Ion Sturza

Not to be confused with Ioan Sturdza, the 19th century Prince of Moldavia.

Ion Sturza (born 9 May 1960 in Pîrjolteni, Călărași district) is a Moldovan politician and businessman who served as Prime Minister of Moldova between 19 February 1999 and 9 November 1999.

Education and early professional career

Born to the Sturdza family of Moldavian boyars, Ion Sturza graduated his studies in economics at the Moldova State University.^[1]

Before the fall of the USSR in 1991, Mr. Sturza worked for the country’s Exterior Commerce Company. In 1991, Mr. Sturza founded the Incon Company, based in Chisinau, which soon became one of Moldova’s largest industrial groups, operating in the food and beverages industry. It specialized in food processing, canned foods, juice concentrate another activities. He used to be the president of “FinComBank” in Chisinau and, as from 1996 the chairman of the Bank’s Steering Board. Currently, Mr. Sturza is the founder and chairman of Fribourg Capital, a Private Equity and Venture Capital Fund that has a wide investment portfolio, which includes companies in industries such as: natural resources, IT&C, agriculture, industrial manufacturing, real estate and finance. Previously, he worked with Rompetrol Group N.V., acting as Vice-president of the group in Chisinau, and as Deputy CEO and Member of the Board in Bucharest..[1]

The Prime Minister of Moldova

Mr. Ion Sturza gained broad political experience as he was a prominent politician in the Republic of Moldova. He was selected a member of the Parliament in 1998, and he subsequently became the Vice Prime Minister and the Minister of Economy of the Republic of Moldova. In 1999, he took the office of Prime Minister and was in the service from February 19, 1999 to November 12, 1999.

International Position

As Former Prime minister of Moldova he signed in 2011 the Soros open letter calling for more Europe in the single currency turmoil.^[2]

Civic Activities

Mr. Ion Sturza is involved in various civic activities, being active member of several organizations and charities. Among others, he is the founder of the Family Sturza Foundation, which has a wide range of support programmes that includes: giving educational grants and scholarships, supporting orphanages, sponsoring cultural events and others.

References