Romania takes the second spot in the rankings of foreign direct investment with US$8.5 billion attracted and Poland was the largest beneficiary of foreign direct investment, with almost US$31.6 billion. The Republic of Moldova ranked twenty-first with US$417,000 in 2018-2023, according to a report by Emerging Europe, IPN reports, with reference to Economedia.ro.

In 2023, emerging European countries saw a further decline in foreign direct investment (FDI), from almost US$100.7 billion to around US$88.9 billion, a decrease of about 11.7%. Although FDI in 2023 exceeded pre-Covid levels (slightly over US$74.8bn in 2019), this is the second consecutive year that foreign direct investment in the region declined.

The countries in the emerging Europe region, which overcame the negative trend and recorded the highest growth in foreign direct investment, are Ukraine (as a result of a low base), Lithuania, and Estonia. The countries with the largest decline are Slovakia, Azerbaijan, and Hungary.

When foreign direct investment per capita is taken into account, Estonia, Lithuania and Poland are the best performers. The Republic of Moldova ranks 19th, leaving behind Armenia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, and Slovakia.

According to the report, strategically, emerging Europe occupies a crucial geopolitical position, acting as a bridge between Western Europe and Asia. This makes the region a vital corridor for commercial and energy transit routes. Countries such as Poland and Romania are not only central for the European Union’s policies, but also play essential roles within NATO, contributing to regional security and stability.