Markus Wiechel, a member of the Swedish Riksdag with fourteen years of parliamentary experience, member of the Riksdag’s Committee on Foreign Affairs, Vice-President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, and co-founder of the Sweden–Moldova friendship group, visited the BPM PC Strand factory (BPM-TRADE SRL) in Chișinău. The company is the only manufacturer of prestressed steel strand 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 devoted entirely to the company’s production activity. The programme included a tour of the factory, discussions on further certifications, and the prospects for supplying Northern European markets, including Sweden — designated as the company’s priority market for 2026 and 2027. The business-oriented format of the visit underlines the concrete interest in the Moldovan enterprise’s products.
A European-standard enterprise in Chișinău
BPM PC Strand was established and continues to develop with the support of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). The company manufactures prestressed steel strand used in the construction of infrastructure: bridges, viaducts, and high-load buildings. Its products are certified in accordance with European standard EN 10138-3 and international standard ASTM A416. The company operates on renewable energy and is an active EBRD partner.
Over the past two years, BPM has delivered more than 22,000 tonnes of product to 15 European markets and obtained 12 certificates in 9 European Union member states. The company’s development plan includes the launch of a second production line, which will double its manufacturing 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 what has been achieved and by the opportunities ahead”
Following the visit, Markus Wiechel offered a positive assessment of the company’s production standards and potential, noting that sustained trade relations and tangible results represent precisely the kind of partnership that European partners expect from the Republic of Moldova.
“Moldova can become a real commercial partner for Europe. I visited the BPM factory and was impressed by what has been achieved and by the opportunities that lie ahead. If we can build solid trade relations and deliver consistent results, everyone stands to benefit.”
Sweden invests in infrastructure: new opportunities for suppliers
Interest in BPM’s products must be understood in the context of Sweden’s substantial investment programme. The National Transport Infrastructure Plan for 2026–2037 allocates the equivalent of €102 billion to the construction of roads, railways, bridges, and transport facilities — €17 billion more than the previous plan.
One of the flagship projects is the Norrbotniabanan railway line, a 270-kilometre route connecting Umeå and Luleå along the northern coast. The project involves the construction of approximately 250 bridges and viaducts, which require substantial volumes of prestressed steel strand. Sweden’s considerable north-to-south extent — approximately 1,600 kilometres — generates sustained demand for transport infrastructure. In 2025, demand for structural steel and bridging materials rose markedly against the backdrop of public investment in infrastructure.
BPM’s designation of Sweden as a priority market for 2026 and 2027 reflects this convergence of factors: rising demand for certified materials, and the presence of a Moldovan producer operating to European standards, ready to deliver on time and to integrate into Northern European supply chains.
Growing international recognition
Markus Wiechel’s visit is not an isolated episode. The Moldovan factory has previously received delegations from Germany, Poland, and Sweden, all of which have been concrete commercial and institutional in character.
BPM’s founder and Chief Executive, Oleg Babii, noted that the visit affirms the international recognition of the model the company has developed: a Moldovan enterprise built with European financing, operating to European standards, and supplying European markets.
“BPM demonstrates that Moldovan industry can be an equal commercial partner for Europe. Mr Wiechel’s visit confirms the growing interest of European partners in what we produce and deliver. Moldova is increasingly seen as a country that manufactures quality products and honours its commitments.”
The visit of one of Sweden’s most influential parliamentarians in the field of foreign affairs to a production facility in Chișinău underscores the business-driven nature of interest in Moldovan industry. The factory is operational, the products are certified, and exports are growing. BPM is steadily consolidating its position among Europe’s reliable suppliers of certified construction materials for infrastructure.