Cristian ȘOLOGON, State Secretary within the Ministry of Transport, at FERM 2025: “The A7 and A8 highways will definitely move forward and will generate economic growth for the Moldova Region”
100 economic opportunities for the development of the Moldova Region on the A7 Highway route
REGIONAL ECONOMIC FORUM MOLDOVA 2025
19th Edition – Vatra Dornei, July 9–13, 2025
Thematic Panel:
“The Role of Infrastructure in Economic Development”
Speaker:
Cristian ȘOLOGON, State Secretary within the Ministry of Transport
Topic of the intervention:
“Presentation of the Ministry of Transport’s major infrastructure projects in the Moldova Region”
In the context of current economic and social dynamics, the Regional Economic Forum Moldova 2025 reconfirmed its status as an essential platform for strategic dialogue on regional development.
At the infrastructure-focused panel entitled “The Role of Infrastructure in Economic Development”, State Secretary Cristian Șologon presented the Ministry’s vision on key projects aimed at reshaping the infrastructure map of the region, highlighting the strong connection between infrastructure and economic growth.
Road Infrastructure — The Key to Regional Development
Cristian Șologon began his address by highlighting a historical truth: “The Moldova Region has somehow been neglected in terms of road infrastructure.” This statement describes a reality that has limited the region’s economic potential, creating a significant gap compared to other parts of the country. However, the outlook is now changing fundamentally. The official noted that major projects like the A7 and A8 highways could become catalysts for transformation.
Through these investments, the Carpathian Mountains — traditionally a natural barrier — “can become an opportunity,” a factor which, in the context of post-conflict reconstruction in Ukraine, could turn Moldova into a strategic regional development hub. “At some point, the war in Ukraine will end, and the first ones I would want to be present there, in the reconstruction zone, must be those from the Moldova region,” Șologon emphasized, underlining both the economic and geopolitical role of the region.
Referring to the current stage of construction, the State Secretary explained that today, approximately 150 kilometers of highway are operational from Suceava to Bucharest, including the Focșani–Buzău segment and the Bacău bypass—essential elements for traffic flow and local economic development. Șologon also highlighted the positive impact on towns like Mizil, which, “although I love it, I wouldn’t want to see the traffic jams caused by heavy vehicles anymore,” subtly pointing to the need for efficient urban bypasses.
In the same vein, railway infrastructure modernization was also emphasized, particularly the M500 mainline that crosses Moldova from north to south, with funds allocated for improvements in the Buzău–Bicaz area. However, railway investments are still in early stages: “It’s a light modernization, and I believe that investments in road infrastructure will lead to regional development in such a way that future rail upgrades will be more substantial.”
The Interdependence Between Infrastructure and Economic Growth
One of the key observations was the two-way relationship between infrastructure and economic growth. “It’s an old debate — what came first, the chicken or the egg? What does infrastructure generate? Does it generate economic growth or is infrastructure modernization driven by economic growth? The answer is yes,” Șologon explained. Thus, quality infrastructure stimulates the local economy, and economic momentum in turn drives the need for further infrastructure investment.
A concrete example discussed was Buzău County, “where an economic growth of 21% is already recorded in the area influenced by the A7 highway, even though the highway is not yet complete.” He added a strong economic argument: “Every euro invested in infrastructure generates a horizontal growth of 2 to 4 euros in the local economy.”
However, he warned that the success of these investments also depends on the capacity of local administrations to be receptive, to understand, and to capitalize on the opportunities brought by infrastructure. “It largely depends on those managing local government to create development opportunities,” concluded Cristian Șologon, emphasizing the complementary role of local and central governance.
More Than Roads — Airports and Water Transport
Not only road and rail infrastructure are essential for the region, the State Secretary continued, but also airport infrastructure. He mentioned the important airports of Suceava, Iași, and Bacău, which together register an annual traffic of approximately 3.3 million passengers, with significant post-pandemic growth. “Iași ranks third, and Bacău seventh among Romanian airports, indicating the region’s remarkable dynamism,” the State Secretary pointed out.
More surprisingly, he introduced the potential of naval infrastructure, referring to Romania’s takeover process of the Giurgiulești maritime port, mentioning that it would integrate the region into a multimodal transport system. “We must not forget about the connections between road, rail, airport, and — why not — naval transport,” he added, opening up a complex and integrated development perspective.
Suceava County’s Priorities — A Strong Local Voice
Cezar Ioja, the Public Administrator of Suceava County, discussed the practical realities faced by the locality he represents. He explained that DN-17, part of the future A14 highway, is heavily used, especially during the tourist season. To accelerate the works, the Suceava County Council initiated a partnership with the Ministry of Transport and the National Road Infrastructure Management Company.
Ioja detailed the financial challenges, pointing out that the initial feasibility study planned a full-profile 10 km highway with a prohibitive cost of 543 million euros. As a result, a reduced profile (“half-profile”) was chosen, lowering the costs to around 200 million euros, with the direct involvement of the County Council, which will contribute 5%, meaning 10 million euros.
This project is crucial for relieving traffic in Bucovina, especially around Gura Humorului, where congestion is frequent and negatively affects the tourism experience and the local economy. Ioja expressed hope for obtaining budgetary loans from the Ministry of Finance, needed to start the works, even if they begin next year.
He also mentioned ongoing feasibility studies for extending infrastructure along the Bistrița–Vatra Dornei section, although, similarly, lack of financial resources remains a major obstacle.
Overcontracting — The Key to Absorbing EU Funds
State Secretary Șologon reassured the audience that the Ministry of Transport is currently managing an overcontracting rate of over 200%, as a response to previous issues with unspent European funds: “We have overcontracting of 200%, even 220%, which ensures that the funds will be fully used.”
Contracts for highways and other projects have been signed, and works are underway, but co-financing from the state budget is essential for successful implementation. Moldova’s priority projects include not only the A7 and A8 highways, but also the bypass roads of Iași, Botoșani, Vaslui, and especially the Gura Humorului bypass, which is a “top priority” due to its traffic and tourism impact.
The Strategic Impact of the Giurgiulești Port — A Cross-Border Vision
From the Republic of Moldova, lawyer Sergiu Bivol raised a key question regarding the tender for taking over the Giurgiulești port, with Constanța Port among the favorites. He asked what impact the port takeover would have on infrastructure and development, including on both sides of the Prut River.
Șologon responded with a broad and strategic vision. “It is an important project, and the first thing that will happen is investments.” He recalled the recent inauguration of new berths at Giurgiu, with increased operational capacity, and explained that the takeover of the Giurgiulești port by Romania, via Constanța, could bring significant financial benefits.
Moreover, the official emphasized the symbolic and political dimension of the Romania–Moldova partnership: “It is something that transcends borders, which we aim to make imaginary so we can grow together within the European Union.”
He also mentioned modernization projects for the border crossing points at Ungheni, which will enhance connectivity, as well as intentions to make a segment of the Prut River navigable, in line with European trends of developing inland waterway transport —“the most economic and ecological means of transport,” as he stated.
Conclusions
Once again, the Regional Economic Forum Moldova 2025 played a crucial role in bringing together all stakeholders involved in the region’s sustainable development — from central and local government representatives to investors, experts, and business leaders. The event demonstrated that only through open dialogue, strategic cooperation, and a shared vision can historical gaps be overcome and Moldova’s real economic opportunities be fully leveraged.
The infrastructure-focused panel was a highlight of the forum, offering a well-grounded and detailed perspective on major investments that will shape the region’s future. The discussions revealed that infrastructure development is not merely a technical issue, but a complex vector that deeply influences economic, social, and geopolitical dynamics.
State Secretary Cristian Șologon’s intervention stood out for the clarity and depth of his message. He highlighted how essential projects such as the A7 and A8 highways, the modernization of the M500 rail line, the development of regional airports, and the integration of naval transport through Giurgiulești Port form an interconnected infrastructure ecosystem designed to boost economic growth and reduce regional disparities.
Șologon also emphasized the complementary importance of local administrations’ commitment, which, through openness and cooperation, can transform infrastructure into a true catalyst for development. At a time when absorbing European funds and using them efficiently has become a top priority, his intervention was a call to action and shared responsibility to make Moldova a competitive and sustainable hub on Romania’s and Europe’s economic map.
