Ömer Tetik, BT: Via Transilvanica, a valuable example

Ömer Tetik, CEO of Banca Transilvania, gave an interview to Ziarul Financiar in August 2025, in which he talked about Via Transilvanica, one of the most impactful projects supported by the bank. Some of his statements:

• The Via Transilvanica project gives a chance for social and economic development, gives visibility to people in towns and villages, and encourages young people to stay.
  
  
• Without development, the standard of living in rural areas cannot reach the level of Western European countries and such a project is very important, it contributes to this development.
  
  
• This is the aim of the Via Transilvanica project, to provide a sense of unity. The Via Transilvanica project started from the idea of uniting, and from the very beginning the route has been called "the road that unites".
  
  
• The scope of the project has exceeded the expectations of those involved in this project, but also of the communities that shelter part of the trail. Various town halls and authorities, when they saw the scale and importance of the project, came to the association, to us, to ask us what more they could do.
  
  
• The figures show a good direction, but the project is just at the beginning, 30.000 hikers per year is not enough, we need to reach 100.000-150.000 travelers.
   
• We need to know that there are not a few dozens, but hundreds or thousands of businesses that have been set up and are developing around the route and, if we can, to extend the project to other parts of the country.
  
  
• Via Transilvanica is a clear proof that a partnership between the public and private sector, with the right people, relevant, transparent budgets, mutual trust and integrity, can bring good results.

Via Transilvanica is the road that connects communities, identity and sustainable development. It is the first 1,400 km route that crosses the country through 10 counties and 12 UNESCO World Heritage sites, initiated by the Tășuleasa Social Association to be traveled on foot, by bike or on horseback. It is aimed at everyone, regardless of age, who wants to discover places, history, culture and communities, as well as outdoor activities.

The partnership between Banca Transilvania and Tășuleasa Social Association already has a history of over 10 years, starting with afforestation initiatives that mobilized over 15,000 volunteers to plant 450,000 saplings.

Since 2023, Banca Transilvania is a strategic partner of the association in the sustainable development of Via Transilvanica, supporting the project through funding, volunteering and promotion. The common goal is to valorize Romania's cultural, historical and natural heritage through sustainable investments in communities.

Recently, Banca Transilvania celebrated together with Via Transilvanica the 7th anniversary of the project, on which occasion a symbolic milestone was inaugurated on the island of Șimian and the Via Transilvanica Membership Program was launched.