 will not only be an anniversary edition but a pivotal moment for the region. The choice between Chișinău and Odesa symbolizes more than a venue – it expresses a region that seeks and asserts its role in Europe’s political and economic architecture.
Romania, the Republic of Moldova, and Ukraine have a unique opportunity to build together a model of cooperation in the Black Sea, open to Europe, the United States, China, and the Middle East.
“A region becomes strong when it learns to think together and act together. FERM 2026 will be proof that Moldova and Odesa can build together a bridge of stability and development.”
