Daniel Zamfir, the nominee for Minister of Economy, Digitalization, Entrepreneurship, and Tourism, plans to visit the Dacia plant next week alongside the nominee for Minister of Energy, Dumitru Chisăliță. The goal is to identify the challenges facing the manufacturer and determine how the automotive industry can be supported.
“I want us to prioritize support for the automotive and furniture industries, as reducing the trade deficit must be accelerated through concrete measures for both sectors. The situation at Dacia is particularly critical; I have already spoken with the Minister of Energy, and we will likely visit the plant next week to discuss the issues there and explore ways to support Romania’s automotive industry. Our government program also includes two key elements: we will back the ‘Rabla’ (scrappage) scheme—to be implemented by the Ministry of Environment—for vehicles manufactured within the European Union. Regarding the furniture industry—where it is crucial to note that 90% of production is exported—we aim to ensure that high-quality timber is prioritized for the Romanian processing industry, at a competitive price, of course,” stated Zamfir during hearings held by the joint specialized committees of Parliament, according to Agerpres.
He further emphasized that “predictability and the simplification of the business environment are absolutely essential for a high-performing economy.” “In our governance program, we have included (…) a reduction of at least 25% in administrative burdens and a cut of at least 30% in authorization timelines, relative to the baseline measured at the start of our mandate. It is crucial for the business community that we make it absolutely clear: payments must be made on time. I am referring here to the state’s obligations toward companies awaiting payment—specifically regarding payment claims under Ministry of Economy programs. These claims will be evaluated within a maximum of 30 days, and any confirmed, due, and payable obligations will be settled within a maximum of 90 days. This is something I am firmly committed to seeing happen,” he stated.
Another priority he intends to pursue as Minister of Economy is attracting foreign investment to help drive economic recovery—an area where the Romanian Agency for Investments and Foreign Trade (ARICE) will play a significant role.
“Looking at the figures from the National Institute of Statistics, we see that foreign direct investment fell sharply between January and August 2026. To be precise, the value of foreign investment dropped by 62.5%—from 5.627 billion euros down to just 2.122 billion euros. This is the lowest level seen in the last 14 years. That is precisely why it is urgent to implement strategic projects valued at over 100 million euros. In this regard, our agency, ARICE, will play a vital role, serving as a single point of contact for the investors I mentioned—those with projects exceeding 100 million euros,” noted Daniel Zamfir. The official also referred to boosting economic diplomacy, which is currently “in a shambles.”
“Furthermore—and this is something the Prime Minister also emphasized—we must revitalize economic diplomacy, which, at the moment, is practically in a shambles. The foreign trade strategy will, naturally, begin by aligning data on external demand with our domestic production capacity. We will support firms in foreign markets—and it is important to note here that this applies both to companies expanding into Central and Southeastern Europe, through the credit facilities we will back, and to export guarantees provided via Eximbank and the new Investment and Development Bank, which needs to become operational as soon as possible,” Zamfir explained.
Later, following the hearings, the ministerial nominee for the Economy portfolio acknowledged that ARICE is underfunded, but stated his intention to “address” its financing in order to stimulate foreign trade activity.