On February 9, 2015, Prime Minister Victor Ponta said the Transport Ministry will select a consultant to resume the privatization process of CFR Marfa.
“We’re starting procedures to select a consultant,” Ponta said at that time, at the end of talks with officials of the IMF, European Commission and World Bank.
Romania tried to privatize the railroad operator in 2013, but the deal fell through when GFR, CFR Marfa’s competitor, owned by businessman Gruia Stoica, failed to make payment by the October 14 deadline.
After the failed privatization attempt, the government promised the IMF it would restructure the company and sacked 2,500 people, around 30% of the staff.