Romania maintains its level B rating, non-suitable for investments, Coface Romania, Bulgaria and Slovakia Country Cluster Manager Cristian Ionescu declared. Coface sees a shy increase for 2011, of 1.5% below the global growth anticipated at 3.4%.

Ionescu’s main statements at the press conference

Romania’s situation

For 2011 we expect a shy economic increase in Romania, of 1.5% and a better growth for 2012 and 2013.

The growth will materialize only if we will not create problems ourselves– globally the situation is optimistic, it only depends on us In 2013 we will recover at the 2008 level – we lost 5-6 years Romania is not in a desperate situation but is dependent on foreign aid

According to our estimates, inflation will be 5.2% in 2011 above the Central Bank’s target, as a consequence of VAT increase Unemployment rate will increase as the reforms of the state will continue and lay offs in the budgetary system will not cease

Imports and exports increased and the commercial balance increased in 2010 compared to 2009

Foreign debt doubled in the last three years from 44% to 80%

The current account deficit exceeds 5 billion euro a 25% increase in 2009

We reached the lower end of the crisis, but there is no powerful engine to relaunch growth

If Romania would have had a good shape when it entered the crisis, we could have had avoided it, Romania should have had room for decrease

The recession was provoked internationally but the impact was deepened by Romania’s internal disequilibrium

Without industry, without internal production it could not have been balanced

Romania is at the opposite place compared to China: few investments, limited exports that did not sustain the crisis

We estimate that the state will not be able to r