Cristian Lepădatu on Radio Moldova: Ukraine's reconstruction should be a regional development project
The reconstruction of Ukraine should be viewed as more than just a financial undertaking; it ought to be transformed into a regional development project that includes both the Republic of Moldova and Romania. Cristian Lepădatu, one of the initiators of the STRATEG platform, emphasizes that the Republic of Moldova plays a strategic role within this triangle. This positioning provides Chisinau with the opportunity to serve as a bridge between the European Union and the reconstruction efforts in the neighboring state.
The initiative aims to identify developmental directions for the entire region, not just for Ukraine, with the Republic of Moldova, through the Investment Agency in Chisinau, serving as a liaison between the European Union and the reconstruction efforts in Ukraine.
“I believe that the world is still searching for the right path today. There is a lot of agitation, but without clear and well-defined objectives. We launched the STRATEG Platform in Chisinau, in partnership with the Academy of Economic Studies of Moldova and the Youth for Development Innovation Foundation. One of the main goals of this platform is to present coherent, data-driven strategies that we believe are necessary for development in this region of the world. We should not focus exclusively on the reconstruction of Ukraine; instead, we must prioritize the growth and development of Moldova, Romania, and Ukraine together. This is the objective we need to achieve,” stated Cristian Lepădatu during the “Zi de Zi” show on Radio Moldova.
Beyond the physical reconstruction of towns, schools, hospitals, and communities that have been severely affected, the Republic of Moldova demonstrates confidence to its European partners, asserting its readiness to act as a bridge between the European Union and Ukraine's reconstruction efforts. This position is vigorously endorsed by the Investment Agency in Chisinau.
“We are engaged in discussions with both European funds and national forums, and I believe we can better articulate our focus on regional development—including the reconstruction of Ukraine. There can be no meaningful development without a coherent Ukraine,” emphasized the initiator of the STRATEG platform.
When asked how the Republic of Moldova positions itself in the cooperative relationship between Romania and Ukraine, Cristian Lepădatu highlighted the country's solid foundations for playing a strategic role, including the creation of a shared economic structure.
“Moldova is positioning itself very well. The purpose of these conferences is to establish the trilateral Chamber of Commerce between Romania, the Republic of Moldova, and Ukraine as a foundation for coherent and smart cooperation on many levels. We are not only discussing selling goods to Ukraine for reconstruction; we are also talking about providing Ukraine with qualified workers. There are many shared cultural elements that can facilitate collaboration in Ukraine's rebuilding. Additionally, we are looking beyond the financial perspective of Ukraine's reconstruction. We are aiming to revive the region encompassing Romania, Moldova, and Ukraine from ethnic and moral standpoints as well,” declared Lepădatu.
The initiator of the STRATEG platform stressed the importance of placing human values and mutual support at the center of economic dialogue.
“We often focus too much on money. We don’t discuss human relationships, support, or many other factors; our conversation revolves around finance and profit. While financial motivation is crucial for society, it’s clear that the future must involve other essential components,” Cristian Lepădatu noted.
The revitalization of the border regions of the Republic of Moldova—whether in the northern or southern areas bordering Ukraine—represents a significant opportunity for socioeconomic development.
“The industrialization of Moldova and Romania relies on several factors. Finance is undoubtedly one of those factors, but it is not the only one. We cannot speak of building factories when we don’t have a workforce to operate them. Moreover, we must consider how developments in artificial intelligence will impact our future workforce. Thus, together with our partners in the STRATEG platform, we are bringing these topics into discussion. Our goal is to increase the speed of implementation and ensure we have the workforce needed to support industrialization, so that it becomes a matter of ‘when’ it will happen, not ‘if,’” concluded Cristian Lepădatu.
The STRATEG platform is an initiative conceived as a space for dialogue and action dedicated to regional economic development and the preparation of Ukraine's reconstruction process. The project is promoted by Cristian Lepădatu, a representative of the business community and promoter of trilateral cooperation, in partnership with the Academy of Economic Studies of Moldova (ASEM) and the Youth for Development Innovation foundation. The objective is not only to restore the infrastructure destroyed by the war in Ukraine, but also to simultaneously grow the economy of the three states. It aims to connect the efforts of local authorities and academia with European and national forums, positioning the Republic of Moldova as a logistical, economic and educational facilitator in the accession and reconstruction process.
We recall that Ukraine's Western allies have released financial, military and humanitarian aid - worth almost $500 billion - since the beginning of the Russian invasion, according to the German Kiel Institute. For the time being, Ukraine is allocating most of these funds to the war effort and keeping the economy afloat.
