Romanian Millionaire’s Company Discusses Cooperation Opportunities with Moldova Railways

Representatives of Moldova Railways and the Grampet Group, controlled by Romanian businessman Gruia Stoica, discussed expanding cooperation in freight transportation, attracting new logistics flows, and developing railway infrastructure. According to Moldova Railways, on June 3, the company’s Director General, Sergiu Cotelnic, held a working meeting with representatives of the Romanian holding company Grampet and Grup Feroviar Român, Costinel Almajanu and Victor Gurdis, bani.md reports. The parties reviewed the results of cooperation between Moldova Railways and companies within the Grampet Group, including through Eurorail Moldova, and discussed prospects for developing rail freight transportation in the region. Particular attention was paid to identifying new opportunities for attracting cargo flows to the railway network, both for import-export operations and international transit. The participants also discussed measures that could enhance the competitiveness of the railway sector and contribute to the development of logistics corridors passing through Moldova. In addition, the meeting addressed potential cooperation in the repair and maintenance of rolling stock, as well as railway infrastructure at border crossing points. Representatives of both sides expressed their readiness to continue dialogue and develop joint projects in the railway industry. The Grampet Group, owned by businessman Gruia Stoica, operates in nine European countries and has a fleet of approximately 450 locomotives and 20,000 freight wagons. The company transports more than 15 million tons of cargo annually and manages five logistics terminals on the borders with Moldova and Ukraine. However, the company’s activities in Moldova have also been accompanied by controversy. In 2013, Moldova Railways modernized five Soviet-era train sets at the Remar Pascani plant, part of the Grampet Group. The contract was worth approximately €11 million. Later, two of the modernized train sets caught fire: the first in 2014, a year after refurbishment, while operating on a route toward Ungheni, and the second in December 2022 on the Chisinau-Iasi line.