The Governor of the National Bank of Moldova, Anca Dragu, participated in the "Women Lead" event organised by the World Bank in Washington, D.C., as part of the Annual Meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund, held from 13 to 18 October 2025. Deputy Governor Tatiana Ivanicichina also participated on behalf of the NBM.

Now in its third edition, the event brought together women leaders from around the world, engaged in promoting gender equality, creating jobs, and expanding access to economic opportunities for women. "Women Lead" is designed as a platform for dialogue and exchange of experience among women in key roles in various fields, aiming to identify concrete solutions to reduce gender disparities in the economy.

Among the central topics addressed were initiatives for women's employment, female leadership, resource and asset management, as well as collaboration between the public sector, business environment, and society. Participants spoke about the importance of work and cooperation as key elements of economic progress, emphasising that "when people work, they not only secure their livelihood, but also contribute to the common good and the development of the country," and that "progress occurs when the state, the business sector, and society collaborate to create a more equitable world and real opportunities for women and men alike."

The NBM's participation in this event reaffirms the institution's commitment to promoting female leadership and equal opportunities in the financial sector. In this context, the "FinanciarELE – Women's Leadership Community" project, launched by the NBM in March 2025, was mentioned, offering women in the Republic of Moldova opportunities for mentoring, training, and professional networking. Additionally, the National Financial Inclusion Strategy, currently under development with the support of the World Bank, places a special focus on expanding access to modern and secure financial services for vulnerable groups, including women.

The ”Women Lead Breakfast” is an annual event organised by the World Bank that brings together women leaders from the public and private sectors to identify ways to reduce gender gaps and create an environment conducive to professional development of women.

According to the Global Gender Gap Report 2025 (World Economic Forum), the Republic of Moldova ranked for the first time in the world's top 10, securing 7th place with a parity score of 81.3%, up 2.3 points compared to the previous year. Our country has made remarkable progress in women's economic participation, their representation in leadership positions, and the promotion of inclusion and financial education policies.