Damian Słaby, Vice President at Hillwood, shares his perspective on the outlook for Romania’s warehouse sector, its challenges and opportunities, and the company’s priorities for the years ahead.
Damian is a speaker at the ‘FOCUS ON ROMANIA’ panel discussion at EXPO REAL (Messe München) on Tuesday 7 October from 13.55 – 14.30, Hall A2, Room A22.
What is your view on the short-term outlook for the Romanian warehouse market?
I believe Romania will continue to benefit from strong domestic consumption and the growing demand generated by e-commerce and retail.
And the long term?
Here I see Romania positioning itself as a regional logistics hub. The country’s location as a gateway between Central Europe, the Balkans and the Black Sea gives it a clear strategic advantage.
What will drive growth in industrial and logistics in Romania?
Infrastructure development—across highways, rail and ports—will be the principal driver. These improvements will make industrial and logistics space in Romania even more attractive.
What are the main challenges you see in the Romanian market?
The availability of well-prepared land in good locations, regulatory uncertainty and limited liquidity in the investment market.
And the main opportunities?
Increasing demand from international tenants seeking new hubs in CEE, in nearshoring trends and in the potential for sustainable, energy-efficient buildings to attract long-term occupiers.
What do you consider to be Hillwood’s main achievements in 2025?
We secured two strategic land plots near Bucharest—one in the west and one in the south—which will support future large-scale developments. We have also strengthened long-term relationships with tenants across CEE, leading to portfolio expansion and consistently high occupancy. We have also successfully added value to acquired assets through active management and redevelopment, and we have continued our strategy of securing promising land plots in the best locations to enhance their long-term value.
What are Hillwood’s priorities for 2026 and beyond?
Our focus is on launching our first developments in Romania, beginning with the land plots we have secured around Bucharest. We also plan to expand our presence in CEE with an emphasis on sustainable and innovative industrial projects. Continuing to enhance the tenant experience through property and asset management will remain a priority, as will pursuing Hillwood’s strategy of long-term value creation in the European industrial real estate sector.
The session at Expo Real is organised by The CEE Summit, the CEE’s leading annual real estate event, co-organized by The Poland Observer and Real Asset Media. The session is hosted by Richard Stephens and moderated by Richard Betts, with the support of AHK Romania and Ionut Oprea.
