Business Forum • 21 February, 2025 at 1:28 PM
ROCA Industry, the industrial holding of construction materials, listed on the main market of the Bucharest Stock Exchange, continues its strategic regional activities, with investments already made in a total value of over €6.5 million in the holding's operations in the Republic of Moldova. The Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova, Dorin Recean, visited the Terra Impex production unit in the Vulcanesti Free Economic Zone on February 20, emphasizing the growing economic partnership between Romania and Moldova.
Terra is part of the holding's portfolio through BICO Industries, directly owned by ROCA Industry. BICO Group entered the market in the Republic of Moldova in 2022 by acquiring the glass fiber mesh manufacturers Europlas and Terra, which later merged, forming a consolidated entity under the Terra brand. This strategic merger aimed to increase production capacity, optimize operations and expand the holding's regional presence.
"The government supports investments that create jobs for people and grow the economy. Terra Impex is a successful Romanian business from the Vulcanesti Free Economic Zone, which developed with ROCA investments. The company has ambitious development plans – it wants to increase production capacity in the Republic of Moldova in the next three years and create new jobs, in addition to the almost 190 already existing. It is a concrete example of foreign investment that transforms the local business environment and contributes to the development of the economy," said the Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova, Dorin Recean.
The consolidated Terra company has 185 employees and has significantly expanded its production capacity to 37 million square meters annually. The objective for 2025 aims to increase production capacity, in order to transform the company into a pillar of reference at the regional level.
"These investments are part of the construction process of competitive regional champions on international markets, which ROCA has undertaken. Thus, our company, BICO Industries, already present in the Republic of Moldova through Terra, continues its development as an integral part of the holding's vision. We aim to continue the investment plan in technology and digitization and transform the factory in Vulcăneşti into the largest manufacturer of fiberglass mesh in Eastern Europe. We are glad that the investment initiatives are supported in the Republic of Moldova also through government programs and we are actively analyzing expansion possibilities here and for other companies in our portfolio, aiming to replicate the successful models and capitalize on the existing synergies," said Ionuț Bindea, Senior Investment Manager ROCA Investments and President of the Board of Administration ROCA Industry.
Terra factory in Vulcănești has gone through significant modernization processes, with investments for the installation of a new tricot production equipment, with a capacity of 10 million square meters annually, completed in 2023. Currently, the company exports its products to Romania, Ukraine and countries in the European community, strategically reorienting its focus on the market.
"The Republic of Moldova, like Romania, needs systemic investments to support solid and lasting economic development. Private equity investments represent an important catalyst in this process, bringing not only capital, but also expertise in the implementation of growth strategies with a regional vision. It is a development model that creates value for all parties involved - it generates economic benefits for the state, is attractive for investors and contributes directly to the well-being of local communities," said Anca Manițiu, Senior Investment Manager Impetum Management.
For the next period, Terra will begin in 2025 an extensive digitization process, which will start with the implementation of an ERP system, a stage that will be followed by the implementation of WMS, MES and APS solutions in the period 2026-2027, thus strengthening its operational capabilities and its position on the domestic and regional market.