The optimism is a sign of maturity and lessons learned from the experience of the last three years, the survey says. Confidex index has reached its highest in three years, 50.2. This index is calculated by aggregating 29 items and measures Romanian managers’ and entrepreneurs’ confidence in the economy on a scale of 0 to 100.
“Today Confidex confirms the intensification of the economic growth forecasts of Romania for the coming period. With this optimism, I think managers directly contribute to a better future, economically speaking, for Romania: they are investing more, hiring more and such actions ultimately generate GDP,” Impetum Group CEO Andrei Cionca said.
For the first time since the survey has been conducted, one can see a shift in focus to exports among Romanian managers, as the easier access to international markets is one of the opportunities of the coming period.
The optimism of the managers is also based on an increase in public and private investment over the coming period. About 41% managers expect public investment to increase, while 28% expect the same to happen with private investment.
On the other hand, there are also concerns, mainly about the shortage of labor and decline sales, number of customers or orders.
Access to loans and the working capital condition are worsening for about one third of the managers and mergers and acquisitions stopped during this period.
A total of 74% of the managers believe a labor shortage is more likely than an increase in inflation, and the likelihood of an energy crisis, which 48% see, is lower than a funding crisis (60%) and real estate crisis (57%).
(English version by Loredana Fratila-Cristescu)