The Governor of the National Bank of Moldova (NBM), Ms Anca Dragu, participated in the Forbes Moldova Summit & Awards Gala 2026, an annual landmark event for the business community of the Republic of Moldova in Chișinău.

As the keynote speaker, Ms Anca Dragu delivered a speech dedicated to economic stability, European financial integration, and the transformation of the Republic of Moldova into a more competitive, connected, and regionally relevant economy.

"Moldova is not a small economy. Moldova is a transforming economy, with the potential to become regionally relevant. And the future does not come on its own. The future is built," stated the NBM Governor, emphasising that the Republic of Moldova is going through a phase where stability, adaptability, and European integration are becoming central pillars for economic development.

At the same time, Ms Anca Dragu highlighted that the banking sector remains solid, inflation has returned to the target range, and the economy continues to be supported by consumption, investment, and the resurgence of exports. These developments confirm the Republic of Moldova's capacity to maintain stability and advance in the process of economic modernisation.

Special emphasis was placed on European financial integration through SEPA, which has quickly become the main channel for euro payments. In the first months following its operationalisation, this infrastructure generated savings of EUR 6.59 million, reducing transfer costs by over 90%, down to an average of EUR 1.26 per transfer, with the possibility of zero fees. Currently, over 70% of the volume of cross-border euro transactions is processed through SEPA.

"European financial integration, modernisation of digital infrastructure, and strengthening the investment environment are no longer options. They are necessities for an economy that wants to accelerate and become more competitive," mentioned the NBM Governor.

Furthermore, Ms Anca Dragu highlighted the role of the MIA Instant Payments platform, which contributes to the digitalisation of payments and increases access for the population and businesses to modern financial services. The system is already processing millions of real-time transactions and connects over 900,000 users, becoming a key component of the digital financial infrastructure in the Republic of Moldova.

In the context of the topics addressed at the summit: competitiveness, cooperation, innovation, education, and progress, the NBM Governor also discussed the importance of human capital, continuous learning, and emerging technologies for the transformation of the Republic of Moldova.

The Forbes Moldova Summit & Awards Gala 2026 featured panels dedicated to the themes "Leading Moldova – Compete. Cooperate. Accelerate." and "Transforming Moldova – Education. Innovation. Progress.", as well as networking sessions and an awards gala celebrating companies and leaders who contribute to economic development and strengthening the business environment in the Republic of Moldova.

The event brought together leaders from the economic environment, entrepreneurs, and decision-makers, providing a platform for dialogue on key trends, challenges, and opportunities in the business environment, both at a national level and in a regional and global context.