The value of foreign direct investment rose by 199% in January to 699 million euros, according to provisional data centralised by the National Bank of Romania (NBR) that was published by the Romanian Agency for Foreign Investment (ARIS).
Romania attracted 234 million euros in foreign direct investment in the first month of last year.
According to ARIS, the most important component of FDI included loans granted by foreign companies to their affiliated structures in Romania. This indicator registered 384 million euros in the first month of the year, accounting for 55% of the total investment volume.
The profit reinvested by foreign companies totalled 178 million euros, that is 25% of the total volume, while capital contributions amounted to 137 million euros, 20% of the total.
The National Trade Registry Office data shows 881 companies were registered in January, with the share capital subscribed for the companies with foreign capital contribution standing at 105.6 million euros, 26% higher than in the same month last year.
Authorities expect foreign direct investment to range between 5.8 – 6.2 billion euros this year.
Romania climbed to 48th position in terms of business environment attractiveness between 2006-2010, an increase from the 53rd position registered between 2001-2005, in a ranking put together by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) which gauges development in 82 countries, according to a release of the institute.
Estonia remains top ranking Eastern European state, coming 20th, gaining one place from 19th in 2001-2005.
The Czech Republic and Hungary moved up one place to 27 and 33 respectively, as did Poland, which ranks as low as 37. EIU believes that a favourable trend will be registered by businesses in Bulgaria, which ranks 43rd, after having climbed six places. Again the highest ranked country is Denmark, followed by Finland, Canada, Singapore, Holland, Ireland, the UK, the US, Switzerland and Hong Kong.
FDI in Romania
* Reached 699 million euros in January, up 199% from the same time last year
* Number of new companies registered in January was 881, according to National Trade Registry Office data
* Share capital subscribed for foreign capital companies amounted to 105.6 million euros, 26% higher than in January 2005
* FDI expected to reach 5.8-6.2 billion euros in 2006