A study conducted by the Kyiv School of Economics (KSE) in partnership with the Investment Agency of Moldova and AmCham Moldova shows that the Republic of Moldova has the potential to become a regional hub for investment and trade activities related to Ukraine’s reconstruction, thanks to its geographical location, logistical links and proximity to the European market.
The study was presented during a panel discussion entitled ‘Moldova as a Partner in Ukraine’s Reconstruction’, organised as part of Moldova Business Week.
According to World Bank estimates, Ukraine’s reconstruction needs will amount to more than $588 billion over the next decade. Whilst most of the reconstruction will take place within Ukraine, the scale of investment also creates opportunities for neighbouring economies through supply chains, cross-border infrastructure and investment partnerships.
According to the study, Moldova’s most realistic role lies not in directly financing major reconstruction projects, but in facilitating investment, logistics and cooperation between companies. The authors view Moldova as a gateway economy capable of supporting supply chains and the activities of investors entering the Ukrainian market. However, this role requires investment in logistics, the removal of trade barriers and the creation of institutional mechanisms designed to facilitate cross-border cooperation.
Projects worth over $21.6 billion
The study has already identified a portfolio of public and private projects in the Odesa, Vinnytsia and Chernivtsi regions with a total value of over $590 million. The opportunities are mainly related to the energy sector, logistics infrastructure and industrial production, and were selected from specialised databases, including the Kyiv Institute’s InvestPortal and Ukraine’s official portfolio of state projects.
The three regions were also chosen because of their location on a natural corridor linking Ukraine with Moldova, Romania and the European Union. The estimated reconstruction needs for Odesa, Vinnytsia and Chernivtsi over the next ten years amount to approximately $21.6 billion.
Moldova should invest in logistics, energy, manufacturing and processing
Logistics and transport infrastructure have been identified as the most important sector for developing cooperation between Moldova and Ukraine. The increase in trade flows and changes to transport routes caused by the war have heightened the importance of alternative corridors to European markets.
According to the study, the share of goods crossing the border with Ukraine via Moldova increased from 6.6 per cent in 2024 to 7.2 per cent in 2025, whilst the number of vehicles reached 1.54 million last year, which is 6.9 per cent higher than in 2024.
Energy is another area with potential for cooperation, particularly in the fields of renewable energy, cross-border electricity trade and energy security. Moldova and Ukraine are connected to the European ENTSO-E system, and this infrastructure creates opportunities for energy exchange, balancing and the development of generation projects for export.
A third important area is industry. Ukraine’s reconstruction will create demand for cement, steel structures, glass and prefabricated components, and, according to the study, Moldova could supply certain materials and products to neighbouring Ukrainian regions, particularly thanks to the logistical advantages of proximity.
Agriculture and the food industry are also areas where the two countries’ economies can complement one another. Ukraine offers large-scale agricultural production, whilst Moldova can contribute to this process through processing, food production, storage and logistics.
Moldova needs partners
The study highlights that Moldovan companies’ access to international funding for Ukraine’s reconstruction will largely depend on the structure of their partnerships. Moldovan companies are generally unable to access the instruments of the Ukrainian Investment Programme directly, but can participate through joint ventures with Ukrainian companies, partnerships with international investors from the EU and the European Economic Area, or by establishing an operational presence in Ukraine.
In this context, the KSE Institute recommends developing a portfolio of cross-border projects, particularly in the fields of transport and logistics, energy and the agri-food sector, which could be linked to international sources of funding.
The authors also propose strengthening trilateral cooperation between Ukraine, Moldova and Romania, identifying and removing trade barriers, and developing platforms to connect companies and investors.
The study concludes that Moldova’s advantage in Ukraine’s reconstruction lies not in its ability to directly finance projects worth hundreds of billions of dollars, but in its ability to turn geographical proximity into an economic advantage: a platform for investment, logistics, manufacturing and cross-border partnerships, with Romania acting as the European anchor of the corridor.
This story was translated with the assistance of artificial intelligence.The translation was also reviewed by the Logos Press editorial team.
Follow our updates
Have information for the newsroom? Share it with Logos-Press
Comments
0No comments yet. You can start the conversation.
Comments are open to readers with a Logos Press account.
Sign in to comment