Romania ranks 22nd out of 67 countries where major retailers wants to expand this year, on the same position as Sweden, Taiwan, Canada and Russia, and ahead of Slovakia, Hungary and Turkey, according to real estate consultancy company CBRE.

Romania has climbed 13 positions from last year’s ranking, with 9% of retailers planning to make an investment here in 2015, reports local Mediafax.

It was at number 35 in the previous classification, as 6% of retailers indicated the local market as a possible target for expansion in 2014.

Romania is still more attractive than other countries in Central and Eastern Europe such as Slovakia and Slovenia, where 8% and 7% of retailers want to expand this year, as well as Greece – 6% and Bulgaria – 4%. The Czech Republic and Poland outrank Romania in the top.

Germany remained the most popular retail market in the world for the second consecutive year with 40% of companies planning to open new stores here in 2015. The top three is completed by UK with 33% and France with 31% of retailers.

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com