PHOTO // Deputy Prime Minister on visit to Washington: development prospects for Moldova and regional developments on agenda

Deputy Prime Minister Eugeniu Osmochescu, Minister of Economic Development and Digitalization is paying a working visit to Washington this week. The visit began with a meeting with representatives of the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA), during which the development prospects of the Republic of Moldova, as well as economic and security developments in the region were analyzed.

The official reconfirmed that the priorities of our country focus on strengthening security, increasing investments, developing infrastructure, energy independence, and continuing the reforms necessary for European integration.

"I emphasized that the Republic of Moldova positions itself as a predictable state, reform-oriented and open to investments, including in the context of Ukraine’s reconstruction. In this regard, I highlighted concrete investment opportunities in infrastructure, energy, digitalization and industries oriented towards the European market," stated Osmochescu.

Particular emphasis was placed on energy independence, the development of renewable energy, and the need for investments in storage capacities and the modernization of energy networks, in order to ensure security and the attractiveness of the investment environment.

Eugeniu Osmochescu also reiterated the Government’s firm commitment to continue reforms, including through debureaucratization, digitalization and improving the business environment, with a view to increasing the competitiveness of the economy.

In the regional context, Osmochescu underlined the role of the Republic of Moldova as a responsible and resilient partner, contributing to stability, connectivity and support for Ukraine, including through the development of logistical and economic infrastructure.

"The Republic of Moldova reaffirms its commitment to developing a modern, digital and resilient economy, in close cooperation with international partners," the official stressed.

At the same time, the directions of economic and digital transformation of the Republic of Moldova, as well as the role of American companies in supporting these processes, were analyzed during the meeting with Joanie Myers from Widelity Inc.

"We discussed the transition of the national economy from the export of raw materials to higher value-added products in sectors such as agro-industrial processing, IT and digital services, energy and advanced technologies, and I highlighted the need for investments in modern infrastructure and innovative industries," he said.

The official announced that during the discussions, potential avenues of short-term cooperation were identified, such as conducting feasibility studies for projects of national strategic importance, cooperation in the field of critical infrastructure resilience, and the initiation of academic partnerships dedicated to developing technical competences in advanced engineering and telecommunications.

Furthermore, the meeting with Mike Ryan from the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC) provided an opportunity to explore new directions of cooperation between the Republic of Moldova, partners from North Carolina and international actors in the fields of health and crisis management.

"We discussed ways to expand partnerships through projects that connect companies, innovation centers and financial institutions from Moldova and North Carolina. The discussions addressed investment opportunities in strategic infrastructure and dual-use projects in sectors such as logistics, energy and critical infrastructure, highlighting the potential of the Republic of Moldova as a competitive regional platform for investments targeting Eastern Europe. We also analyzed prospects for cooperation in technological and innovation fields, including high-tech parks, research and development, and digital infrastructure, with a focus on creating ecosystems that connect companies, research centers and investors," noted Eugeniu Osmochescu.

To continue the dialogue, the officials agreed to organize economic missions for the business community from North Carolina to Chisinau and to hold technical discussions on the potential launch of pilot projects for economic and technological cooperation, which will contribute to harnessing regional potential in infrastructure, technology, innovation and industry.