The delegation of the National Bank of Moldova (NBM), led by Governor Anca Dragu, held a series of bilateral meetings with officials from international financial institutions and leaders from the foreign private sector on the sidelines of the Central and Eastern Europe Forum in Vienna.

A key moment was the meeting with the delegation of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), led by Francis Malige, Managing Director for Financial Institutions. The topics discussed by Governor Anca Dragu and Francis Malige included capital market development, support for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs), harmonization of financial regulations and measures to strengthen economic resilience and energy security.

During the discussions, Governor Anca Dragu highlighted the role of revitalizing the capital market in the Republic of Moldova, emphasizing that it is a central element in stimulating sustainable economic growth and expanding access to finance, especially for local businesses. The dialogue also focused on facilitating credit conditions and promoting innovative business initiatives. In this context, the need to strengthen strategic partnerships with international institutions was reaffirmed, with a view to enhancing the resilience of the financial sector in the Republic of Moldova and aligning it with European standards, thus ensuring deeper economic integration and transparent governance.

Another point on the discussion agenda was the Country Strategy for the Republic of Moldova for 2023-2028. It targets priorities such as developing a competitive private sector, promoting financial inclusion, improving corporate governance and the business environment, as well as increasing the resilience of the financial sector by adopting international standards of transparency and sustainability.

In addition to the meetings with EBRD representatives, the NBM delegation, which also included First Deputy Governor Vladimir Munteanu, held discussions with representatives of the foreign private sector. These dialogues focused on improving the competitiveness of Moldovan enterprises in foreign markets, identifying solutions to enhance economic resilience in the face of global challenges and financial inclusion.

"By participating in this forum, the National Bank of Moldova reaffirms its commitment to supporting the country's economic integration into European structures, strengthening international partnerships and promoting essential reforms for the development of a modern, transparent and sustainable financial sector", says Anca Dragu.

The Central and Eastern European Forum marked its 30th anniversary this year, reaffirming its role in setting the economic and financial direction for the region. During this time, the forum has consolidated its position as a reference point in setting regional economic and financial priorities, helping to shape the strategic agendas of emerging markets.

The edition held on 14-15 January 2025, brought together official delegations from the Republic of Moldova, Romania, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Armenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Poland, Albania, Lithuania, North Macedonia, Georgia, Slovenia, Montenegro, Serbia, Hungary, and others. Alongside them, senior officials from the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, etc., as well as investors and experts participated, underlining the shared commitment to boosting economic resilience and fostering a constructive dialogue in the context of global challenges.