North-East Romania sees growth opportunities as Eastern hub for Moldova and Ukraine

Sebastian Hrib, FDI coordinator for the North-East Regional Development Agency in Romania, highlighted the region’s growing investment potential at Mipim 2026 in Cannes, pointing to infrastructure development and its strategic position on the EU’s eastern border.

“Basically, it’s the biggest region in Romania, 3.3 million people, a lot of [human resources],” he said.

The agency is seeking international capital to support development across infrastructure, logistics and industrial real estate, backed by EU funding.

“Our philosophy is to build together with the investors,” Hrib said. “Basically, we manage €1.75 billion through a multi-annual programme that is European money to support local authorities, universities, companies to develop themselves in terms of hospitals, schools, road infrastructures, facilities for industrial and logistic parks.” The €1.75 billion multi-annual programme runs from 2021-2027.

Romania’s EU and NATO membership, alongside its OECD accession process, supports investor confidence, while the region is positioning itself as a gateway to neighbouring markets.

“We position ourselves as an eastern hub for the Republic of Moldova and for Ukraine,” he said.

Ongoing highway development is central to attracting private investment.

“We have a code. We build a road and at the end of the road, we should put a company. This is investment. This is development at the end of the day.”

The agency is working with national authorities to raise visibility and attract more investors.