“The Romanian government should unblock the economy, have discussions for obtaining financing, recruit competent, capable people, who can organize and restructure state-owned companies. Almost all our clients in Romania are postponing their works by at least six months, due to liquidity shortages,” Jacques Chevrier, Country President for Romania, Bulgaria, and Moldova within the French Alstom giant, told Business Standard.

Chevrier indicated that Alstom’s project for building an energy equipment factory in Ilfov County, an investment estimated at €20 million, is now frozen. “The final deadline, for the first half of 2010, is no longer valid. We had to freeze the project, due to a hostile market,” the official added.

He is even considering relocating the company’s activities. “In case the Romanian state does not take steps in the right direction in the future, we will consider relocating certain operations we have in Romania,” Chevrier said.

The official gave Bulgaria as an example, where the new government is showing signs that it plans a quick rebound. “In Bulgaria, the situation is similar to that in Romania, but the new government shows the wish to take quick steps in the right direction. We have a Greenfield project there, an energy plant with total power of nearly 500 MW,” Chevrier added.

The Country President for Romania, Bulgaria, and Moldova said that the Romanian Executive must focus on attracting and using European funds and initiating major infrastructure projects that would create jobs.

“Romania, like any other EU member, has all the necessary instruments for solid economic growth, but the EU will never interfere in the national political and economic decisions. The way the advantages of being an EU member are used depends on each country,” Chevrier indicated.