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President Klaus Iohannis sent on Monday a message to the opening of the event marking the 30th anniversary of the partnership between the World Bank Group and Romania.
"The current context, with its security challenges and specific uncertainties, complicates the public policy decision equation and raises the need for strong institutions capable of supporting real reforms that should lead to economic development and social equity. As a country, we received constant support from our international partners, among which the World Bank significantly stands out through financing and specialized assistance. But governance and institutional constraints further remain important challenges for the development of our country. International expertise definitely contributes to increasing the efficiency of public authorities, but cannot and should not substitute for national efforts. We ourselves have the responsibility to capitalize on all these cooperation opportunities," Iohannis states in the message presented to the meeting by presidential advisor Cosmin Marinescu.
He went on to note that the World Bank has been present for three decades in Romania and that ever since the beginning of this partnership, the international lender has had a privileged position as regards our country's institutional consolidation and economic convergence goals.
"The desideratum was and is to develop Romania and to increase the quality of the citizens' life," says the President, bringing also to mind that Romania's cooperation with the World Bank began 50 years ago, when our country also joined the International Monetary Fund and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
Currently, goals such as ensuring opportunities and equal chances or increasing competitiveness in the private sector require solutions compatible with the management of the effects of the pandemic and of the humanitarian crisis generated by the war in Ukraine, Iohannis explains. He shows that under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, the World Bank is already Romania's partner as far as certain goals are concerned, such as increasing the quality of public governance, the efficiency of fiscal policies, social protection and the reform of public systems - pensions, education, health care, justice.
The head of the state points out that in the last three decades, Romania has changed significantly from all points of view, and is now a reliable EU and NATO member country.
He goes on to say that, despite economic growth and favorable prospects, Romania is faced with a series of structural problems accumulated over the years and with the deepening of regional development gaps.
Against the current background of soaring inflation, of the energy crisis and the Ukraine war, economic and social vulnerabilities have deepened, which requires effective public policies, the President notes.
"The reform of the large-scale public systems should pursue both the increase in quality and access to essential services, as well as the return to the principles of sustainability and predictability for public finances and the business environment. In this regard, European funds must be the key priority for all the public central and local authorities. It is obvious that the only way for strengthening investor confidence is by improving the institutional quality of our business milieu. This means protecting property, cutting red tape and setting in place a more efficient public administration. It's the only way to support private investments and stimulate efficient economic actors, who have always expected a fair relationship between the state and the economy. A global world influenced by technological progress constantly creates conditions for the development of new industries. Training for new jobs and increasing the appetite for innovation are paramount for all citizens, but especially for the youth. Educated Romania is the project that provides everyone with continuous opportunities to adapt to any challenge of the future," the head of the state concludes. AGERPRES
