Depressed areas need investors

The county of Bihor does not benefit from legally established incentives granted for investments made in depressed areas, because of the unstable legislative system and the slow development of infrastructure faced by regions such as Borod-Suncuius-Vadu Crisului-Dobresti-Popesti-Derna-Alesd and Nucet-atei-Baita, which have been classified as depressed areas.

Bad roads, lack of communication systems and the absence of banks’ subsidiaries are only some of the problems potential investors confront with.

Besides, spaces especially designed for economic units’ activities are either hard to find or extremely expensive.

“The locals are not aware of the benefits they might have if new jobs were created. They do not understand the concept of sound development and do not accept the idea of small gains in the long term. Consequently, investors, who are very few anyway, get disappointed,” Theodor Petroni, a representative of the Bihor County Council, in charge with foreign relations, said.

Another problem faced by potential investors is the lack of labour force. Although there are many unemployed people, they are not skilled workers, as most investors require.

The entire Northwestern region that includes six counties received only 435 investor certificates. Forty-eight of these certificates were released in Bihor. The investments’ value was worth about 20 billion lei, while newly created jobs amounted to 1,300.

However, the statistics did not include ongoing investments, such as European Food Stei (over 100 billion lei) and other 40 investments that have obtained temporary certificates (valid for three months).

Most investors displayed interest in industry branches that manufacture leather goods, footwear, clothing and furniture.