EBRD European Bank for Reconstruction and Develo : President to visit Romania

The EBRD President is due to meet Romania's President and Prime Minister, government officials and business representatives.

Romanian translation

Sir Suma Chakrabarti, President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), is visiting Romania from 1 to 2 February for talks with top officials and business partners.

In Bucharest, Sir Suma will meet Romania's President Klaus Iohannis, Prime Minister Dacian Cioloș, Finance Minister and EBRD Governor for Romania Anca Paliu Dragu, National Bank Governor Mugur Isărescu and other senior government officials.

He will also meet with representatives of Romania's business community to discuss the investment climate, the pace of reforms and the economic outlook for the country.

Speaking ahead of his visit, Sir Suma said: 'This year, Romania's economic growth is expected to be one of the highest in Europe. We hope that private sector investment will extend to more sectors of the economy, as investor sentiment improves. We also trust that public sector investment will resume and that the country will be able to absorb more EU funds. As a supporter of Romania's capital market development, the EBRD is hopeful that 2016 will bring new issues of equity and debt. Romania has strong potential and the EBRD stands ready to expand and deepen its activities in the country, responding to the demand for financing.'

The EBRD is a leading institutional investor in Romania. The Bank has invested over €7 billion in the country to date and has also mobilised more than €14 billion from other sources of financing.

Last year the EBRD adopted a new strategy for Romania which sets out investment priorities in the country for the next four years: broadening access to finance, reducing regional disparities through improved infrastructure and enhancing the competitiveness of the private sector.