Moldova's economy minister vows to preserve digital lead, reform SOEs
Moldova's newly appointed economy minister pledged on Wednesday to maintain the country’s digital leadership while overhauling loss-making state enterprises, cutting public waste, and attracting genuine private investment following his first cabinet meeting.
Preserving the digital edge
Claudiu Nasui, who took the helm of the Ministry of Economic Development and Digitalization, stated that he intends to build upon Moldova’s existing digital achievements rather than alter course.
“Moldova is very advanced in this regard,” Nasui said after the Sept. 2 government meeting. “What I want is to maintain this lead, stay on the path the state has already embarked upon, and do even more in this field.”
Overhauling loss-making state assets
Instead, the minister outlined plans to shift governmental focus toward public sector efficiency and the restructuring of non-performing state assets.
“My top priorities focus on state-owned companies, cutting waste, and modernizing the economy, particularly by attracting new, authentic private investment rather than relying on public funds,” Nasui said.
Addressing the issue of state enterprises operating at a deficit, Nasui stressed that taxpayers ultimately bear the burden of these shortfalls.
“There are indeed many loss-making companies, and those losses ultimately come from taxpayers’ money,” he said.
To stem public losses, the ministry will prepare a transparent privatization process for commercial entities that can be successfully transferred to private ownership.
“What needs to be done here is precisely to run a highly transparent privatization process for assets that can be privatized and where we can attract foreign private capital,” Nasui said.
Bilateral integration and administrative cuts
Nasui was nominated as economy minister during a government reshuffle announced by Prime Minister Vasile Tofan on Aug. 25, succeeding Eugen Osmochescu, who was assigned to head the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry.
A former Romanian economy minister between 2020 and 2021 and a member of Romania’s parliament, Nasui was granted Moldovan citizenship on Aug. 25 to assume ministerial office.
Prime Minister Tofan emphasized that Nasui’s executive experience in Bucharest will bolster bilateral economic ties, noting that Romania absorbs approximately 30% of Moldova’s total exports.
The appointment aligns with a broader reform agenda led by Prime Minister Tofan, an advocate of leaner government, deregulation, and lower taxation. The government is scheduled to present a comprehensive public administration reform plan by Sept. 22, including the consolidation, restructuring, or dissolution of redundant state agencies.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
