Claudiu Sfetcu, Secretary General of the Vaslui Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIA Vaslui), at the CAPDR meeting on the consultation of the Romania–Moldova business environment: “We organize economic missions with businesspeople from across the entire Moldavia region in order to develop viable partnerships between Romania and the Republic of Moldova”
100 economic opportunities for the development of the Moldova Region on the A7 Highway route
The Centre for Analysis and Regional Development Planning (CAPDR), in partnership with the Regional Development Agency Chișinău Municipality, organized on Tuesday, 12 May 2026, at the Iași Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the joint event titled:
“Consultation of the Business Environment in Defining RO–MD Development Strategies”, held within the Interreg NEXT Romania – Republic of Moldova 2021–2027 project
The event benefited from the support of the Commercial and Economic Promotion Office of the Embassy of Romania in the Republic of Moldova, the Iași Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Association of Romanian Investors in the Republic of Moldova (AIR).
The working meeting aimed at strengthening structured dialogue between the business environment and public authorities in Romania and the Republic of Moldova, by integrating private sector contributions into the process of drafting regional and interregional development strategies.
During the consultations, key areas relevant to economic competitiveness and regional connectivity were addressed: investments, construction, energy, agriculture, logistics, IT, and HoReCa, as well as the identification of administrative barriers and the formulation of concrete solutions for strengthening public–private partnerships.
Through this meeting, CAPDR and institutional partners aimed to consolidate an applied consultation mechanism capable of directly connecting relevant economic actors with regional planning structures in Romania and the Republic of Moldova.
The dialogue carried out within the consultations contributed to the formulation of concrete and applicable proposals, based on the real experience and needs of the private sector, as well as to the identification of common directions for economic cooperation and interregional development.
The participation of the business community directly contributed to:
- formulating concrete proposals for development strategies;
- strengthening Romania – Republic of Moldova economic connections;
- developing joint initiatives and projects with interregional impact.
The conclusions of the meeting will be integrated by CAPDR into the proposals of the Sustainable Interconnection Program Romania – Republic of Moldova 2028–2034 (PISRM 2028–2034), a strategic document currently in the stage of consultation and interregional substantiation.
Claudiu Sfetcu, Secretary General of the Vaslui Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture “We carry out economic missions with businesspeople from Vaslui, Iași, and the entire Moldavia region, in order to develop viable partnerships between Romania and the Republic of Moldova”
Within the meeting dedicated to consulting the business environment for defining regional and interregional development strategies Romania – Republic of Moldova, the intervention of Claudiu Sfetcu, Secretary General of the Vaslui Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture, highlighted the importance of chamber structures and border counties in developing cross-border economic relations and strengthening cooperation between business communities on both sides of the Prut River.
His speech outlined both the practical dimension of economic collaboration between Romania and the Republic of Moldova and the need to build institutional and financial mechanisms capable of supporting the development of sustainable and competitive partnerships at regional level.
Border counties – a strategic vector of bilateral economic cooperation
Claudiu Sfetcu emphasized that border counties have traditionally played an essential role in maintaining and developing economic relations between Romania and the Republic of Moldova, relations strengthened over time through direct contacts between entrepreneurs, institutions, and economic organizations.
According to him, geographical proximity generates not only commercial opportunities but also an institutional responsibility to facilitate economic dialogue and develop sustainable cooperation platforms.
“Being a border county, we have always had relations with those from the Republic of Moldova and we aim to further develop these relations as much as possible,” said Claudiu Sfetcu.
The statement reflects a strategic approach based on the continuity of economic relations and on capitalizing on the advantages generated by the positioning of border regions in the context of the European integration process of the Republic of Moldova.
Economic diplomacy and business missions – instruments of regional development
A central aspect of his intervention concerned the active role of the Vaslui Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture in facilitating direct contacts between the business environments of the two states.
Claudiu Sfetcu highlighted that the institution he represents has consistently supported the organization of economic missions, bilateral meetings, and networking platforms aimed at identifying joint commercial and investment opportunities.
“We carry out economic missions with businesspeople from Vaslui and beyond, including Iași and the entire Moldavia region, with whom we have gone and continue to go regularly to the Republic of Moldova, precisely to connect them with companies there and to develop partnerships,” he explained.
The statement highlights the importance of regional economic diplomacy and institutional cooperation in building an interconnected economic ecosystem between Romania and the Republic of Moldova. It also confirms that the development of cross-border economic relations depends significantly on the existence of institutional mediation and facilitation mechanisms.
Romania – a gateway platform for entrepreneurs from the Republic of Moldova to the European market
During his intervention, Claudiu Sfetcu also addressed the phenomenon of Moldovan investment development in Romania, highlighting the growing interest of entrepreneurs from the Republic of Moldova in opening and expanding businesses on the Romanian market.
He pointed out that border counties, including Vaslui, have become important support points for Moldovan investors seeking access to the European market and integration into an economic space aligned with European Union standards and regulations.
“We have contributed to bringing people from the Republic of Moldova to Romania to establish and develop businesses; in the Vaslui area alone, we have several Moldovan citizens who have come and opened businesses in Romania precisely to gain easier access to the broader European bio-market,” he stated.
His message highlights the strategic role of Romania in the process of economic and institutional rapprochement of the Republic of Moldova with the European Union, as well as the capacity of the Romanian economic environment to function as a transition and integration space for Moldovan entrepreneurs.
The need for a common vision on financing and interregional development
Another important point of the intervention concerned the preparation of the next programming period and the need for more efficient coordination between institutional and economic actors from both states regarding access to European funding and the development of joint projects.
Claudiu Sfetcu emphasized that institutional dialogue and applied consultations are essential tools for defining development directions and identifying priority areas for cooperation.
“We discussed what funding opportunities mean, especially for the upcoming programming period. It is a necessary step in order to prepare the required lines and directions. We also need to see what interests our partners from the Republic of Moldova have in this regard,” said the CCIA Vaslui representative.
In this perspective, the consultations organized within the Interreg NEXT Romania – Republic of Moldova project are seen not only as dialogue exercises but as essential stages in the foundation of long-term economic cooperation policies and instruments.
Sustainable partnerships and integrated economic development
In concluding his intervention, Claudiu Sfetcu emphasized the need to identify funding sources and cooperation mechanisms capable of generating mutual benefits and sustainable development for communities in both states.
“We know our own matters and go beyond borders to find funding sources so that we can develop viable partnerships both for us and for the citizens of the Republic of Moldova,” he concluded.
The message reflects a pragmatic, results-oriented approach in which Romania – Republic of Moldova economic cooperation is built on regional complementarity, knowledge transfer, economic connectivity, and the development of joint projects with interregional impact.
Through his intervention, Claudiu Sfetcu reconfirmed the active role of chamber structures in facilitating cross-border economic cooperation and highlighted the need to strengthen an institutional and financial framework adapted to the new challenges and opportunities in the Romania – Republic of Moldova regional space.
