INS: Industry, Agriculture Fueled Romania’s GDP Growth 3.5% In 2013
An 8% increase in industrial output and a bumper harvest helped Romania’s economy grow in 2013 at the faster pace in five years, surpassing every expectations.
The gross domestic product grew 3.5% in 2013, with industry and agriculture having the largest positive impact, the Romanian statistics institute INS said Wednesday. The figure is unchanged from a flash estimate released in February. It was the highest increase since 2008, when Romania’s economy grew by 7.3%. (Adevarul)
Romania Net Investment Down 9% To RON67.8B In 2013
Romanian net investment fell 9.3% on the year to 67.86 billion lei (EUR15 billion) in 2013, on declining activity in most sectors, the country’s statistics institute INS said Wednesday.
Investments in machinery and equipment, including transport vehicles, dropped 13.1% on the year to RON28.77 billion last year, while new construction works were down 9.4% to RON31.96 billion, the data showed. Other investments increased 3.9% on the year to RON7.13 billion. (Curierul National)
Romania’s New Government Sworn In
Romania’s new Government was sworn in on Wednesday evening, March 5, after passing the Parliament vote a day earlier.
PM Victor Ponta agreed with President Traian Basescu that the new Government would seek a confidence vote in Parliament on an “updated” political program that brings changes to the governing program. Thus, the new ministers were sworn in Wednesday evening, then they had a meeting on amending the governing program, which will be presented in Parliament next week. (Evenimentul Zilei)
Government To Decide On VAT Cut For Meat In July
Despite producers’ insistence, the government will not cut the value-added tax for meat and meat products before July, as they have to assess the impact of the 9% VAT cut for bread over economy and budget.
Based on the results, they will decide on the measure. “The figures look ok, but we have to carry out a detailed evaluation. (…) Then, we will decide on cutting VAT for meat,” Agriculture Minister Daniel Constantin told EVZ. (Evenimentul Zilei)
PM Meets EU Member States Ambassadors To Romania
PM Victor Ponta Wednesday had a meeting with the ambassadors of EU member states to Romania, Mediafax quoted official sources as saying.
Ponta confirmed the meeting. Chamber of Deputies Speaker, Valeriu Zgonea, had previously stated that he would inform all EU heads of Parliament on “the undemocratic attitude of President Traian Basescu”, who blocked the setting up of a new government by breaking democracy laws. (Adevarul)
Dacia Unionists Protest For Pitesti – Sibiu Highway Construction
Approximately 11,000 people, unionists of Romanian carmaker Dacia and their families, protested Wednesday in Mioveni, Arges county, asking for the construction of Pitesti – Sibiu highway, the support of professional education and the amending of Labor Code.
“Investors started to lose interest. (…) We want to be listened, we want a national program for professional education, infrastructure, financial support for developing enterprises (…),“ Ion Iordache, Automobile Dacia union vice-president, stated. (Curentul)