100 OPPORTUNITIES / A7: “The Geostrategic Positioning of Moldova through its Connection with Ukraine” 2 – Centrul de Analiză și Planificare a Dezvoltării Regionale’>

CAMPAIGN: “100 Economic Opportunities for the Development of the Moldova Region along the A7 Highway”

Author: Ion Ștefanovici, President CAPDR

The A7 Highway will play a vital role in the geostrategic positioning of Moldova by creating an efficient connection with Ukraine, at a time when this country is undergoing a major reconstruction process. CAPDR sees this connection as a strategic factor for Moldova, offering economic, commercial, and logistical opportunities in a region with high growth potential.

1. Facilitating Ukraine’s Economic Reconstruction

In the current context, Ukraine needs strong regional partners to support its reconstruction and revitalization of the economy. The A7 Highway will play a crucial role in this regard, providing a fast and secure route for the transport of goods and materials necessary for reconstruction. Moldova, through this infrastructure, will position itself as an essential partner for Ukraine, supporting the trade and logistical flows necessary for the restoration of Ukrainian infrastructure.

2. Stimulating Cross-Border Trade between Romania and Ukraine

The connection to Ukraine via the A7 Highway will stimulate cross-border trade and create new opportunities for Moldovan companies to expand their operations in Ukraine. Moldova will become a nodal point for international trade between Europe and Ukraine, thereby contributing to increased trade flows in both directions.

3. Increasing Moldova’s Strategic Importance in the Region

Positioning Moldova as a transport and logistics hub between Romania and Ukraine will enhance the region’s strategic importance at both the regional and international levels. Moldova will become a key player in the transport and trade networks linking Eastern and Southeastern Europe, thereby strengthening the geostrategic role of Romania and Moldova in the context of international relations.

4. Opportunities for Moldovan Companies in Ukraine’s Reconstruction Process

The A7 Highway will provide Moldovan companies with direct access to the Ukrainian reconstruction market, allowing them to participate in infrastructure, construction, and energy projects. This infrastructure will facilitate the rapid transport of construction materials and equipment, thus giving Moldovan companies a competitive advantage in this emerging market.

Conclusion

The strategic connection of the A7 Highway with Ukraine will bring significant economic and commercial benefits to Moldova, strengthening its role in the region and opening opportunities for local companies to participate in the reconstruction process of Ukraine. In this way, Moldova will become an important partner in the growth and economic stability of Eastern Europe.

About the campaign “100 Economic Opportunities for the Development of the Moldova Region along the A7 Highway”

The A7 Highway, one of the largest infrastructure projects in Romania, will represent a vital artery for the economic development of the Moldova Region, directly connecting it with other regions of the country and international markets. As construction progresses, this highway will not only improve mobility but will create a new framework for significant economic opportunities.

In this context, our campaign aims to highlight and explore 100 economic opportunities that will transform the Moldova Region into a hub of economic growth, benefiting local communities, the business environment, and international investors.

Campaign Objectives:

1. Raising awareness of the economic potential offered by the A7 Highway, highlighting advantages for sectors such as transport, logistics, energy, agriculture, tourism, and technology.
2. Identifying and promoting investment opportunities for SMEs, large companies, and foreign investors, presenting concrete examples of economic development in areas adjacent to the highway.
3. Creating a framework for collaboration between local authorities, the academic environment, entrepreneurs, and international organizations to maximize the economic benefits of this project.
4. Providing solutions and strategic directions for the development of the Moldova Region, through these 100 economic opportunities that will generate jobs, economic growth, and regional stability.

How the 100 Opportunities Will Be Structured:

Over the next 4 months, we will present a different economic opportunity every day, offering a clear and applicable vision of how various industries and economic sectors can benefit from this new infrastructure.

Each opportunity will be structured along the following lines:

1. Description of the opportunity – A clear analysis of the economic opportunity within the targeted sector (for example, agriculture, energy, logistics).
2. Impact on the Moldova Region – An overview of how the opportunity will contribute to local development, job creation, and improvement of economic conditions.
3. Success stories – Best practice models from other regions or countries that could be replicated in Moldova.
4. Partnerships and collaborations – Identifying key stakeholders (public authorities, companies, investors) who can facilitate the implementation of this opportunity.
5. Economic forecast – A brief estimate of the economic impact (GDP, jobs, attracting investments) generated by each opportunity.

Targeted Key Sectors:

The campaign will cover a wide range of industries, focusing on:

• Infrastructure and transport: Building logistics parks, developing public and private transport networks, investing in storage facilities.
• Energy and environment: Renewable energy projects along the highway, improving energy transport networks.
• Agriculture and rural development: Developing a modern irrigation system, expanding supply chains, and facilitating access to international markets.
• Industry and manufacturing: Creating industrial clusters, attracting foreign investments in production fields.
• Technology and innovation: Supporting tech start-ups, implementing smart technologies in infrastructure.
• Tourism and hospitality: Promoting cultural tourism, ecotourism, and business tourism in Moldova.
• Education and vocational training: Adapting vocational training programs to meet the new requirements of industry and logistics.
• Healthcare services and development of medical infrastructure: The A7 Highway will contribute to improving access to healthcare services in Moldova by reducing transportation time between localities and regional medical centers. This will facilitate the development of modern medical infrastructure along the route, creating partnerships between public and private medical institutions and attracting investments in cutting-edge equipment. Furthermore, better connectivity will aid in redistributing patients from overcrowded centers to new regional hospitals, reducing pressure on the healthcare system in large urban areas.

Promotion Channels:

The campaign will be promoted through various media channels to maximize impact and reach as wide an audience as possible:

1. Social media and official website: Presenting each daily opportunity, along with detailed articles.
2. Traditional media (TV, radio, print): Interviews with industry experts and local leaders explaining the economic potential of the highway.
3. Public events and conferences: Organizing seminars and economic forums to discuss and present these opportunities in detail.
4. Partnerships with universities and business organizations: Workshops and informational sessions for students, entrepreneurs, and investors.

Expected Results:

• Increased visibility and interest from investors in the Moldova Region and the potential of the A7 Highway.
• Operationalization of the MEMORANDUM for Mapping Opportunities Generated by the construction of the MOLDOVA Highway – A7
• Mobilization of public authorities and the private sector for the implementation of long-term economic projects supported by the opportunities offered by the infrastructure.
• Development of a strategic plan for the next 6 years, based on the 100 opportunities identified in the campaign and on the directions established by the MOLDOVA 2030 strategy.
• Implementation of the 8 stages of the strategic economic development of Moldova through the A7 Highway. These include creating a multi-sector consortium, conducting an impact study, collaboration between academia and business, dialogue with authorities, promoting the region as an investment hub, integrating ecological solutions, monitoring progress, and digital innovation. Each stage is designed to maximize the economic and social impact of the A7 Highway on the region. More details can be found here: A7 STRATEGY.