FERM 2024 | Ion ȘTEFANOVICI: “We have started MAPPING investment opportunities along the A7 highway route”

Panel “INVESTMENTS”

Module II – Development of Moldova through the A7 Highway, the 18th Edition of the Moldova Regional Economic Forum, Vatra Dornei, 2024

SPEAKER – Ion ȘTEFANOVICI, President of the Center for Regional Development Analysis and Planning (C.A.P.D.R.)

  TOPIC: “C.A.P.D.R. Project on Mapping Investment Opportunities along the A7 Highway Route in the Moldova Region”

Ion Ștefanovici, President of the Center for Regional Development Analysis and Planning (C.A.P.D.R.), presented at the Regional Economic Forum Moldova 2024 the C.A.P.D.R. Project on Mapping Investment Opportunities along the A7 Highway Route in the Moldova Region, highlighting the strengths and weaknesses, as well as the opportunities and challenges involved in the implementation phase of this project.

The economic opportunities mapping project

The central point of the speech was the project for detailed mapping of economic opportunities along the A7 highway route. This process is essential for attracting both national and foreign investments:

“Preparing, at the mapping level, the opportunities for the development of both Romanian capital investments and attracting direct foreign investments. This is also the title of the panel. How do we develop Moldova through A7?”

Detailed analysis of local data

Ștefanovici detailed plans for the next 3 years, which include the collection and analysis of cadastral, demographic, economic, and infrastructure data along the highway route:

“We will prepare, and these things will happen starting this summer, the collection and analysis of cadastral, demographic, economic, traffic, and transport data. We are particularly interested in where the nodes are unloaded and the business opportunities that will exist along the highway route”.

He emphasized the importance of identifying available local resources, including land and utility networks, as well as the human resource:

“What lands are available, their cadastral plans, utility networks, and last but not least, the human resource in the area that we can offer to investors”.

Challenges in attracting foreign investors

The C.A.P.D.R. President addressed the ongoing challenges in attracting foreign investors due to the lack of adequate infrastructure:

“For years, attempts have been made to attract foreign investors to the Moldova region. Invariably, we have faced the same counterarguments. We don’t have large infrastructure; we can’t come there”.

Geopolitical Impact and the Importance of Infrastructure Development

Ștefanovici highlighted the geopolitical impact on the region and the urgent need for infrastructure development to ease traffic and connect the region with the rest of the country and with neighbors to the North and East:

“Now we have a special situation at the border. Frankly speaking, what is happening is happening at the speed it is, also for these reasons, because from north to south, all the way to the Port of Constanța, traffic will be eased. And we eagerly await this to happen. We also have significant losses of human lives in road accidents. An absolutely terrible situation that needs to be urgently stopped!”

Equity and Balance in Regional Development

Ion Ștefanovici emphasized the importance of equity and balance in regional development, stressing the need for a concerted effort to ensure this:

“The equity of development and balance in regional and national development must indeed involve an effort, a greater effort in our region. In such a way as to compensate for the socio-economic situation of the Moldova Region compared to Transylvania and Bucharest-Ilfov.”

Call to Action and Collaboration

The C.A.P.D.R. President’s speech concluded with a clear call to authorities and investors to collaborate in transforming the Moldova Region into an economic development hub. Ștefanovici stressed that the A7 highway will play a crucial role in this transformation, facilitating better connections and creating new economic and social opportunities:

“The A7 highway will not only connect the region with the rest of the country but will also create new economic and social opportunities, thus raising the standard of living for the people of Moldova.”