Foreign direct investment in Romania went up by 17.6% in the first five months of this year compared to the same period of last year, reaching EUR 1.72 billion, according to Romania’s National Bank (BNR).

Equity investments, including reinvested net profits, amounted to EUR 2.21 billion and intercompany lending recorded a negative net value of EUR 488 million.

In May, foreign direct investment amounted to EUR 227 million, down from EUR 264 million in the same month of 2017.

Some of the biggest share capital increases carried out by foreign investors in Romania in May included EUR 132 million worth of new equity in several investment vehicles owned by Greek group Alpha Bank’s real estate arm, EUR 41 million worth of fresh capital for lender Intesa Sanpaolo Romania and EUR 20 million invested in dairy producer FrieslandCampina Romania, according to data from the Trade Registry’s Office – ONRC.

editor@romania-insider.com