North-East Romania needs better connectivity, stronger cooperation between the public and private sectors and a more investor-oriented approach to turn its economic potential into concrete projects. In a video interview recorded at Property Forum EastGate 2026 in Iaşi, Vasile Asandei, General Director of ADR Nord-Est, discusses the region's investment opportunities, the sectors with the greatest potential and why the A7 and A8 motorways could fundamentally change its position on the European investment map.
Romania's industrial and logistics market has slowed in 2026 following a record 2025. In the first nine months, publicly reported leasing transactions reached approximately 450,000 sqm, around 30% below the level recorded in the same period last year, according to Colliers data. Bucharest-Ilfov accounts for nearly 60% of the total volume, though infrastructure development is beginning to reshape the demand map across the country. Transaction volumes remain close to the ten-year average for the first three quarters and are more than 40% above the 2017–2019 average.
Activ Property Services has brokered the lease of approximately 2,000 sqm of production space for Romanian bakery retailer Pofta de Pâine at Lion's Head Logistics Park Bucharest South, a development located in the Popești area on the southern outskirts of Bucharest. The transaction was coordinated by Cosmin Dinu, Head of Industrial at Activ Property Services, who advised the tenant throughout the process, from identifying a suitable location and conducting technical and commercial assessments to negotiating lease terms. Operations at the new factory are expected to commence in October or November 2026.
Danish retailer NORMAL has entered Romania, opening its first two stores at NEPI Rockcastle shopping centres in Bucharest and Timișoara. The openings mark Romania as NORMAL's 14th European market. The store at Mega Mall in Bucharest covers 311 sqm GLA, while the location at Shopping City Timișoara spans 445 sqm GLA, with both sites launching in early October 2026.
More than two-thirds of modern retail space in the Czech Republic is over 15 years old, according to Colliers' ExCEEding Borders Retail 2026 report. Across the six major Central and Eastern European countries and the Baltic states combined, approximately 33.3 million sqm of modern retail space exists, of which roughly 20 million sqm, or around two-thirds, is older than 15 years. The Czech Republic's share stands at 69%, placing it among the more mature markets in the region.
Bucharest is consolidating its position within the Central and Eastern European (CEE) real estate market, combining rental growth across major asset classes with investment yields that remain well above Western European levels, according to the DNA of Real Estate Europe Q2 2026 report published by Cushman & Wakefield. Across Europe in Q2 2026, prime office rents rose 4.5% year-on-year, retail rents increased 3.0%, and logistics rents grew 2.4%, while investors remained selective as yield movements pointed to a more balanced market following the repricing cycle of recent years.
Energy company Electrica informs investors and the capital market that it has obtained the technical grid connection permits (ATR) for 17 new battery energy storage projects (BESS), with a total capacity of approximately 700 MWh.
The European Retail Banking Radar, Kearney's latest study now in its 18th edition, shows that Europe is entering a period of normalisation following the conditions of 2023–2025. For Romania, the challenge extends beyond the normalisation of interest rates.
Romania's national electricity transmission network operator, Transelectrica, has halted scheduled maintenance shutdowns to ensure the grid operates at maximum capacity during an ongoing extreme heatwave. The preventive measures aim to mitigate operational risks associated with severe weather conditions.
Digi Spain has announced its intention to launch an initial public offering (IPO) on the Spanish stock exchanges, aiming to raise approximately €150 million.
