FDI inflows, nearly 11 percent fall-off in 2014

Foreign direct investment (FDI) in Romania has declined last year, amounting to 2.43 billion euro, down 11 percent from 2.71 percent in 2013, according to data released by the National Bank of Romania (BNR).

“Non-residents' direct investment in Romania (estimates) totalled EUR 2.426 million, of which equity (including estimated net loss) amounted to EUR 2.581 million and inter-company lending posted net payments of EUR 155 million,” states the report.

In December 2014, Romania attracted foreign inflows of 304 million euro, below the level recorded in the previous month – 531 million euro, last year's highest.

Also, within the past year, the balance-of-payment current account posted a deficit of 696 million euro, about 470 million euro less than in 2013, amid the widening of the services surplus, by nearly 1.17 million euro, and the narrowing of the goods deficit, by EUR 242 million.

In 2013, the FDI came to the highest level since 2009, advancing by 27 percent year-on-year, stimulated by exports which had an accelerated growth in the second half of the year.

The high-record level in terms of foreign direct investment was reached in 2008 - almost 9.5 billion euro. Since then, the economic crisis has strongly affected these investments volume which have decreased year-on-year.