Trade risk assessment company Coface sees Romania's economy up by 0.5 percent this year, and up between 1 and 1.5 percent in 2013, below the growth estimated by the International Monetary Fund, the European Commission and the Romanian authorities.

“The increase in 2013 does not reflect the market potential. Romania's potential is real. Romania is an attractive consumption market, but it has had political turbulence, which diminished foreign investments, and investors are looking for stability. The state has a big role to play in making the market more attractive,” said Constantin Coman, country manager of Coface Romania.

The European Commission expects Romania to post 0.8 percent growth this year, and 2.2 percent in 2013. The IMF's forecast points to a 0.9 percent growth in 2012 and 2.5 percent in 2013. Romania's economy was up 0.7 percent in the first half of the year, while the overall growth in 2011 was of 2.5 percent.

editor@romania-insider.com