A British electronics manufacturer is committing approximately €5 million to expand operations in northern Moldova, in a move that underscores growing investment ties between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Moldova and highlights the country’s increasing role in Europe’s export-oriented supply chains.
Cornelius Electronics said the investment will support an expansion at the Edineț Industrial Park in Moldova’s north-western region. The project includes the construction of three new production halls totalling more than 3,000 square metres, aimed at increasing output of wiring harnesses and connection systems used across 14 industries, including healthcare, artificial intelligence, railway transport and renewable energy.
The company currently employs 81 people in Moldova, with more than 80 per cent of its workforce made up of women. Cornelius Electronics said all production is destined for export, serving industrial clients in the European Union.
The expansion reflects a broader push by manufacturers to strengthen European supply chains amid continued demand for electrical components used in industrial equipment, transport systems and emerging technologies. Wiring harnesses and connection systems are a critical part of modern manufacturing, supporting everything from medical devices to automation equipment.
Cornelius Electronics is positioning its Moldovan operations as a platform for further growth in export markets, supported by new infrastructure and investment in equipment and workforce development.
“Cornelius Electronics SRL is a fast-growing business built on passion, dedication, and the desire to deliver real value to our clients. Through continuous investments in technology, modern equipment, and team development, we have strengthened our position as a trusted partner in a transforming industry. Our mission remains clear: high-quality services, continuous innovation, and full customer satisfaction”, stated Diana Popovici, Managing Director of Cornelius Electronics SRL.
The project has also been backed by Moldovan partners through a Memorandum of Understanding signed by Invest Moldova Agency, Innovate Moldova and the Municipality of Edineț. The agreement enables amendments to the industrial park’s infrastructure plan and allows the extension of existing production halls, creating room for the company’s new build.
Moldovan investment and development agencies framed the expansion as an example of international capital integrating into local manufacturing, while strengthening regional economic growth.
“Cornelius Electronics is an example of how international expertise can be integrated into the local industrial ecosystem. We are pleased that, after several years of validated business activity in Moldova, Cornelius Electronics is managing to attract more clients for its production, making it possible to expand its investment in the country”, said Natalia Bejan, Director of Invest Moldova Agency.
The expansion is expected to support job creation and contribute to industrial development in the north of the country, where local authorities have been looking to attract new manufacturing projects tied to export markets.
“Through investments in the Edineț Industrial Park, we are contributing to the transformation of the entire northern region. Each new hall brings dozens of jobs, more prosperous communities, and a more competitive national economy, based on engineering, innovation, and modern, export-oriented manufacturing”, said Sergiu Rabii, Director of the Innovate Moldova Programme.
The investment comes amid what Moldova describes as positive momentum in bilateral economic relations with the United Kingdom. Those ties are supported by the Strategic Partnership, Trade and Cooperation Agreement signed on Dec. 24, 2020, which provides a framework for trade and investment flows between the two countries.
According to data cited from the National Bank of Moldova, British foreign direct investment has increased sharply over the past 15 years, rising from US$78.8 million in 2009 to more than US$257 million in 2024. Moldova said the majority of that investment has been concentrated in higher value-added sectors such as information technology, electronics, agro-industry and services.
There are currently 235 companies with British capital operating in Moldova, with a total share capital investment volume of approximately MDL 840 million, according to the release.
Cornelius Electronics’ expansion in Edineț is expected to support not only production growth, but also the longer-term integration of Moldova into regional value chains. The company said the investment aims to bring British capital and technology in the future, support professional training, and create new opportunities for the country to deepen its role as a stable supplier within Europe’s electronics sector.
Moldova’s electronics industry has become a key export driver, supplying European markets with electrical equipment and components. The country’s ability to produce at scale for EU clients has helped make the sector an important contributor to national exports, particularly as European manufacturers seek reliable suppliers within the region.
According to UN Comtrade figures cited in the release, between 2019 and 2024 Moldovan exports of electrical equipment and components to the European Union totalled US$3.37 billion. Those exports accounted for more than 90 per cent of the sector’s total exports over the period, reinforcing the EU’s central role as the destination market.
For Cornelius Electronics, the planned investment signals confidence in Moldova as a manufacturing base and a pathway into European industrial demand, while for Moldova it represents another example of foreign investment supporting employment, export growth and regional economic development.
