The Governor of the National Bank of Moldova (NBM), Ms Anca Dragu, attended the high-level regional conference Romania Government Roundtable 2026: “South-east Europe’s Next Leap Forward”, organised by The Economist editorial group, in Bucharest from 30 March to 1 April 2026. The event brought together government officials, political leaders, and prominent representatives from academia and the business community. Discussions focused on strengthening European unity and solidarity, as well as Romania’s role as a key actor in regional and European stability.

During the session “Investments for a more competitive and cohesive Europe: the role of financial institutions”, Ms Anca Dragu emphasised the transformative role of the financial sector in promoting equitable growth. The NBM Governor also noted that we are currently witnessing an unprecedented period of optimism for the Republic of Moldova’s economy. According to International Monetary Fund (IMF) projections, the Republic of Moldova is expected to record one of the highest per capita GDP growth rates globally between 2026 and 2030. This dynamic highlights the success of structural reforms and the country’s significant potential to attract foreign direct investment.

Ms Anca Dragu highlighted the development and integration of the Republic of Moldova’s payment infrastructure into the European ecosystem. Accession to the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) has significantly reduced the cost of euro transfers and facilitated the integration of the national economy into the European financial market. In parallel, the MIA instant payment system has transformed the way payments are made in MDL, being widely adopted by both the public and businesses, and rapidly becoming a successful regional project.

The Governor also underlined progress in developing the capital market to diversify sources of finance. Initiatives to connect to European market infrastructures and launch modern trading platforms will support investment inflows.

“The Republic of Moldova is no longer merely a state in transition; it is becoming an engine of economic growth in Southeast Europe. Our ambition at the National Bank is to build a robust, digitalised financial system fully integrated into the European space. At the same time, SEPA accession and the success of instant payments via MIA support accelerated development and facilitate capital flows between Chișinău and EU countries,” stated Ms Anca Dragu, Governor of the National Bank of Moldova.

The conference was opened by the President of Romania, Mr Nicușor Dan, and the President of the Republic of Moldova, Ms Maia Sandu. The event was also marked by the presence of Mr Enrico Letta (EU rapporteur on the future of the EU Single market, President of the Jacques Delors Institute, and former Prime Minister of Italy), Professor Daron Acemoglu (2024 Nobel Laureate in Economics), the Governor of the National Bank of Romania, Mr Mugur Isărescu, and the Prime Minister of Moldova, Mr Alexandru Munteanu.

This year’s agenda addressed critical topics such as regional security, the geopolitical impact of conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, and the strategic role of Romania and the Republic of Moldova as pillars of stability on the EU and NATO’s eastern flank.