Romania “must regain the trust of political and economic"

Visit of Prime Minister Victor Ponta in Germany ends Tuesday.

The Government wants to attract more German investments in Romania, whose current level is already high, about six billion euros.

Moreover, trade between the two countries doubled in 2012 compared with two years ago and have been estimated at 18 billion euros during the debate that took place in Berlin.

"The potential German investment Romania is much higher," said German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday and many German business people who chatted with Prime Minister Victor Ponta, but Romania must make certain corrections, have attracted all the attention.


"Romania needs to regain confidence, both politically and economically". This is the message of the Germans, who talked about public auctions to be conducted properly, about need for infrastructure investment and the need to reduce bureaucracy.

Prime Minister Victor Ponta has admitted that there is still much to be done in these areas, but dotted among the strengths of the moment: stability, whether it's fiscal stability, talked about keeping one single value of 16% over the next four years, or of political stability after the elections at the end of last year.

Victor Ponta talked about the first economic data of this year, positive data and the growth potential of Romania, Romanian specialists in IT or about legislation that is preparing to regulate public-private partnerships, but he does not hesitate to talk about the problems you have to solve Romania.


"It's about the huge problem we have infrastructure and discussed it at lunch, about how to improve, through public-private projects, through the absorption of EU funds and the financing of major projects; are among our priorities, and European funds, which have been the great tragedy of the past few years.

"We have made efforts to improve absorption. That was a painful lesson for all Governments in recent years. Proved that the lack of administrative capacities, but also the lack of transparency, corruption, bureaucratic rules we have deprived of EU money and investment. We work in addition to improving the legislative framework and for companies, "said Victor Ponta.

Single rate of 16%, supported by investors

The debate on the topic of German investments in Romania have got word of more business people or Germans Romanians, belonging to the Romanian Chamber of Commerce.

He spoke about the issues encountered by an investor, Eckhard Cordes from Committee for German Affairs, representative for Eastern Europe and representative of the chain of stores.

"You mentioned, Mr. Prime Minister, and I encourage you to keep a single share at 16 percent, do not change. It's not just about its value, but also of a stable and reliable environment. And when it comes to investing in a country, it is obviously a competition between countries. ' I am taking my money in Romania ? ',asks himself an investor; even if in your region there are countries offering conditions quite advantageous.

"Corruption is still a problem for business, is a barrier to investment, it is counterproductive for both foreign investors and domestic production. We have, moreover, the need for a legal framework on which we can rely and, last but not least, pay attention to the bureaucracy; it cannot diminish, but it must be transparent. So these are the issues on investment when it comes to Romania, "said Eckhard Cordes.

About all these issues, mentioned in numerous occasions both by German business people, and also by those people present there, also mentioned to some extent by the German Chancellor Angela Merkel, also spoke the Chairman of Chamber of Commerce Romanian-German, Radu Merica.

"German firms in Romania go well, whether it's about major commercial networks or the auto industry, or IT , he said. All fare well because asking questions earlier. That do the same, asking questions and looking for answers. And because, in addition to German firms launches challenges, asking questions to the Government or ministries. ' What do you do with corruption? ', ' what you are doing with transparency in public procurement, with the qualification of workers? ', because those are the big issues. ' What do you do with predictability? '.

"The results of all these are beneficial not only to foreign investors, but also to the whole economy. And the fact that you participate in this discussion, Mr. Prime Minister, shows us that you are interested in correcting these problems and that we find in you an important partner, "says Radu Merica.

Prime Minister-Victor Ponta arrived at Stuttgart, at the great german auto concern Daimler, which makes investments in Romania of more than 300 million euros.

Romanian-German economic relations, central point, therefore, of the visit of Prime Minister Victor Ponta, in Germany.


Translated by
Denisse-Meda Bucura