The Governor of the National Bank of Moldova, Anca Dragu, participated today as a speaker at the launch event of the Women’s Entrepreneurship Index (WEI), organized by the European Patronage of Businesswomen (PEFA), in partnership with the Department for Sustainable Development within the Government of Romania.

The event brought together representatives from European institutions, the financial sector, government and business environments from Romania and the Republic of Moldova, with the aim of highlighting the contribution of women to economic development and the challenges they face in their professional journeys.

In her speech, the Governor of the NBM emphasized that gender equality is not only a democratic principle, but also a necessary condition for balanced development. Ms. Anca Dragu noted that, despite the progress made, women remain underrepresented in high-level decision-making processes, and this imbalance also affects the quality of public policies and development strategies.

According to the latest edition of the Global Gender Gap Index published by the World Economic Forum, the Republic of Moldova ranks 13th out of 156 countries in terms of closing the gender gap, up from 19th place in 2023 and 28th in 2021. Nevertheless, gaps persist in all four dimensions analysed: economy, education, health, and politics.

The NBM Governor also pointed out that, although women in the Republic of Moldova have, on average, a higher level of education than men, they earn about 15.5% less and are less likely to hold leadership positions. She noted that such inequalities not only affect equity, but also reduce economic efficiency by limiting the active participation of a significant part of the population.

In this context, the NBM Governor mentioned that central banks not only shape the architecture of the financial system, but also have a responsibility to promote equitable policies. In this regard, the National Bank of Moldova provides a relevant example, with 64% of its employees being women and 53% of management positions held by women. According to assessments conducted by OMFIF, this places the NBM among the European financial institutions with the highest level of gender representation. The institution's performance reflects, as Ms. Anca Dragu noted, a clear commitment and a paradigm shift, in which professional excellence, competence and gender balance become pillars of sustainable development.

At the same time, the Governor spoke about institutional projects dedicated to promoting women's leadership, highlighting the initiative "FinanciarELE – Women’s leadership community", through which the National Bank of Moldova supports women building careers in the financial sector, offering mentoring, training and professional visibility.

In the context of the event, Anca Dragu also signed an editorial entitled "Women facing challenges: the unseen barriers of society, politics and the economy", featured in the publication associated with the Women's Entrepreneurship Index. In the editorial, the Governor points out that "change does not come by itself. It starts with each of us: leaders, institutions, communities".

The Governor also emphasized that women leaders contribute to social inclusion and community development with a perspective deeply rooted in reality. According to the head of the central bank, investments in kindergartens, schools, infrastructure, and social services can be strengthened by an empathetic and pragmatic approach, which is characteristic of female leadership.

In conclusion, Ms. Anca Dragu expressed her conviction that joint initiatives between the public and private sectors can contribute to expanding opportunities for women in the economy and in society, stressing that the future must be built on the recognition of merit and skills, regardless of gender.

The Women's Entrepreneurship Index is a strategic analysis and guidance tool, developed by PEFA, designed to highlight the barriers that limit women's access to economic resources, financing, and decision-making positions, as well as to promote solutions and best practices in support of women’s entrepreneurship.