We will make a distinction between investment priorities in the sectors transport, infrastructure and water by the public sector and those as indicated by the Romanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIR). The latter are not priorities for investment, but should be considered as business opportunities.
Investment priorities in the sectors transport, infrastructure and telecommunication2
a) Rail transport programmes
Upgrading the railway on the corridor IV - section Bucharest-Ploiesti-Campina-Brasov;
Upgrading the line Curtici-Arad-Alba Iulia-Medias-Brasov;
Rehabilitation and upgrading of Bucharest subway;
Extension of the subway in the sector Drumul Taberei-Pantelimon and completing the works on the already started but unfinished sectors.
b) Road transport programmes
Simplification of the taxation system for road carriers;
Backing Romanian road carriers, by simplifying the system of granting licences and authorisations for inland and international transport;
Rehabilitation of the network of European and national roads:
Completion of the rehabilitation works on the national roads included in the second stage (694 km) and a program of road safety and institutional development;
Completion of the rehabilitation works on the national roads included in the third stage (334 km);
Starting the rehabilitation works on the national roads included in the fourth stage (732-km): Cluj-Dej-Bistrita-Campulung Moldovenesc; Petrosani-Simeria; Lugoj-Timisoara and the roundabout belts of Timisoara and Craiova; Craiova-Turnu Severin-Lugoj.
Project of rehabilitation of national road DN 1A, extension up to four lanes of Ploiesti city roundabout belt and technical assistance with turning the maintenance operations to private hands;
Development works to and from frontier check and cross stations (Giurgiu, Varsand, Bechet, Petea, Cenad);
Program of rehabilitation, motorway building and upgrading of the infrastructure on the itineraries of the pan-European corridors IV and IX:
The Bucharest-Ploiesti-Brasov motorway;
The Bucharest-Constanta motorway: the sector Bucharest-Fundulea-Lehliu-Fetesti-Cernavoda;
Detour ways around the localities: Deva, Orastie, Sebes, Sibiu, Pitesti;
Upgrading and extension up to four lanes of the national road DN 5 Bucharest-Giurgiu;
The Nadlac-Timisoara-Arad motorway;
Bridge across the Danube by Braila;
The Bucharest North belt;
Development of county roads’ rehabilitation programmes.
Measures are being taken to increase investment and expose former state monopolies to genuine competition. The government plans to invest US$ 7-8 billion over 15 years in a programme supported by the EBRD and the World Bank, which includes provisions for the installation of 500,000 new phone lines and the introduction of digital systems.