Popescu, 58, has a PhD in economics, and specializes in agrarian economy. Last year in July he attended a ZF Expert meeting and said agriculture is a branch that consumes resources as opposed to industry, which generates technical advance, that is why agriculture could not be the only generator of economic growth.
“Agriculture makes up 6% of Romania’s GDP, it is a lot, this shows the fragility of the economy. In European economies the farming sector represents 1-2% of GDP,” Popescu said at the open editorial meeting ZF Expert.
Agriculture makes up less than 1% of Germany’s GDP, less than 2% of France’s and 2.6% of the Dutch economy, according to data of the International Monetary Fund.
At present, Popescu is professor at ASE, within the Faculty of Agrifood and Environmental Economics. Between 1990 and 1991, he was an advisor within the Agriculture Ministry.
Prime Minister Ungureanu, who was appointed in February, after the resignation of Emil Boc, is in the process of putting together his team of advisors. Next week he could announce the creation of a board of advisors from the private sector to help him set economic priorities.
(English version by Daniela Stoican)