Banks In Romania See Second Highest Profits Since Start Of Crisis
Romania’s banking system posted 4.3 billion lei (EUR951.5 million) net profit in 2016, the second highest annual profit since the onset of the economic crisis.
While assets went up to a decade high, the loan-to-deposit ratio fell to a new low, solvency dropped and the non-performing loan ratio fell, Romania’s central bank’s statistics show.
The banking system profit had reached a record high in 2015, comparable to the boom year 2008 (RON4.7 billion), according to the initial estimates. Final data released by the central bank, however, showed lenders made RON4.5 billion profit in 2015 and the record high was partly because of the takeover of Volksbank’s operations by Banca Transilvania. (Adevarul)
PM Grindeanu Says Ready To Reshuffle His Cabinet If Necessary
Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu told an interview at private television station Antena 3 that it is “early” to say something regarding the activity of some ministers, adding, however, he will not hesitate to replace the ministers who fail to observe the governing program.
The prime minister said he would not hesitate to take the necessary measures, if the case may be, adding a second Grindeanu Cabinet is highly likely. (Evenimentul Zilei)
PSD Dambovita Wants To Organize Rally To Support Grindeanu Cabinet
PSD Dambovita plans to organize, on Saturday, a rally to support the Grindeanu Cabinet.
The decision was made by the Executive Committee of PSD Dambovita, according to Alexandru Oprea, the executive secretary of PSD Dambovita.
Oprea said some 10,000 people are expected to join the rally.
On Sunday, February 19, some 6,000 people participated in a rally to support the Grindeanu Cabinet, which was organized by PSD Pitesti. (Romania Libera)
Romania’s Foreign Affairs Minister Meets With Russia’s Ambassador To Bucharest
Romania’s Foreign Affairs Minister Teodor Melescanu asked Russia’s Ambassador to Bucharest, Valery Kuzmin, at a meeting held last week, to avoid an „inadequate rhetoric in public statements.“
Romania’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Melescanu emphasized the importance of a pragmatic approach in bilateral relations, and stressed that Romania is open to dialog.
Melescanu also spoke about the need to avoid an inappropriate rhetoric in public statements and to concentrate efforts on direct dialog. To this end, the minister stressed that Romania’s commitments and standpoint abroad, mainly those regarding the country’s affiliation to the community of European and euro-Atlantic value, are elements deeply consensual at the level of the Romanian society. (Adevarul)
Freight Transport On Maritime Danube Sees Slight Increase After The Years Of Crisis
The global crisis was deeply felt in the sector of port navigation and exploitation on the Maritime Danube.
The crisis affected the navigation on the Danube starting 2009. The Danube ports faced a more difficult situation than that of 2001, when one of the effects of the war in the former Yugoslavia resulted in a reduced navigation and port operations on the Danube.
Statistics over the last years show a slight revival. According to data provided by the River Administration of the Lower Danube (AFDJ) Galati, in 2016, the Sulina Canal and the sector of maritime ports were transited by 1,771 ships, with the total quantity of freight transported reaching 3,763,900 tons. (Romania Libera)