The lack of interest of the local authorities, according to the statements of some investors, or the reduction of the funds available, according to others, have deprived the city of Galaţi of projects worth approximately 2 billion Euros. This is about a series of promises which concerned the construction of some factories, electric plants or malls, which the foreign investors abandoned shortly after announcing their plans to invest in the city located near the Danube. "Due to the lack of interest of our public officials, all the foreign investments in Galaţi have gone down the drain", said Marian Filimon, the president of the Professional association of Small and Medium Enterprises of Galaţi.
One billion Euros in one shot!
The biggest investment which was going to be made in the SE Region was the Coal-based thermoelectric plant, with an installed power of 800 MW, in the Galaţi Free Zone. The investment amounted to one billion Euros and was made by Enel in cooperation with Global International 2000 of Bucharest. The project which was announced in 2007 has not gone ahead for now. It is also one of the most controversial of those investments, due to the large environmental issues it raises. Initially, the project was rejected by the Council of the Natural Park of Galați, which claimed that it did not meet the same environmental requirements as the thermoelectric plant built by Enel in Italy.
Another investment in the free zone was abandoned this year as well, due to the problems arising from the economic crisis: Goldex Industry, which manufactures the "Hoyo" tractors in Râşnov, and which wanted to invest 60 million Euros and create 220 new jobs in Galaţi. The core feature of the investment plan was a tractor assembly line.
Two plants for the production of electricity have abandoned Galaţi
Two other investments with a total value of 600 m
