Bucharest Stock Exchange in association with maib, the largest bank in the Republic of Moldova, Wood&Co, Raiffeisen Bank International, with the support of the Government of the Republic of Moldova, AmCham Romania and EBA Moldova, announce the organization in Bucharest, on March 27, of the second edition of the forum Moldova – Romania: Capital Bridges. The purpose of the event is to boost economic and capital markets cooperation in the Republic of Moldova and Romania, in the context of Moldova's European Union accession negotiations. The forum will address topics such as macroeconomic reforms, investment opportunities and progress in the banking sector of the Republic of Moldova, in the context of EU candidate country by European Council decision of 23 June 2022.
The event will be attended by high-ranking government representatives from both countries: Marcel Ciolacu, Prime Minister of Romania; Dorin Recean, Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova; Nicolae Ciuca, President of the Romanian Senate; Igor Grosu, Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova; Dumitru Alaiba, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy of the Republic of Moldova. Also, representatives from the management of the regulatory and supervisory authorities of the financial markets, as well as of the financial sector and business environment of the two countries will participate, among them Anca Dragu, Governor of the National Bank of Moldova, Alexandru Petrescu, President of the Financial Supervisory Authority, Dumitru Budianschi, President of the National Commission for Financial Market, Radu Hanga, President of Bucharest Stock Exchange, Giorgi Shagidze, President of maib, and Adrian Tanase, CEO of Bucharest Stock Exchange.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the most important institutional investor in the Republic of Moldova, with over EUR 2bn invested in 166 projects, will be represented by Odile Renaud-Basso, EBRD President, and Catarina Bjorlin Hansen, Regional Director Moldova.
Key aspects, Moldova:
- Moldova's economic growth in real terms in 2023 is estimated to be 0.7%, according to the Ministry of Economy;
- An economic growth of 3-4% is forecast for 2024, with inflation falling within the National Bank of Moldova target of 5%;
- The National Bank of Moldova reduced the base rate seven consecutive times, to 4.25% in February 2024, from 21.5% in November 2022;
- The European Council decided to open accession negotiations with Moldova in December 2023. The European Commission will continue to monitor progress and compliance in all areas related to the opening of negotiations and will report back to the European Council by March 2024. These developments could lead to a referendum by the end of 2024.
- Romania has become the main trading partner of the Republic of Moldova and the largest "foreign" investor, contributing with over EUR 400mn. In the last 10 years, Moldova's trade volume with Romania has tripled, reaching EUR 3bn, according to the latest statements of His Excellency, Ambassador of the Republic of Moldova to Romania, Victor Chirila.
The event "Moldova – Romania: Capital Bridges" will take place on March 27, in Bucharest. The agenda of the event can be found here. Because the number of seats in the hall is limited, registrations can be made until March 25, 10:00, at this link.
