The Minister of Investments and European Projects, Dragos Pislaru, is currently participating in the spring meetings of the World Bank Group and the IMF, his visit to Washington having as objective the consolidation of Romania’s partnership with international financial institutions and the strengthening of the strategic and economic relationship with the United States of America.

‘In an international context in which the world’s economies are forced to reposition themselves strategically and respond to profound structural changes, I am currently participating in the spring meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund, organized in the capital of the United States of America. These meetings represent one of the main global economic coordination frameworks. Ministers, leaders of international financial institutions, representatives of public administrations and the business milieu are gathering here to discuss the major themes that will shape the global economy in the coming years: competitiveness, economic security, investments, digital transition, energy, institutional resilience and social cohesion,’ the Minister of Investments and European Projects, Dragos Pislaru wrote on Facebook on Tuesday.

According to the cited source, the purpose of the visit has two main components. On the one hand, strengthening Romania’s partnership with international financial institutions and relevant strategic partners, especially in terms of expertise, technical assistance and support for the implementation of reforms and investments.

‘For this, it is necessary to make the best use of the know-how, institutional capacity and support instruments that the World Bank and other institutions can make available to Romania, so as to more efficiently implement the existing funds and accelerate the achievement of concrete results. In this framework, I will have high-level meetings with Ajay Banga – President of the World Bank Group, Antonella Bassani – Vice President for Europe and Central Asia of the World Bank, Makhtar Diop – Director of the International Finance Corporation, Eugene Rhuggenaath – Executive Director of the group, as well as Michal Rutkowski – Regional Director for Human Development for Europe and Central Asia. I will also have discussions with representatives of the International Monetary Fund, with colleagues from the WB-IMF community within a meeting hosted by the National Bank of Romania, as well as with representatives of the Ukraine Relief, Recovery, Reconstruction and Reform Trust Fund’, Dragos Pislaru wrote.

The other component of the visit aims to strengthen the strategic and economic relationship with the United States of America, and here the Romanian Minister of Investments and European Projects will have meetings with representatives of the National Security Council of the United States of America, with American senators and congressmen, as well as with representatives of the Development Finance Corporation (the international investment arm of the US Government) and the Export-Import Bank of the United States, in order to strengthen trade exchanges and support investments.

‘In parallel, I have scheduled discussions with relevant organizations and strategic reflection platforms, such as the Atlantic Council, the German Marshall Fund and the Romanian United Foundation, and I will also participate in the World Economic Forum session dedicated to labor market transformations and new inequalities generated by economic and technological changes’, he pointed out.

In his opinion, this visit to Washington is an opportunity to promote Romania as a serious destination for investments and as a credible economic partner, ‘in a region where infrastructure, reconstruction, economic security and the reorganization of supply chains are becoming increasingly important topics’.

‘At the same time, I want to reinforce the idea that Romania can also play a relevant role in projects with regional impact, including in the relationship with the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine, where expertise, connectivity and institutional cooperation are essential arguments in favor of our country.

In an increasingly competitive and fragmented world, Romania must be present where the major directions of the global economy are discussed. With seriousness, with arguments and with a clear vision of our national interest’, Dragos Pislaru also wrote on social media.AGERPRES (RO – writing by: Mariana Nica; EN – writing by: Bogdan Gabaroi)