Stiri	Stiri afaceri	Stiri companii	Evenimente de afaceri

Romania wants direct access to European banks for its SMEs

Minister for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) Constantin Nita has presented a set of measures amending the taxation system under the Tax Code that are thought to improve the business climate for production and trade SMEs.

In a press release issued by the Ministry of SMEs, Commerce and Business Milieu (MIMMCMA) on Tuesday, Nita is said to have informed UK ambassador in Bucharest Robin Barnett at a meeting about the ministry's moves at a European level focused on winning direct access to European loans for Romanian SMEs, as resorting to middlemen increases the costs SMEs have to bear to unbearable levels.

Nita and Barnett are said to have agreed on continuing joint work and corroboration of stances at the level of European bodies to secure easier access to EU financing for the SMEs and also to improve market entry on some goods markets, given the reduced capacity of Romanian SMEs to promote their products.

Nita pointed out that the balance of trade between Romania and the UK is favouring Romania and there are prospects for the trade volume to exceed 2.5 billion euros under the current circumstances.

As a personal opinion, Barnett said Romania needs an agreement on the financing of its current-account deficit so that the private sector may be spared major issues related to accessible liquidity on lending markets.

Since no generally valid solution has been found for the SMEs to overcome the financing crisis, Barnett recommended to Nita a tighter cooperation between Government bodies and joint work to experiment together with quicker and more efficient financing solutions for SMEs.

The ambassador stated that he is supporting a visit to the UK of a delegation of Romanian SMEs experts to find out about British experiences in financing small and medium-sized enterprises. He also suggested an exchange of experience in relation to the system of foreign trade representation, inviting Romanian experts to get to know in detail the organisation, financing and recruitment of staff both domestically and locally hired.

Nita introduced to Barnett some draft regulations that aim to establish in Romania a new work system for banks, financial institutions and SMEs through the establishment of a guarantee and counter-guarantee fund and the involvement of the two Romanian state-run banks, CEC and EximBank.

The UK is an important foreign investor in Romania. There were more than 3,940 joint ventures running on UK capital in Romania as of December 31, 2008, which placed the UK ninth in the rankings of foreign investors in Romania.

 

Sursa: http://www.rompress.ro

Tags: romania romanian financing barnett banks european access cec

Articole similare