Tuesday, 29 September 2026
Moldova is seeking a larger role in Central and Eastern Europe’s industrial and logistics market as closer EU integration, new transport infrastructure and changing regional freight routes improve the country’s investment proposition. The strategy is being highlighted at the sixth Moldova Real Estate Forum in Chișinău on 29 September, where industrial relocation, manufacturing, logistics facilities and connectivity with European markets are among the main themes.
A central part of this strategy is Moldova’s improving connection with Romania. The new Ungheni–Ungheni road bridge and border crossing is intended to link Moldova directly with Romania’s A8 motorway and the wider Trans-European Transport Network. Supported by EU funding, the project could substantially improve road access to European markets once the surrounding infrastructure is completed. Industrial development around Ungheni is already attracting attention, including Ungheni Industrial Park and the Berești Multimodal Logistics Complex.
Moldova’s location alongside Ukraine provides another potential source of logistics demand. The two countries agreed this year to reduce rail transit charges for Ukrainian cargo passing through Moldova and are developing alternative freight routes as disruption continues to affect established Black Sea connections. This gives Moldova a more important role in regional freight movements even before the longer-term opportunities associated with Ukraine’s reconstruction emerge.
The industrial property market nevertheless remains at an early stage compared with neighbouring Romania and the larger Central European economies. Gaps in transport infrastructure, intermodal connections and administrative processes continue to constrain development, while the stock of modern logistics and commercial space remains relatively limited. These shortcomings also create opportunities for developers if occupier demand and international investment increase.
Moldova’s EU accession process could gradually change the investment equation. Better border infrastructure and stronger connections with Romania should reduce some of the disadvantages associated with operating outside the EU. For manufacturers reassessing European production and supply chains, Moldova could increasingly offer an alternative location close to EU markets, particularly where operating costs and access to regional transport routes are important.
The opportunity remains accompanied by geopolitical, energy and infrastructure risks, meaning international investors are likely to remain selective. Moldova is therefore not experiencing an established nearshoring boom, but the foundations for a larger industrial and logistics market are becoming more visible. Continued improvements in EU connectivity, industrial infrastructure and cross-border freight routes could gradually move the country from Europe’s investment periphery towards a more significant position in the region’s manufacturing and logistics network.
