The privatisation of the Daewoo Craiova carmaker is the main economic project Premier Calin Popescu Tariceanu has for 2007. He believes Romania has the chance to become the country with the most powerful automotive industry in the region.
"My ambition in 2007 is to successfully privatise Daewoo, to build a project the size of that Renault developed in Pitesti. We will not be setting the trend on the world's automotive market but will make Romania into an important competitor in terms of production volume," Prime Minister Tariceanu told ZIARUL FINANCIAR in an interview.
Requested a month ago, the interview took place on Friday, February 2. Tariceanu says the privatisation might be completed by June or July.
He says the main privatisation criteria as far as Daewoo is concerned will not be the price offered by investors, but the scope of the project and its implications for the economy. "First of all, we are interested in the volume of production, in how many jobs will be created, the number of suppliers brought in Romania and, last but not least, in the extent of the domestic integration of production," the head of government said. Tariceanu adds Romania is no longer in the position where it sees "money as the main criteria". "We need an economy that continues to grow, fuelled by the business of new SMEs that can develop around a plant like the one in Craiova."
The Premier expects the future buyer to request a series of incentives, but says that the Government cannot do a great deal regarding this.
"According to the state aid legislation, we can grant support for professional training, research, as well as for regional development. We will also help the investor with the necessary utilities, especially with the transport infrastructure because the site in Craiova will have to be properly connected to the transport Corridor IV."
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