Fenechiu said large amounts of money will be available for infrastructure works in the upcoming period and mentioned the projects financed through the Transport Sector Operations Program (T-SOP), which must engulf around EUR4 billion by the end of 2015.
He also said the competition between Romanian and foreign constructors is “fierce” and the lack of construction projects over the past years has pushed profile companies into a difficult financial situation.
The minister has asked banks to be more “flexible” when it comes to granting loans to construction firms willing to buy equipment and machines.
Fenechiu pointed out that the Transport Ministry will finalize by mid-April the procedures required by the European Commission regarding T-SOP. Also, the audit authority will run checkups between April 15 and 26 and send its reports to Brussels by mid-May. The minister concluded saying the EC ought to decide by the end of June, at the latest, on resuming payments under the program.