Alexandr Palariev, Coordinator of the Frumushika Nova Cluster, in the context of the CAPDR meeting in Iași: call for economic cooperation and regional resilience across the Romania–Republic of Moldova–Ukraine space

The Center for Regional Development Analysis and Planning (CAPDR), in partnership with the Chisinau Municipality Regional Development Agency, organized at the Iași Chamber of Commerce and Industry the meeting “Consultation of the Business Environment in Defining RO–MD Development Strategies,” held within the framework of the Interreg NEXT Romania – Republic of Moldova 2021–2027 program.

The event brought together representatives of the business community, public institutions, and regional development organizations from Romania, the Republic of Moldova, and Ukraine, in an applied dialogue format dedicated to strengthening economic cooperation and shaping strategic directions for interregional development.

Economic consultation for integrating the private sector into the regional planning process

The meeting aimed to strengthen a direct dialogue mechanism between the economic environment and public authorities, in order to integrate the contributions of the private sector into the development of regional strategies.

Discussions focused on strategic areas relevant to economic competitiveness and regional connectivity, such as investments, infrastructure and construction, energy, agriculture, logistics, IT, and the HoReCa sector. Participants also analyzed existing administrative barriers and put forward proposals for improving public–private cooperation.

Institutional support and strengthening of regional partnerships

The event was held with the support of the Commercial and Economic Promotion Office of the Embassy of Romania in the Republic of Moldova, the Iași Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Association of Romanian Investors in the Republic of Moldova (AIR), strengthening the institutional framework of bilateral and regional economic cooperation.

The organizers emphasized the importance of such consultation platforms for connecting the business environment with strategic planning structures and for developing sustainable economic projects at the regional level.

CAPDR and the integration of results into the 2028–2034 strategy

During the meeting, CAPDR reconfirmed its role as a platform for strategic analysis and coordination in the Romania–Republic of Moldova space.

The conclusions of the consultations will be integrated into the Romania – Republic of Moldova Sustainable Interconnection Program 2028–2034 (PISRM 2028–2034), a document currently under development and interregional consultation.

Alexandr Palariev in the context of the Iași meeting: regional cooperation, expertise, and economic resilience

During the meeting, Alexandr Palariev, Coordinator of the Frumushika Nova Cluster, emphasized the importance of strengthening regional economic cooperation between Romania, the Republic of Moldova, and Ukraine, in a context marked by geopolitical and economic challenges.

He highlighted the role of dialogue platforms organized in Romania as essential tools for connecting the business environment with institutional structures and for developing sustainable regional partnerships.

“First of all, I would like to thank Mr. Ștefanovici, because his organization gives us so much attention and tries to support us in these difficult times,” said Alexandr Palariev, underlining the importance of support for regional cooperation initiatives.

He also appreciated Romania’s experience in implementing European projects and in developing cross-border cooperation mechanisms, considering it a relevant model for the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine.

Message of resilience in the context of the war in Ukraine

A central element of the intervention was related to the resilience of the Ukrainian economic environment in the context of the war.

“War is not an obstacle for us, as it makes us stronger and we are making a much greater effort than before,” stated Alexandr Palariev, emphasizing the continuity of economic activity and regional cooperation despite the difficult context.

His message reaffirmed the importance of maintaining active economic dialogue between the three states and continuing joint regional development projects.

Iași – a regional hub for economic cooperation and institutional dialogue

The representative of the Frumushika Nova Cluster described the meeting in Iași as a relevant framework for strengthening economic and institutional relations at the regional level, by directly connecting the private sector with decision-makers.

He stressed that such consultations contribute to the development of concrete cooperation mechanisms and to the initiation of joint projects with interregional impact.

“This event marked a very important moment in our cooperation between Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova,” said Alexandr Palariev during the meeting.

Conclusion: strengthening the architecture of regional economic cooperation

The meeting organized by CAPDR in Iași reconfirms the role of structured economic dialogue in strengthening relations between Romania, the Republic of Moldova, and Ukraine.

Through the involvement of the business community, public institutions, and regional organizations, the event highlighted the need to develop stable cooperation mechanisms capable of supporting long-term economic growth, connectivity, and regional integration.