Markus Wichel
The company is the only manufacturer of prestressed steel ropes in the Republic of Moldova and one of the few industrial enterprises in the country operating in full compliance with European standards.
The visit was fully dedicated to the production activity of the company. The program included a tour of the plant, discussion of further certifications and prospects of deliveries to the markets of Northern Europe, including Sweden, which is identified by the company as a priority market for 2026 and 2027. The business-oriented format of the visit emphasizes the concrete interest in the Moldovan company’s products.
European standard enterprise in Chisinau
BPM PC Strand was founded and continues to develop with the support of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). The company produces prestressed steel bars used in infrastructure construction: bridges, viaducts and buildings with high loads.
The company’s product range includes more than 550 items of rolled steel products, including: reinforcing steel, round steel, profiled pipes, round tubes, sheet metal, U-profile, I-profile, angle, square steel, wide profile steel, mesh, rolled wire, wire and others.
In 2024, the company launched production of prestressed reinforcing cables with a capacity of 18,000 tons per annum with an option to expand production to 36,000 tons per annum. The company produces products in six main diameters and exports them to the USA and EU countries (Romania, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Croatia), as well as to Eastern Europe (Serbia, Ukraine, Albania).
Its products are certified according to the European standard EN 10138-3 and the international standard ASTM A416. The company operates on renewable energy sources and is an active partner of the EBRD.
Over the last two years, BPM has supplied more than 22,000 tons of products to 15 European markets and received 12 certificates in 9 European Union member countries. The company’s development plan includes the launch of a second production line that will double its production capacity, the introduction of a 12.6 MWh energy storage system compliant with the EU taxonomy, and the expansion of its certification portfolio for Western and Northern European markets.
“I was impressed by the results achieved and the opportunities that are opening up”
After the visit, Markus Wichel gave a positive assessment of the company’s production standards and potential, noting that the sustainable trade relations and tangible results represent exactly the type of partnership that European partners expect from Moldova.
“Moldova can become a real trade partner for Europe. I visited the BPM plant and I was impressed by the results achieved and the opportunities that are opening up. If we can build strong trade relations and achieve sustainable results, everyone will benefit.”
Sweden invests in infrastructure: new opportunities for suppliers
The interest in BPM products must be understood in the context of Sweden’s ambitious investment program. The National Transport Infrastructure Plan 2026-2037 allocates the equivalent of €102 billion for the construction of roads, railways, bridges and transportation facilities – €17 billion more than in the previous similar plan.
One of the flagship projects is the Norrbotniabanan railway line, a 270-kilometer route connecting Umeå and Luleå along the northern coast. The project involves the construction of approximately 250 bridges and viaducts, requiring significant amounts of prestressed steel reinforcement. Sweden’s considerable north-south length – about 1,600 kilometers – creates a steady demand for transport infrastructure. In 2025, demand for structural steel and bridge materials has increased markedly on the back of government investment in infrastructure.
BPM’s prioritization of Sweden as a priority market for 2026 and 2027 reflects a convergence of factors: growing demand for certified materials and the availability of a Moldovan producer operating to European standards, ready to deliver on time and integrate into the Nordic supply chain.
Growing international recognition
Markus Wichel’s visit is not an isolated case. Previously, the Moldovan plant has received delegations from Germany, Poland and Sweden, and all these visits had a specific commercial and institutional character.
Oleg Babii, founder and CEO of BPM, said that the visit confirms the international recognition of the model developed by the company: a Moldovan enterprise built with European financing, operating in accordance with European standards and supplying products to European markets.
“BPM demonstrates that Moldovan industry can be an equal commercial partner for Europe. Mr. Wichel’s visit confirms the growing interest of European partners in our products and supplies. Moldova is increasingly perceived as a country that produces quality products and fulfills its obligations.”
The visit of one of the most influential Swedish parliamentarians in the field of foreign policy to the production plant in Chisinau emphasizes the business nature of the interest in the Moldovan industry. The plant is up and running, products are certified and exports are growing. BPM is steadily strengthening its position among reliable European suppliers of certified building materials for infrastructure.
Reference: BPM-TRADE SRL was founded in 2013. Today the number of employees is 199. Sales volume in 2024 – 1.2 billion lei. Profit – 78.29 million lei.
