Foreign direct investments rose to EUR 2.5 billion in the first eight months of this year, up EUR 149 million over the end of July, according to Romania’s National Bank (BNR).

By comparison, non-residents invested almost EUR 3.1 billion in the country in the first eight months of 2016.

The equity investments, including the reinvested profits, totaled EUR 2.8 billion at the end of August, while the intra-group loans had a negative balance of EUR 286 million.

Foreign direct investments no longer finance Romania’s external consumption as they did until last year, because the current account deficit exceeded EUR 4 billion in the first eight months of this year, up from EUR 2.6 billion during the same period last year.

In 2016, the foreign direct investment in Romania reached EUR 4.08 billion, a record level for the last eight years. Of the total amount, equity investments amounted to EUR 3.9 billion.

editor@romania-insider.com