UGIR Secretary General, Ștefan RĂDEANU, at FERM 2025: “Without the voice of entrepreneurs, no development strategy has a solid foundation”

REGIONAL ECONOMIC FORUM MOLDOVA 2025

19th Edition – Vatra Dornei, July 9–13, 2025

Panel topic:
Strategic Investments in the Moldova Region

Speaker:
Ștefan Rădeanu: Secretary General of UGIR

Topic of the speech:
“The Vision of the General Union of Romanian Industrialists”

Ștefan Rădeanu, Secretary General of the General Union of Romanian Industrialists (UGIR), delivered a firm and balanced message, highlighting the need to strengthen the employers’ movement, streamline the public-private partnership, and create sustainable models for attracting investments in the Moldova region.

UGIR’s Greeting and a Firm Call for Institutional Cohesion

The Secretary General of UGIR opened his address by conveying a message of support from the organization’s president, George Constantin Păunescu, who welcomed the Forum’s initiative and reiterated UGIR’s willingness to actively engage in strategic dialogue platforms:

“Whether you want us or not, starting today, consider UGIR a member of this forum.”

The presence in the audience of several organization representatives – Ovidiu Ilisei, President of the UGIR Moldova Employers’ Federation, and Constantin Cucoșel, UGIR Vice-President and President of CECCAR Maramureș – reinforced the message of unity and active involvement. They symbolize the decentralized and collaborative direction UGIR promotes in support of regional economic development.

“We need unity, and we feel the need to make ourselves heard, not just at such events, but by actually getting involved.”

UGIR not only supports the development of the Moldova region but assumes a concrete role in implementing solutions and attracting strategic partnerships through active and coherent representation of the business environment.

A Wake-Up Call on the Exclusion of Employers’ Organizations from Real Public Dialogue

In his speech, Ștefan Rădeanu tackled head-on a critical issue for the proper functioning of economic democracy: the marginalization of representative employers’ organizations from the public policy-making process. He pointed to the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) as an example, where the role of employers’ organizations was drastically diminished.

“I examined the NRRP regarding social dialogue with the business environment. You know what it says, black on white? The relevant partner in dialogue with the business environment is the Coalition for the Development of Romania. Period.”

This observation was accompanied by a well-argued critique of the preferential selection of certain entities at the expense of a pluralistic and transparent representation.

“If this is how things stand, then let’s be honest – we might as well stay home. Because the reality is that traditional employers’ organizations are no longer treated as equal partners. That coalition represents the interests of major embassies and multinational companies. That is why we must consolidate and strengthen our voice.”

The employers’ movement must reclaim its legitimate place in governmental consultation mechanisms through unity, coherence, and professionalism. Ștefan Rădeanu advocated for a reformulation of the social dialogue paradigm, in which the representation of local businesses is not just symbolic, but real and equitable.

Innovation across the Prut – An Inspiration for Us

In support of the idea that the industrial development of the Moldova region requires vision, effective collaboration mechanisms, and sustainable funding sources, Ștefan Rădeanu presented a concrete best practice example from the Republic of Moldova – an innovation industrial park that has become an international benchmark.

“Last year, this industrial park generated revenues of one billion euros, bringing together 2,370 companies from 43 countries. Unfortunately, it is not located in Romania, but with our brothers across the Prut. Why aren’t we doing the same?”

This example was used to highlight the efficiency of a well-structured public-private partnership and to encourage replicating the model in Romania, particularly in the Moldova region, where the development potential is significant.

Additionally, the UGIR Secretary General proposed a viable financing solution based on market mechanisms:

“If such an industrial park is economically generative, it can be financed through the issuance of bonds. Investors will subscribe to debt securities, and the project could even be listed on the stock exchange.”

His proposal supports the idea that it is not the lack of resources, but the absence of coherent governance and a real partnership between administration and the business environment that limits strategic initiatives in Romania. The Chișinău model thus becomes a tangible example that can inspire similar projects on this side of the Prut as well.

Conclusion:

The speech delivered by Ștefan Rădeanu at the Regional Economic Forum Moldova was an articulate and pragmatic intervention, focused on concrete solutions and functional partnerships. In a regional economic context marked by multiple challenges, but also by strategic opportunities, UGIR’s message was one of cohesion, responsibility, and coordinated action.

The Secretary General of UGIR emphasized the need for genuine collaboration between the business environment, public authorities, and institutional structures to build a predictable economic climate conducive to investment. He advocated for the strengthening of an authentic employers’ movement, for capitalizing on regional success stories, and for the implementation of innovative financial mechanisms adapted to current economic realities.

UGIR thus positions itself as an active institutional partner, capable of contributing with expertise, technical solutions, and professional resources to support the sustainable development of the Moldova region. Through direct and sustained involvement, the organization reaffirms its commitment to transforming regional potential into a model of integrated, durable, and competitive economic growth.