Connecting Economies: Cross-border Infrastructure and the Power of Partnership

The panel was led by Mr. Bogdan Berneagă, Senior Associate Expert at the New Strategy Center, Romania. The speakers were Mr. Gheorghe Șoldan, Chairman of the Suceava County Council, Romania; Mr. Mykhailo Pavliuk, Deputy Head of the Chernivtsi Regional Council, Ukraine; and Mr. Andriy Sheketa, First Deputy Head of the Zakarpattia Regional Council, Ukraine.

The economic partnership between the Chernivtsi region and Romania holds strategic significance, as more than 20% of the region’s trade is conducted with Romania. Considerable potential exists for the development of cross-border joint ventures, particularly in the timber sector, where Chernivtsi’s abundant resources can be effectively combined with Romania’s processing capabilities. Collaboration could also be broadened to industries such as IT, tourism, agriculture, and transport. In Zakarpattia, reconstruction efforts are closely tied to long-term development. Despite having the longest shared border with Romania, the region’s border infrastructure remains insufficiently developed, with several crossing points operating below capacity. Targeted infrastructure investments will be critical to improving connectivity between Zakarpattia and Romania and to unlocking the full potential of cross-border cooperation.