FERM 2025 | Entrepreneur Ionuț TÎRLĂ (AutoDel) and President Ion ȘTEFANOVICI (CAPDR): A Call for Cooperation and Genuine Development in the Moldova Region

Vatra Dornei, July 9–13, 2025 | Moldova Regional Economic Forum brought together, over four days, key stakeholders from local and central public administration, the business environment, academia, NGOs, and international organizations to discuss the future of a region at a turning point.

At the conclusion of the Moldova Regional Economic Forum (FERM 2025), administrator Ionuț Tîrlă (AutoDel) and President Ion Ștefanovici (CAPDR) highlighted the real needs of entrepreneurs, the challenges of accessing European funds, and the importance of building regional strategies based on genuine consultation and efficiency.

Genuine Involvement and Constant Support

The presence of Ionuț Tîrlă, Administrator of the AutoDel group, on the final day of the forum—arriving directly from vacation to honor the invitation—was noted and appreciated by the organizers as a symbolic gesture of commitment to regional development initiatives.

“The thought with which I came is simple: to be of help. The AutoDel group constantly supports cultural and social activities in Suceava County, and FERM is an event we consider essential for the region’s development.”

President Ion Ștefanovici emphasized that active involvement, beyond mere formal presence, is what drives real change.

“I sincerely appreciate your involvement, even if it was on the last day. Genuine support often goes beyond mere attendance. It is important for business representatives to be present not only to observe but also to actively contribute.”

Real Obstacles and the Need for Practical Solutions

The discussion during the final dialogue quickly turned to one of the most pressing challenges for the regional entrepreneurial environment: the difficulty of accessing and implementing European funds within a bureaucratic system often outdated relative to market dynamics.

“We have a digitalization project stuck in procedures for over a year. The market changes rapidly, offers become outdated, yet we remain trapped in an inflexible administrative framework. We adapt, but this means additional costs and lost time.”, stated Ionuț Tîrlă

President Ion Ștefanovici also pointed out that numerous significant companies choose to forgo European funds entirely due to procedural obstacles that are hard to overcome:

“There are major firms that have decided not to access European funds at all, precisely because of excessive bureaucracy. We must acknowledge openly: in its current form, the system is not adapted to the real needs of entrepreneurs.”

The Need for Coherent Vision and Authentic Strategic Documents

President Ion Ștefanovici highlighted the fundamental difference between formal consultation and genuine consultation.

“There is a major difference between inviting 10 people to sign a formal document and collecting hundreds of authentic opinions from all fields of activity, as happened at FERM. This is real public consultation, which should underpin any strategic document—not bureaucratic simulations without practical relevance.”

Ionuț Tîrlă emphasized that entrepreneurs do not only want to point out deficiencies, but to contribute to the construction of viable solutions.

“We do not come with sterile criticisms, but with constructive proposals. Our role as entrepreneurs is to signal what works and what doesn’t, but the final decision belongs to the authorities managing funds and legislation. All we want is for the implementation of approved projects to be efficient and adapted to real conditions on the ground.”

Both interventions expressed a shared desire for a realistic strategic vision, built on the experiences and real needs of those actively involved in developing the Moldova region.

Investments Without Beneficiaries: The Problem of Empty Schools

Discussions highlighted the shortcomings of certain public investments in the region</strong—particularly in educational infrastructure. Participants drew attention to cases where modern, fully equipped schools were built in communities that no longer have enough students to justify their existence.

President Ion Ștefanovici pointed out the lack of a real assessment of local needs.

“We have impeccably equipped schools that no longer have children. Investments were made without even minimal analysis of needs. We did not prioritize correctly. We cannot talk about success just because the money was spent.”

The same idea was reinforced by Ionuț Tîrlă, who highlighted the need for a more responsible decision-making framework anchored in reality.

“Before putting millions into an institution, a clear study must be done: how many beneficiaries are there? Does it make sense? Or should it be redirected?”

Not the value of the investment, but its real impact should be the basis of any public intervention. Without a correlation between needs, priorities, and resources, there is a risk that investments become mere favorable statistics without a tangible effect on sustainable development.

Call for Continuity and Collaboration

At the conclusion of the forum, the message conveyed by the two speakers was one of collective responsibility and long-term commitment. They emphasized the importance of sustainable collaboration between the public and private sectors, based on trust, transparency, and concrete actions.
The focus was on the necessity of transforming the ideas and conclusions of the forum into coherent strategic documents that accurately reflect the realities on the ground and guide investments where the impact is truly significant.

At the same time, the essential role of new generations in the regional development process was highlighted, encouraging their active involvement in public and entrepreneurial initiatives. The forum should not remain just an event, but should become the starting point of sustained cooperation, in which all stakeholders contribute to building a modern, functional, and economically and socially balanced Moldova.