“MACRO” stands for “Moldova: Assessing Country Risks and Opportunities.” The conference has been conceived as an annual event bringing together decision makers, domestic and international policy experts and thinkers with the key purpose of discussing and advancing innovative ideas to support Moldova along its way of economic development and modernization.

This year's edition will focus on tackling inequalities as a fundamental precondition for sustainable economic growth and aims at providing a platform for comprehensive discussions on policy-making and prioritization of the sectors that need assistance for development. The conference aims particularly at raising awareness of the decision-makers, experts and the donor community on the importance of mitigating the economic and social inequalities and building a fair and inclusive society.

The MACRO 2019 Conference will take place on November 7, 2019, starting at 9:00, at the Radisson Blu Hotel, "Raut" Conference Hall (77, Mitropolit Varlaam str., Chisinau, Moldova). The participants in the conference will include political leaders, decision-makers, representatives of local public authorities and private sector, local and foreign experts, representatives of civil society organizations and academia from Moldova.

Agenda

09:00Participants'registration, welcome coffee
09:30Welcoming remarks on behalf of the organizers
Stephan MEUSER, Resident Representative, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Romania and Republic of Moldova
09:40Presentation of the key findings of the State of the Country Report
Adrian LUPUȘOR, Executive Director, “Expert-Grup” Independent Think-Tank
09:50Panel 1: Economic growth and income inequality
Moderator: Ana POPA, Programme Director, “Expert-Grup” Independent Think-Tank
Presentation
Sorin HADÂRCĂ, Managing partner, Centre for Policy Analysis and Alternative Solutions (CAPSA)
Why is it important that the economic growth be not only positive, but also equitably distributed among the households and companies?
How has the economic growth been distributed in recent years? Who were the winners and losers?
How did the revenue distribution evolve in recent years? What are the prospects/expectations for the nearest future?Speakers:
Natalia GAVRILIȚĂ, Minister of Finance of the Republic of Moldova
Anna AKHALKATSI, World Bank Country Manager in Moldova
Sergiu GAIBU, Programme Director, “Expert-Grup” Independent Think-Tank
Cristina RAȚ, Professor of sociology, University Babeș-Bolyai, Cluj, Romania
11:50Lunch and networking
12:20Panel 2: Social implications of the economic inequalities
Moderator: Vasile BOTNARU, Journalist, Director of the Chișinău office of the Radio Free Europe
Presentation
Iurie MORCOTÎLO, Economist, “Expert-Grup” Independent Think-Tank
Analysis of inequalities beyond revenues. How have inequalities in the Republic of Moldova evolved recently?
What are the social implications of the constantly growing inequalities? Speakers:
Ala NEMERENCO, Minister of Health, Labour and Social Protection
Lars Johan LÖNNBACK, IOM Chief of Mission to Moldova
Alexei BUZU, Executive Director, “Partnership for Development” Centre
Alfred PFALLER, Sociologist, ex-FES Representative in Romania and the Republic of Moldova
14:20Final remarks
Adrian LUPUȘOR, Executive Director, “Expert-Grup” Independent Think-Tank
Ana MIHAILOV, Programme Coordinator, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Moldova
14:35Reception

Speakers

Panel 1: Economic growth and income inequality

Sorin HADÂRCĂ
Managing partner, Centre for Policy Analysis and Alternative Solutions (CAPSA)
Natalia GAVRILIȚĂ
Minister of Finance of the Republic of Moldova
Anna AKHALKATSI
World Bank Country Manager in Moldova
Sergiu GAIBU
Programme Director, “Expert-Grup” Independent Think-Tank
Cristina RAȚ
Professor of sociology, University Babeș-Bolyai, Cluj, Romania

Panel 2: Social implications of the economic inequalities

Iurie MORCOTÎLO
Economist, “Expert-Grup” Independent Think-Tank
Ala NEMERENCO
Minister of Health, Labour and Social Protection of the Republic of Moldova
Lars Johan LÖNNBACK
Head of the Mission of the IOM in the Republic of Moldova
Alexei BUZU
Executive Director, “Partnership for Development” Centre
Alfred PFALLER
Sociologist, ex-FES Representative in Romania and the Republic of Moldova