EBRD and Romanian business leaders discuss resilience and capital markets

 The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) organized an event in Bucharest bringing together business leaders, investors, and capital market experts from Romania to discuss ways companies can strengthen their operations and finance future growth in the food and agro-industrial sectors, according to a press release from the financial institution.The event, titled "Building Resilience and Unlocking Capital: Financing the Future of Business," featured two panel discussions and focused on the practical challenges facing Romania's private sector.The opening speech was delivered by Victoria Zinchuk, EBRD Director for Romania, who emphasized that sustainable economic growth is driven by a strong and innovative private sector.Participants in the discussions included representatives from leading Romanian companies and investors in the food and agricultural sectors, such as Agricover Holding, Cris-Tim Family Holding, Lantmannen Romania, Morphosis Capital, NN Private Pension Fund, PwC, and Valvis Holding.Romanian companies operate in an environment marked by geopolitical uncertainty, shifting supply chains, volatile energy and raw material markets, rising consumer expectations regarding sustainability, and rapid technological changes.The first discussion examined how companies grow in a constantly changing operating environment, adapting their business strategies in response to evolving consumer behavior, geopolitical uncertainty, and supply chain transformations. The second discussion focused on how capital markets can help companies finance expansion and strengthen their long-term competitiveness.During both debates, speakers highlighted the importance of identifying opportunities amidst uncertainty, investing in people, and adopting a perspective that extends beyond the current business cycle. Discussions explored how Romanian companies are pursuing growth through innovation, international expansion, and digital transformation, while simultaneously adapting to changing market demands. Participants emphasized that access to capital markets can enhance corporate visibility, diversify funding sources, broaden the investor base, and support long-term business sustainability across generational transitions. They also stressed that robust governance, transparency, and early preparation are essential for companies considering an initial public offering (IPO) or bond issuance, while underscoring the growing role of green bonds and sustainability-linked instruments in financing future growth and expansion.The event reflects the EBRD's commitment to the development of Romania's private sector and provided a forum for dialogue among food and agro-industrial companies, investors, and market participants, facilitating the exchange of views on managing uncertainty, making investment decisions, and accessing new sources of capital.The EBRD is one of the leading institutional investors in Romania, having invested nearly EUR13 billion in over 600 projects to date. The majority of the EBRD's investments in Romania have been made in the private sector.