116m euro foreign investment in January

Romania attracted 116 million euros’ worth in foreign investments in the first month of this year, up 33% from the same time last year, the Foreign Investment Agency (ARIS) announced on Tuesday. The investment level was computed based on the provisional statistical data supplied by the National Bank of Romania. Romania last year attracted foreign direct investment worth $1.5bn (1.3bn euros), 37.6% more than in 2002. Authorities estimate at least 30%-40% growth in the foreign direct investment volume this year as compared with 2003, heavily relying on the continuation of the privatisation of Banca Comerciala Romana (Romanian Commercial Bank – BCR), SNP Petrom and the energy sector, as well as on the launch of new investment projects. ZF