Ion ȘTEFANOVICI: “TASTE of MOLDOVA – A Time for Flavor, Soul, and Ideas”

Ion Ștefanovici, President of CAPDR

There is a treasure in the Moldova Region that doesn’t lie in bank accounts or European funds. It is a treasure that grows in gardens, is preserved in pantries, kneaded by grandmothers’ hands, and passed on with care like an inheritance. It is taste. The taste of Moldova.

In 2025, in Vatra Dornei, in the heart of Bucovina, this taste becomes experience, dialogue, identity, and a complete tourism product. The “TASTE of MOLDOVA” Fair, organized as part of the Regional Economic Forum Moldova (FERM 2025), is not just a meeting with local producers. 🤝 It is a heartfelt invitation to the table, in a space of authenticity and shared values, on which we aim to confidently build the future we deserve.

More than a tasting. It is recognition.

Here, producers don’t just come to sell. They come to tell their story. They come to show that behind a jar of jam, a hearth-baked bread, or a clear wine from the vineyard lies hard work, patience, family, and vision. This fair is a stage where tradition meets innovation, and authenticity becomes the new luxury.

Gastronomy, HoReCa, traditions – a single tourism product

We promote an integrated vision of tourism in Moldova: where hospitality is felt in the smile of a waiter serving you Rădăuți soup, in the room of a mountain guesthouse, and also in the small workshop where a craftsman carves spoons from hazelnut wood. Tourism in Moldova isn’t sold. It is lived.

At “TASTE of MOLDOVA”, food is a connection. Between people, between regions, between generations. It is an opportunity for dialogue between mayors and farmers, between investors and artisans, between everyday people and thought leaders.

Art and culture, in Moldavian rhythm

The artistic moments that complete the fair experience are not just entertainment. They are about memory. About feeling. About showing everyone that the Moldavian spirit is not only rustic, but also profound and creative. From traditional dances to old songs and crafts, “TASTE of MOLDOVA” is a celebration of the Moldavian soul.

The fair as a model

We want this fair to be replicated, expanded, and supported throughout Moldova – from Vaslui to Suceava, from Botoșani to Bacău. All counties in the Moldova Region are actively involved in this project, contributing with their products, traditions, and initiatives. Moreover, the event extends beyond borders, involving the Republic of Moldova and Romanian communities in Ukraine. This cross-border dimension strengthens the cultural and economic ties between the historical regions of Moldova, offering a common platform to promote our identity.

Each community has a taste that defines it. It’s time to put it on the map. To turn this heritage into a regional brand, a sustainable tourism product, and a successful economic story.

Event details

The “TASTE of MOLDOVA” Fair will take place from July 9–12, 2025, within the Regional Economic Forum Moldova (FERM 2025), in Vatra Dornei, Suceava County. The event will be hosted at the Palatul Dornelor, a venue rich in history and significance, which will become, for a few days, the authentic center of living Moldova.

The fair is organized by the Center for Regional Development Analysis and Planning (CAPDR), in partnership with:

• Vatra Dornei City Hall
• Suceava County Council
• CEMONT – Mountain Economy Center
• National Agency for the Mountain Area
• Țara Dornelor Ecotourism Association
• Destination Management Organization Țara Dornelor (DMO)
• Gust de Iași, Gust de Neamț, Gust din Bucovina
• Zona – Association of Local Producers

These partners shape an authentic, professional, and development-oriented framework in which gastronomy, the local economy, and responsible tourism intertwine into a single experience: TASTE of MOLDOVA.

“TASTE of MOLDOVA” is not about the past. It’s about how we can build our future based on what we already have: good people, fertile land, and an unmistakable taste.

We invite you to taste Moldova. With an open heart.