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FERM 2025 | Ion ȘTEFANOVICI, President of CAPDR: “The real competition is not among us, but with Paris, Rome, or Dubai”
REGIONAL ECONOMIC FORUM MOLDOVA
19th Edition – Vatra Dornei, July 9–13, 2025
Thematic Panel:
Mountain Economy – Sustainable Development and Valorization of Local Resources
Speaker:
Topic of the intervention:
“Complementarity and Cooperation for the Sustainable Development of the Mountain Economy in Moldova”
Between July 9–13, 2025, Vatra Dornei became the capital of regional economic dialogue, hosting a new edition of the Regional Economic Forum Moldova (FERM). The event brought together policymakers, entrepreneurs, investors, experts, and representatives of public administration from Romania, the Republic of Moldova, Ukraine, European states, and other strategic regions.
In this context, Panel 9 – Mountain Economy attracted attention through the topics addressed and the interventions of key figures, among whom stood out Ion Ștefanovici, President of CAPDR and organizer of the Forum, who advocated for an integrated and collaborative vision in the development of mountain regions.
Ion Ștefanovici: the vision of a complementary mountain economy
Opening the panel, Ion Ștefanovici, President of CAPDR and organizer of the Forum, spoke about the importance of unity and a common vision. He drew a parallel between fragmented initiatives and collective efforts, warning that without a shared strategy, the region risks losing opportunities.
“If I climb Mount Căliman alone, I move fast. But if we all go together, it takes longer. And yet, only this way can we build something lasting. Our real challenge is to be organized and complementary.”
He pointed out that the real competition is not local, between counties or entrepreneurs in the same area, but global.
“Our real competition is with Paris, Rome, Dubai, or Shanghai. If we fight each other, we only waste our resources. We must build joint products and address large markets.”
A digital platform and the “Via Moldavia” initiative
A central point of the intervention was the absence of a unified tool for promotion and information. Ștefanovici proposed the creation of an open digital platform, where tourists, investors, and communities could find all relevant information: routes, services, events, opportunities.
“We don’t have this mapping, one place where all the information is gathered, like an open book. And so we lose tourists, we lose chances. We need transparency and unity in communication.”
In the same spirit, he relaunched the idea of ‘Via Moldavia’, an integrative route that would connect the Carpathians with Transylvania, Moldova, Ukraine, and even other neighboring countries, following the model of the famous Camino de Santiago.
“Why reinvent the wheel? We have successful examples in Europe. We can build a touristic semicircle that connects Vatra Dornei with Odessa, Moldova with Transylvania, Romania with Ukraine or Serbia. We have potential; we just need the courage to think on a regional and international scale.”
Ana Maria Ardeleanu: tourism needs education and vision
The intervention of Ana Maria Ardeleanu, founder of the Roman Gardens in Bicaz, brought to the fore the realities faced by small entrepreneurs in tourism.
“I kept a boat in my yard for three years because I couldn’t find a boat driver. It is extremely difficult to connect people and bring them to the same table. Without collaboration and entrepreneurial education, we cannot build anything of quality.”
She emphasized the difference between tourism as a business and tourism as an authentic experience.
“Unfortunately, many see tourism only as a source of income, not as an experience of hospitality. True tourism means knowing exactly who you are addressing, being niche, and creating a product that does not compete but complements others’ offers.”
Ardeleanu also stressed the importance of preserving authenticity.
“We still have genuineness, purity, and the possibility to create something unique. This is our strategic resource, which we must not lose.”
Complementarity, not rivalry
The dialogue between Ștefanovici and Ardeleanu revealed a consensus on one essential point: true value comes from complementarity, not from local rivalry.
“Today I eat at the Roman Gardens, tomorrow at another guesthouse, the day after tomorrow at a traditional restaurant – we all must be complementary. Otherwise, we lose clients to each other and fall behind.”, emphasized Ion Ștefanovici.
The concrete examples brought forward – from the lack of infrastructure on Lake Bicaz, where “you are allowed to do transport, but not leisure”, to the dramatic decline in livestock numbers in mountain areas – demonstrated that the problems of the mountain economy are complex and interdependent.
From agriculture and pastures to exports and joint products
The CAPDR President also highlighted the role of mountain agriculture, drawing attention to the decline in livestock numbers and the use of pastures.
“From 3,000 heads of livestock, we are now down to 300. This is a serious issue. But if a sheep producer joins forces with a poultry farmer and creates a joint export contingent, both become relevant. We must think in terms of complementarity, not isolation.”
The same logic applies to tourism, culture, or health: each field contributes to a broader picture, and success comes only through resource integration.
Conclusions: a common strategy for a competitive region
At the end of the discussions, the message conveyed by Panel 9 was one of mobilization and unity. Moldova’s mountain economy has enormous potential, but it can be harnessed only through a common, interdisciplinary, and international strategy.
“My only merit is that I brought you together. But the real achievement will come when we manage to build a lasting framework of cooperation. If we don’t have a system, if we don’t build something that multiplies and endures, all our efforts are wasted. And then nothing will remain after us.”, warned Ion Ștefanovici.
The debates within Panel 9 – Mountain Economy clearly showed that Moldova has extraordinary but still underutilized potential. The central message conveyed by Ion Ștefanovici was one of unity, complementarity, and cooperation, a vision through which local resources – whether tourism, agriculture, culture, or traditions – can be integrated into a common development model.
Both Ștefanovici and the other participants emphasized that the real challenge is not competition between counties or localities, but positioning Moldova on the global map of development and tourism. International examples such as the Camino de Santiago show that a well-built concept, based on cooperation and authenticity, can attract millions of visitors and major investments.
