Andriy STEFANOVICH (ESRI Ukraine): „Collaboration with MoldovaHub and the use of the A7 infrastructure open new opportunities for companies in Ukraine and Romania”

ESRI Ukraine has represented, for 30 years, the global GIS leader, ESRI USA, which covers approximately 40% of GIS requirements worldwide

Our experience in carrying out sectoral projects and territorial planning allows us to provide assistance in information collection and processing, as well as in building development models at both local and national levels. Some of the most renowned large-scale projects include the southern and northern sub-regions of Ukraine and participation in the development of the General Development Scheme of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 

Our company’s membership in the Basarabeasca Technology Hub (BTH), which includes the localities of the Belgorod-Dnestrovsky and Bolgrad districts in the Odessa region, as well as the border areas of the Cahul, Ștefan Vodă, Basarabeasca, and Căușeni districts in the Republic of Moldova, allows us to comprehensively evaluate the impact of the MoldovaHub project on the border territories of both countries. 

Regarding the addressed topic, our contribution would be manifested through information collection, processing, and building development models on the ArcGIS software platform, applying the geospatial connection between the participants of this research project, for any location involved in the project, both on the territory of Moldova and in southern Odessa, in the following fields:

• demographic situation and trends (optimistic and realistic variants);
• schemes of all types of land use;
• natural resources (of any type);
• ecological situation and perspectives;
• economic situation, in various scenarios of advancing the MoldovaHub project;
• humanitarian and social contacts between the residents of Moldova and Ukraine. The list of these directions can be extended according to needs. This information will be placed on interactive maps, taking into account the user level.

Establishing a Bilateral Framework for Economic Cooperation

The A7 highway, under construction in Romania, will become a key infrastructure for the North-East region, facilitating transport and economic development. MoldovaHub, a new center for innovation and business, will provide a favorable framework for investments.

How do you see the opportunity for ESRI Ukraine to collaborate with Romanian authorities and MoldovaHub to stimulate Ukrainian investments in North-East Romania? What bilateral measures would you propose to facilitate this cooperation framework?

ESRI Ukraine has a long history of successful collaboration with various national and regional authorities for the implementation of our geospatial solutions. In the context of collaboration with MoldovaHub and the Romanian authorities, we see ourselves as a technological partner capable of supporting this framework of economic cooperation by providing high-precision geospatial data and software solutions that facilitate more efficient territorial and investment planning. 

I believe a bilateral approach could include the creation of a Romania-Moldova-Ukraine working group to use our data to create a model of common territorial and economic development. This working group could analyze the economic potential of the involved regions and offer investors a clear picture of business opportunities, considering economic perspectives and regional infrastructure.

Facilitating access to the Romanian and European markets

North-East Romania, with the modern infrastructure of the A7 Highway, is becoming a gateway to the European Union market for Ukrainian companies. MoldovaHub will offer support for these companies in their expansion to the European market.

How could ESRI Ukraine support Ukrainian companies in using MoldovaHub as a strategic hub for access to the EU market, leveraging Romania’s road infrastructure? What strategies do you see necessary to promote these opportunities?

ESRI Ukraine can support Ukrainian companies in using MoldovaHub as a strategic hub for accessing the European market through our advanced spatial planning solutions. Our company has the capacity to develop economic scenario models based on modern road infrastructure, such as the A7 Highway. 

It is important to encourage cross-sectoral collaboration by creating a group of spatial planning specialists from all three countries to support the development of this commercial hub. Creating an interactive digital platform based on ArcGIS, which provides updated data and economic analyses, could be an essential tool in promoting the opportunities offered by this infrastructure.

Collaboration in the field of industry and agriculture

Ukraine and Romania have strong traditions in agriculture and industry. The A7 Highway and MoldovaHub can facilitate trade and collaboration between Ukrainian and Romanian companies in these sectors, creating new business opportunities.

How could ESRI Ukraine encourage collaborations between companies in the agricultural and industrial fields in Ukraine and Romania, using the infrastructure and resources provided by MoldovaHub and A7?

In agriculture and industry, our geospatial solutions can help create databases that identify the best locations for investment and development. Collaboration with MoldovaHub and the use of the A7 infrastructure open new opportunities for companies in Ukraine and Romania. Through ArcGIS technology, we can offer interactive maps and predictive models that support the development of eco-friendly agricultural and industrial projects. 

Additionally, our solutions can support the identification of high-potential areas for investments in renewable energy and eco-tourism, two highly relevant fields for the region’s economic future.

Economic diplomacy through embassies and consulates

Ukrainian embassies and consulates in Romania can play an essential role in promoting economic opportunities for Ukrainian investors. MoldovaHub can become a central attraction point for companies seeking expansion into the Romanian and European markets.

How can ESRI Ukraine collaborate with Ukraine’s diplomatic network in Romania to promote MoldovaHub and attract Ukrainian investors to the North-East Region of Romania?

Economic diplomacy plays a crucial role in attracting investments and promoting cross-border collaboration. In this regard, ESRI Ukraine can collaborate with Ukraine’s embassies and consulates in Romania through a dedicated geospatial platform that offers investors a clear picture of economic opportunities in the region. 

Collaboration with MoldovaHub and Ukrainian diplomatic institutions will allow Ukrainian companies access to relevant information and essential data for exploring and developing new markets in Romania and the European Union. This partnership could include organizing conferences and investment promotion events, using our solutions to demonstrate the region’s economic potential.

Participation in Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction

MoldovaHub and the A7 infrastructure in Romania can become a logistics center for Ukraine’s reconstruction after the conflict ends. Collaboration in this context could facilitate the flow of resources and support reconstruction efforts.

How do you think ESRI Ukraine could cooperate with MoldovaHub to develop a logistics center in North-East Romania to support Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction?

Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction requires a strategic and coordinated approach, and MoldovaHub and the infrastructure offered by the A7 Highway can become a key point in this strategy. ESRI Ukraine can support these efforts by creating a geospatial platform that monitors and manages reconstruction logistics, facilitating resource coordination and creating new jobs in the Odessa region. 

A viable solution we envision is the use of our technology to develop a detailed reconstruction plan for the affected territories, in collaboration with MoldovaHub and Romanian authorities, thus ensuring sustainable and efficient reconstruction.