Romania’s automotive industry is a positive example at European level, with 206,000 jobs created over the past 20 years, Yves Caracatzanis, general manager of Groupe Renault Romania and chairman of the Romanian Automotive Partnership (PAR), said Tuesday.
“Romania’s automotive industry is a positive example at European level because 206,000 jobs have been created over the past 20 years, which has contributed to the integration of Romania with the European economy. Romania’s competitiveness is well known around the world. The car fleet in Romania is 6 million vehicles but with an average age of 13.5 years compared with 9.7 years at European level. The new car sales rate in 2016 is fair. On the other hand, the ratio is five old cars bought to a new one. All measures to support the renewal of the car fleet are good and welcome to both Romania and the automotive industry,” Caracatzanis told a specialists conference.
On the other hand, he pointed out that the realities in the Romanian automotive industry must be discussed in order to identify what is missing so as to anticipate development opportunities.
“Six years ago, the Romanian Automotive Partnership was created as a working group of important investors and employers in the automotive industry, having also two representative associations – ACAROM and AHK Romania. All these years, we have discussed the realities of the industry of which we are a part. We are trying to identify what we miss and prepare for the future, which depends on the Romanian legislation. Currently, there are R&D centres in Romania, but tomorrow is not certain, and we have to build it together. Together we have to anticipate all the opportunities to continue the story of Romania’s automotive industry. We need to see the challenges and opportunities in order to build a future,” said the Renault official.
The Romanian Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACAROM), the Romanian-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (AHK Romania) and the Romanian Automotive Partnership (PAR) organised the first edition of the Romanian Automotive Summit on Tuesday.
More than 250 participants from the automotive industry, central and local administrations, academia, business organisations and professional associations were expected to address the main topics of common interest such as production, industry 4.0, engineering, research, development and innovation, education and human resources, integration with the automotive supplier networks as well as transport infrastructure.
ACAROM, the only representative of the local automotive industry, founded in 1996, brings together over 150 companies from the automotive sector. The association is the representative of Romania inside ACEA – European Automobile Manufacturers Association.
The Romanian-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry is the official representative of the German economy in Romania and the largest bilateral chamber of commerce in the country, bringing together over 570 members.
The Romanian Automotive Partnership is a representative, informal working group, associated with ACAROM, made up of the largest automotive investors and employers conducting R&D and innovation activities.
Florin Vodita, adviser to the PM: We will continue to encourage the automotive sector
The government will continue to encourage the automotive sector in Romania, Florin Vodita, state adviser working for the Prime Minister Mihai Tudose’s apparatus, said on Tuesday.
While attending the Romanian Automotive Summit, taking place in Bucharest on Tuesday, Vodita relayed a message from the leader of the Government.
“These are messages of support, of appreciation and encouragement, for you, who have already reached the top of the technological pyramid and economic reputation of Romania, you still have so much to prove, although you have already proven so much until now,” Vodita told the participants in this event.
He also brought to mind that a quarter of Romania’s total exports are covered by the auto industry.
“Alongside the IT sector, the automotive sector is relying on state of the art technologies while stimulating economic research and also securing its own financing. In the Prime Minister’s opinion, the Government should continue to support the automotive industry. The Government also took the necessary measures to stimulate innovation, research and development, through applying a tax exemption for ten years for companies operating in this sector with high added value,” said Vodita.
The state adviser also talked about the need of a more dynamic communication between the automotive industry and the Romanian authorities.
“When the Government takes initiatives you should support such initiatives or criticize them in a constructive manner, by offering solutions, for I assure you that these measures are only meant to help the development of the private companies in the Romanian industry. We need them, we need you. Your welfare is felt by the entire country and that’s why I invite you to communicate more dynamically (…) for we have one goal – to do well for all of us,” said Vodita.
