EBRD: Transport infrastructure, the weakest area of Romania’s business environment

Anca Alexe 12/12/2017 | 13:15

Transport Minister Felix Stroe has met with representatives of the EBRD (European Bank for Reconstruction and Development), underlining Romania’s commitment to developing urgently needed infrastructure.

Minister Stroe met with EBRD’s Managing Director for Infrastructure, Jean-Patrick Marquet. Discussions focused on the transport master plan, road-building and the railway sector, and also went over financing for the planned East-West motorway, which would connect Iasi with Targu Mures, as well as the Bucharest M6 Metro Line towards the Henri Coanda Airport. Technical assistance to improve the performance and efficiency of state-owned transport enterprises was also considered in the talks.

Jean-Patrick Marquet welcomed Romania’s rapidly growing economy, adding: “Transport infrastructure probably constitutes one of the weakest areas of the business environment in the country but is vital for Romania’s development”. Marquet said that his discussion with Felix Stroe established a very strong basis for future cooperation in this crucial economic sector.

Minister Stroe stated: “In particular, we need the EBRD’s experience and expertise in restructuring state-owned enterprises, to make them more efficient and effective and help them meet the private sector’s performance levels”.

The EBRD has invested EUR 7.5 billion in around 400 projects in Romania. In 2017, 20 projects were financed by the Bank, worth EUR 400 million.