Ion ȘTEFANOVICI: “To build a road that will last a century, we must design it with the wisdom of ten generations”

“The years go by. And I feel them not only in the strands of hair stubbornly turning white, but especially in the beautiful weight of the fatigue that follows a successful effort. It is a kind of fatigue that doesn’t burden, but affirms. A fatigue that carries meaning.”

FERM 2025 was not just a successful edition. It was living proof that when actions are tied to a clear vision, communities awaken, and partnerships gain purpose. Our circle of trust has expanded. People, institutions, companies, initiatives – all have aligned naturally within a framework of regional development.

And yet, despite the steps forward, I still feel a profound need: the need for greater involvement. The Moldova region no longer has time for hesitation. The future will not wait. We are facing a historic opportunity – but it requires continuity, commitment, and conscious participation from every county, every leader, every individual who understands what real development means.

FERM was just the beginning. The rest depends on our willingness to move forward – together, with maturity, courage, and clarity.

To turn this energy into a coherent and lasting process, we are launching, following FERM 2025, a vital instrument: the Multiannual Programmatic Document for the Moldova Region 2025–2030.

This document is not just a plan. It is the strategic compass for our region over the next five years. It will guide our actions until December 31, 2025, and starting January 1, 2026, it will enter its main implementation phase, with clear directions and firm objectives through to 2030.

Built in collaboration with institutional, economic, and civil society stakeholders, it provides a working framework for key sectors, clear timelines, agreed priorities, and progress indicators. It is an invitation to continuity. It is the guarantee that what we started through FERM will evolve into regional policy, investment, and real transformation.

“Those who look far ahead do not rush. But neither do they stop.”

FERM 2025 has shown us that the Moldova Region has everything it needs to become a real player in Romania’s development and in the economic connectivity of Eastern Europe. But deep transformation does not come from events alone. It comes from continuity, from the wisdom of small steps, from loyalty to a shared path.

Today, we can no longer work in segments. We must work as a whole. There is no more time for pride – it is time for maturity. No more room for improvisation – only for strategy, balance, and courage. We will meet again – but more importantly, we will find each other again – where Moldova’s future is no longer just a hope, but a chosen direction.

“If we want to build a road that lasts a century, we must build it with the wisdom of ten generations.”