Neculai VIȚELARU, Vice-President of IMM Romania, at the CAPDR meeting on consulting the business environment Romania – Republic of Moldova: “We must change our approach through objectives. The essence is achieving the objective, not merely ticking the box that you have received a sum of money and ended up with zero results”
100 economic opportunities for the development of the Moldova Region on the A7 Highway route
The Center for Regional Development Analysis and Planning (CAPDR), in partnership with the Regional Development Agency of Chișinău Municipality, organized on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, at the Iași Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the joint activity entitled:
„Consulting the business environment in defining Romania–Moldova 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 economic environment and public authorities from Romania and the Republic of Moldova, by integrating the contributions of the private sector into the process of drafting regional and interregional development strategies.
During the consultations, essential areas for 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 to strengthen public–private partnerships.
Through this meeting, CAPDR and its institutional partners aimed to consolidate an applied consultation mechanism capable of directly connecting relevant economic actors with regional planning structures from 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 experience and real 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 environment 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.
Neculai Vițelaru, President of the SME Employers’ Associations of the North-East region and Vice-President of IMM Romania: „We must change our approach through objectives. The essence is achieving the objective, not merely ticking the box that you have received a sum of money and ended up with zero results”
Neculai Vițelaru, President of the SME Employers’ Associations of the North-East region and Vice-President of IMM Romania, presented a comprehensive intervention on the funding and economic development directions related to the 2028–2034 multiannual program, with a focus on the role of small and medium-sized enterprises in the architecture of future cohesion policies.
SMEs at the center of new funding programs
At the beginning of his intervention, he emphasized the importance of repositioning SMEs within regional development policies and structural funds, insisting on the need for priorities adapted to economic realities.
„I am referring to structural funds for regions and I will focus on SMEs, our proposals for the new calendar plan.”
His message highlighted the idea that future funding programs must be built around the real needs of the entrepreneurial environment, not only around administrative indicators.
Economic cooperation Romania – Republic of Moldova and the limits of the current context
Referring to the dynamics of economic relations between Romania and the Republic of Moldova, Vițelaru noted an increasing level of cooperation, but drew attention to its fragility in the current geopolitical context. He also emphasized that the business environment remains cautious in the current climate of regional insecurity:
„There are attempts, but in an uncertain climate, with war at the border, it is difficult to do business. Therefore, entrepreneurs are cautious during this period.”
This perspective highlighted the direct impact of geopolitical instability on investment decisions and on the pace of development of bilateral economic partnerships.
The need for trust and the role of the European Union
Another key point of the intervention referred to the need to strengthen mutual trust between the business environments of Romania and the Republic of Moldova, as well as a more active involvement of the European Union in supporting entrepreneurship.
„Therefore, mutual trust is needed, and the European Union should further encourage both the Romanian and Moldovan business environments.”
Vițelaru suggested that economic cooperation must go beyond the declarative level and be reflected in concrete mechanisms supporting investments and joint initiatives.
Criticism of the approach focused exclusively on fund absorption
An important part of the intervention addressed the way European funding programs are designed and evaluated, with a firm critique of the emphasis on fund absorption rather than real results.
„The focus has been on milestones, thinking everything through fund absorption, but we must change the approach through objectives. The essence is achieving the objective, not merely ticking the box that you have received a sum of money and ended up with zero results.”
His message highlighted the need for a paradigm shift in project evaluation, from a bureaucratic logic to one focused on impact, efficiency, and measurable economic results.
Pressure on the entrepreneurial environment and the need for reforms
Finally, the intervention addressed the difficulties faced by entrepreneurs today, marked by legislative instability and increased economic pressure.
„People are still struggling; entrepreneurs are burdened by legislative changes, so we must reform the economic situation.”
This observation summarized a broader concern of the SME sector regarding legislative predictability and the need for a stable economic framework enabling sustainable business development.
Conclusion
Neculai Vițelaru’s intervention outlined a clear perspective on the current challenges of the business environment and the necessary directions for the 2028–2034 period: repositioning SMEs at the center of public policies, shifting from absorption to results in the use of European funds, strengthening Romania – Republic of Moldova economic cooperation, and increasing legislative stability as a foundation for entrepreneurial development.
