Postwar Reconstruction of Ukraine — A Chance Moldova Cannot Afford to Miss

The Institute of Danube Research, 2025, September

The war in Ukraine has shaken the entire region. It halted economic growth, triggered energy shocks, and fueled investor anxieties. Moldova was among the countries hit the hardest. Yet paradoxically, the war has also opened up new horizons — and Moldova now finds itself at a crossroads of opportunity.

The world is already preparing for Ukraine’s massive reconstruction. This will not only be about rebuilding destroyed homes and infrastructure. It will involve billions in investments that could reshape the regional economy. And here, Moldova has a unique chance to place itself among the beneficiaries.

From Risk to Opportunity

When the first explosions sounded in Ukraine, many in Chișinău feared instability would spill across the border. It didn’t. Instead, Moldova became something of a “safe harbor” — a country international companies began to consider as a potential base for business tied to Ukraine’s recovery.

“There are investors who never thought about Moldova before,” says Natalia Bejan, Director of the Investment Agency. “Now they see us in this new light. We’re talking especially about construction materials. Moldova has a chance to play its role — and we must be ready.”

First Movers

Some examples are already here. Romania’s ROCA Industry is expanding its presence in Moldova to supply both the domestic market and Ukraine. Germany’s Obermeyer Group opened an office in Chișinău, explicitly positioning it as a hub for Ukraine — and perhaps for other post-Soviet markets as well.

Why Moldova? First, its status as an EU candidate state: close to the European market but still flexible in terms of regulatory environment. Second, its geography: a natural bridge between Romania and Ukraine.

Infrastructure as the Key

Moldova is not shy about its ambitions. Plans are on the table for new bridges over the Prut, the expansion of Chișinău International Airport, and even a second airport. “We need to improve transport links so that investors feel comfortable with logistics,” Bejan stresses. She is right: Ukraine’s recovery cannot move forward without logistics, and logistics means roads, bridges, and air connections.

Playing Ahead of the Curve

Of course, competitors are not sleeping. Poland, Romania, and the Baltic states are all positioning themselves as gateways to Ukraine’s reconstruction market. Moldova must act fast. Its advantage lies in compactness, flexibility, and readiness to experiment.

This kind of chance comes once in a generation. If Moldova seizes it, the country can break free from the economic periphery and emerge as a genuine regional player — a center of investment, production, and new ideas. If it misses it, history will simply move on without us.