Nokia contemplates 200m-euro investment in Romania

Romania is on the short list of the world”s number one mobile phone manufacturer Nokia, which intends to carry out an investment that could exceed 200 million euros. Officials of the Finnish group visited a number of locations in the country and according to a local source they seem to be leaning towards Cluj for the construction of a plant to manufacture mobile phones. The quoted sources added that the short list of the mobile phone producer included another country, but would not name it. The final decision about the location of the new Nokia factory is to be made next month. The Finnish group has two investment choices: either they come alone, in which case they will need a 10 hectare plot of land for an investment of several tens of millions of euros or they bring sub-suppliers, which will drive the investment value up to 200 million euros. Once the investment increases, so does the need for space, meaning that over 100 hectares will be required. The quoted sources specified that, in the event Nokia decided to invest in Romania, it would request the maximum of incentives possible from the authorities. Contacted by ZIARUL FINANCIAR, Attila Der, Nokia”s marketing manager for Hungary and Romania did not comment on the information. Neither did the local authorities in Cluj confirm that they had met with Nokia officials, but said there was a company interested to invest 200 million euros. According to Marius Nicoara, the Cluj County Council chairman, the investor – like in the case of the French company Montupet, which dropped plans to invest 120 million euros in Romania, is also being wooed by the Bulgarian authorities who are offering special incentives. ZF