10:00 – 10:10

Welcome remarks

Felix HETT, Representative of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung in Ukraine and Moldova

10:10 – 10:30

Presentation of the key findings of State of the Country Report 2023
Adrian LUPUSOR, Executive Director, ”Expert-Grup” Independent Think-Tank

10:30 – 12:00

Panel 1. The macroeconomic situation: the current state, forecasts and how to boost economic growth in the context of European integration

Key questions:

• How prepared is the Republic of Moldova for the accession negotiations from the perspective of the macroeconomic situation?
• What are the causes of the modest recovery of the national economy in 2023?
• What are the main sources for driving the potential for economic growth?
• How do we accelerate economic growth in a sustainable and inclusive way?

Moderator:
Stas MADAN, Programme Director, “Expert-Grup” Independent Think-Tank

Keynote Speaker:
Ecaterina RUSU, Programme Director, “Expert-Grup” Independent Think-Tank

 Speakers:

• Viorel GARAZ, State Secretary, Ministry of Economic Development and Digitalization of the Republic of Moldova
• Natalia GAVRILITA, Member of the National Bank of Moldova Supervisory Board, former Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova
• Alexandru STRATAN, Rector, Academy of Economic Studies from Moldova
• Dumitru VICOL, Economist
• Tana FOARFA, Executive Director, Europuls, Adviser on economic, monetary and fiscal policies in the European Parliament

12:00 – 13:00

Lunch break

13:00 – 14:50

Panel 2. How to transform labour from a constraint into a source of economic growth? Solutions to alleviate labour shortages and increase labour productivity

Key questions:

• What should be the new model of economic growth that would make the economy more competitive and enhance the quality of people's lives?
• What are the main strengths and weaknesses of the Moldovan economy that should be taken into account for building a new economic development model?
• What are the main challenges and opportunities for the next 30 years?
• How can Moldova be better prepared for future risks, on the one hand, and seize more effectively the future opportunities, on the other hand?

Moderator:
Vitalie RAPCEA, Programme Director, “Expert-Grup” Independent Think-Tank

Keynote Speaker:
Adrian LUPUSOR, Executive Director, ”Expert-Grup” Independent Think-Tank

Speakers:

• Mariana LUCRETEANU, Member of Parliament of the Republic of Moldova
• Marcel SPATARI, former Minister of Labor and Social Protection of the Republic of Moldova
• Alexandru GOZUN, President, AmCham
• Sergiu SAINCIUC, Vice-president, National Trade Union Confederation of Moldova
• Dr Matloob PIRACHA, Senior Lecturer in Economics, University of Kent (UK)

14:50 – 15:00

Key conclusions of the event

Adrian LUPUSOR, Executive Director, ”Expert-Grup” Independent Think-Tank
Ana MIHAILOV, Head of Office, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Moldova

15:00 – 16:00

Coffee and networking