In Bucharest, a business leader told me: “We’re not overlooked anymore.” And he’s right. Central Europe is rising economically and strategically. So why are New Zealand investors still looking west?
In 2024, Poland’s GDP grew by 2.9 percent, with unemployment at just 2.9 percent. Romania also performed strongly, with 2.1 percent GDP growth. By comparison, New Zealand’s economy expanded by just 0.7 percent in the final quarter of 2024, and unemployment rose to 5.1 percent, the highest level since 2020.
So what is driving this momentum? And what can New Zealand learn from it?
Investment Infrastructure That Encourages Participation
These countries are not just modernising. They are leapfrogging. Across Bucharest, Budapest and Warsaw, governments are prioritising infrastructure, digitisation and education, while holding corporate tax rates steady. Hungary’s rate is 9 percent, Romania’s 16 percent, and Poland’s 19 percent, all notably lower than New Zealand’s 28 percent.
In Bucharest, we met with the Romanian Chamber of Commerce. Their focus was firmly on regional partnerships, particularly with Türkiye, to build resilience in light of the war in Ukraine. The tone was clear: investment is not passive. It is about engagement and long-term alignment.
What we saw consistently was a strong intent to facilitate investment with agility. Trade bodies, government agencies and private enterprises were working in lockstep to encourage meaningful connections.
A New Growth Model Emerging
Rather than incrementally upgrading old systems, many Central European economies are jumping directly into mobile-first services and fully digital workflows. In sectors like banking, health and education, they appear to be pursuing streamlined, scalable solutions.
Poland was often cited during our meetings as a model for coordinated investment in public infrastructure, education and technology. Rather than being weighed down by a high-cost welfare model, they seem to be directing resources into areas they believe will drive innovation and productivity.
It is not glossy, but it is working.
For New Zealand investors, this presents an opportunity to back real transformation, whether in manufacturing, infrastructure or emerging innovation ecosystems.
Investment Should Go Both Ways
Throughout the delegation, we met businesspeople actively exploring New Zealand as a potential market and base. There is interest not only in exports, but in setting up Australasian distribution hubs and forming partnerships with New Zealand firms.
From timber suppliers to boutique winemakers, these businesses are looking for long-term collaboration. And their motivations are clear. New Zealand’s legal transparency, economic stability and market quality are all appealing.
We also met with our Moore Global counterparts; Moore Hungary Partner Akos Boross in Budapest, and Moore Czech Republic Partner Petr Kymlička in Prague. The similarities between our firms, in client mix, business culture and ambition, suggest a clear path for deeper collaboration.
This is not a one-way street. It is a genuine two-way opportunity.
For New Zealand investors, it is not just about identifying a growth region. It is about positioning early in places where scale, cost and policy are aligned for long-term return.
The message from Central Europe is clear. They are no longer on the fringe. And maybe it is time we stopped overlooking them.
Sam Bassett is Chairman of Moore Markhams New Zealand and recently participated in the 2025 EU Business Delegation to Central Europe.
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