Foreign direct investment, on the decrease
Foreign direct investment in Romania fell by over 30%, to around 1.7 billion euros, in the first three months of the year, compared to the first quarter of 2024.
Daniela Budu, 15.05.2025, 14:00
Foreign direct investment in Romania fell to almost 1.7 billion euros in the first quarter of this year, from around 2.5 billion euros in the same period last year, according to data published on Wednesday by the National Bank of Romania (BNR). The figures show a drop of over 30% in foreign direct investment in Romania during the period under review. At the same time, according to the National Trade Register Office (ONRC), over 1,500 companies with foreign participation in the share capital were established in Romania in the first quarter of 2025, down by about 6.5% compared to the same period in 2024. Depending on the fields of activity, most registrations were recorded in wholesale and retail trade, car and motorcycle repair, professional, administrative, scientific, technical and telecommunications activities, programming and consulting activities in information technology.
According to ONRC, at the end of March, there were almost 260 thousand companies with foreign participation in the share capital in Romania. The largest number of such companies had investors from Italy, namely over 54 thousand companies, with a subscribed capital of almost 3.7 billion dollars, but the highest value of the share capital belongs to Dutch companies, namely 13.2 billion dollars, in about 6,200 companies, according to the National Trade Register Office . Economic analysts believe that attracting foreign investment must remain a priority for Romania. According to them, a stable economic climate, less bureaucracy, without unnecessary barriers and easy access to foreign markets are essential factors for a free and prosperous economy. Foreign investment, they say, is a vote of confidence from international partners and it is for good reason that representatives of the business environment always demand stability and predictability.
Recently, the Foreign Investors Council (FIC) also emphasized the importance of predictability in economic policies in order to ensure a stable and attractive business environment. FIC considers Romania’s membership in international structures (EU, NATO, OECD), ensuring the principles of the free market, protecting the rule of law and private property, access to EU funds and setting consistent economic policies as fundamental. Romania must be a stable partner, the Council also argues, with a sustainable economic strategy, built through real consultation with the business environment. “Foreign direct investments contribute significantly to Romania’s economic growth through the contribution of capital in various economic sectors. These investments not only bring financial resources, but also create jobs, offering employment opportunities for over a million Romanians”, FIC said in a statement. According to the document, companies that invest in Romania also contribute to the development of local suppliers, thus opening up new opportunities for exports and international collaborations. This integration is essential for sustainable economic growth and for consolidating Romania’s position on the global economic stage. (EE)
