What needs to change for North-East Romania to attract more foreign investment?

First, we need to change our mindset and believe that this is possible. The second and perhaps most important thing is to work together on a professional level. I was excited to see at EastGate that there are many professionals here who understand very well what investment means and who want to work together.

Third, we need to present what we have to offer in a structured way that meets investors' expectations. People looking to invest here need to see that we understand their needs.

Finally, we need to use the funding available to us in the right way to create the conditions for investment, particularly when it comes to road infrastructure, energy, railways and other essential infrastructure.

Which sectors currently offer the greatest investment potential in the region?

There are several areas with particularly strong potential. Logistics and industrial parks are among them. We already have industrial parks in operation, and funding is available for the development of additional parks. But, as we also discussed at the conference, we need to build these parks properly, following the needs of businesses rather than expecting businesses to adapt to what we build.

Building materials are another interesting investment area, including the metallurgical industry and its role in supplying construction materials.

Iaşi is already an important IT centre, so technology is another sector with considerable potential. Food processing is also an important opportunity for the region.

Last but not least, we need more investment in tourism. North-East Romania offers many opportunities in this area that can still be developed further.

How important is improving connectivity for the region's investment prospects?

For a long time, North-East Romania was considered one of the country's most isolated regions because we lacked the major transport arteries connecting us with the rest of Romania and Europe. This is now about to change.

The A7 and A8 motorways will connect the region both with the south of Romania and Bucharest, and towards the west and the rest of the European Union.

We also need to add better rail connections to this. We have reached the point where we believe an improved rail network is vital for North-East Romania. Together, these connections will make a major difference because industries operating in the region will be able to access the Port of Constanţa or Western European markets much more quickly.

I have said before that the construction of the two motorways alone could add at least 10% to the region's GDP.