Strategic Vision and Inter-Institutional Collaboration
The event, organized by the Ștefan Vodă District Council, began with a "Tradition · Craftsmanship · Inspiration" Vernissage and continued with the Plenary Session and two parallel workshops, fostering constructive dialogue.
Olga Luchian, President of the Ștefan Vodă District, opened the proceedings, stressing that progress is a collective effort:
"This year's Forum invites us to consolidate relationships, refine ideas, and turn projects into reality. The development of the district is not the merit of one institution or one person. It is the result of collaboration between the administration, citizens, entrepreneurs, farmers, local organizations, and international partners. Let us continue to build a district that offers opportunities, security, and prosperity for every inhabitant."
International Support and Sectoral Priorities
Diplomats and representatives of central authorities offered a perspective on connecting the district to the global economy and standards.
Regarding Tourism and Cultural Heritage, Andrei Chistol, State Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, highlighted the district's unparalleled value:
"The Ștefan Vodă region has natural resources, traditions, cultural, and gastronomic heritage that can be transformed into an authentic and competitive tourist offer... We will continue to support local initiatives and promote collaboration, so that Ștefan Vodă becomes an example of best practices in rural and ecological tourism."
This development effort was reinforced by the messages of the Ambassadors: Pavol Ivan, Ambassador of Slovakia to the Republic of Moldova, appreciated the development projects implemented by SlovakAid, signalling "the potential for expanding mutually beneficial bilateral trade," while Yoichiro YAMADA, Ambassador of Japan to the Republic of Moldova, expressed his confidence that "through innovation and collaboration, Ștefan Vodă's products and experiences will find their place on the global market."
Financial and technical support was reaffirmed by field partners, who offered practical solutions to turn potential into reality: Stella Jemna, UMAEF Country Representative, promised to continue investing in tourism and winemaking, to "transform this potential into a sustainable reality." At the same time, Valentina Mutilica, Senior Representative at Experten Service, emphasized that "we are here to turn the local vision into bankable projects and to facilitate access to financing solutions tailored to their needs." Elena Stepanov, ANTRIM Executive Director, concluded that for competitive and sustainable tourism, "collaboration between authorities, entrepreneurs, and the community is necessary to create competitive and sustainable tourism."
Solutions for Development: From Irrigation to Digitalization
The Forum provided the platform for presenting concrete operational solutions.
In the Agriculture sector, Aida Catana, Expert and National Coordinator, Council of Europe, noted that: "European integration means, for Ștefan Vodă, access to funding and a huge sales market, but it requires alignment with sustainability and quality standards." The need for adaptation was confirmed by Eugen Belîi, ANIF Representative, who emphasized that "Land improvement and strategic irrigation projects are essential to make the district's agriculture resilient to climate change."
Furthermore, Sergiu Pluta, Head of the Authorization and Certification Section, ASP, announced a crucial administrative simplification for the tourism sector: "We have launched a new electronic service for submitting the application for the issuance of the 'Classification Certificate for Tourist Accommodation Structures' online. The entire process—from request to receiving the certificate—is carried out online, without the need for travel."
Workshop Conclusions: The Path to Competitiveness
The working sessions outlined clear directions for the next year.
Sustainable Agriculture: The panel highlighted the necessity of producer associations and local processing as a growth engine. Discussions covered modern irrigation solutions, access to external markets, and improving the legal framework. Andrei Dînga, Agricultural Entrepreneur, summarized the essence: "The combination of technology with modern techniques and collaboration, through water resource management and soil protection, can make us more resilient and competitive. It is important to have interaction between economic agents, especially farmers, and the local councils to bring economic projects to life."
Gastronomy and Experiential Tourism: The panel identified tourism as an essential pillar for the district, focusing on creating a common tourist product that integrates wine, authentic gastronomy, and rural experiences. Corina Timofti, Zen Resort & Spa Administrator, highlighted that progress comes from synergy: "The panel emphasized that progress in tourism comes from cooperation, vision, and concrete, coordinated actions. We reaffirmed that the Ștefan Vodă region has enormous potential for experiential, rural, and competitive tourism."
Conclusion: Building Together
Before the official conclusion, the commitment to partnership, essential for continued progress, was reaffirmed:
Marina Lița, GEN Moldova Executive Director:
"The people of Ștefan Vodă—farmers, artisans, young entrepreneurs, and community leaders—represent the most valuable asset of this district. Their entrepreneurial spirit, willingness to add value to raw materials, and work together are the driving force behind every success. Entrepreneurship is not a solitary activity, but a team sport."
The Forum concluded with the adoption of a concrete action plan and a networking lunch. The Ștefan Vodă District demonstrates once again that when people unite, when ideas circulate, and when tradition meets innovation, results are quick to follow. Together we build a strong region—from local to global.
BACKGROUND
Partners: GEN Moldova, CHATEAU PURCARI, ZEN Resort Spa, ANTRIM, and the Ștefan Vodă Business Incubator, Ștefan Vodă Professional School.