Romania, at top of world shame in terms of obtaining building permits, access to electricity (INACO)

Romania is at the top of world shame in terms of obtaining building permits and access to electricity, given that, according to the latest World Bank report analyzing the ease of doing business, Romania holds the 140th place at the first chapter and 154th in the second one, out of 190 countries, according to a press release issued on Monday by INACO - Competitiveness Initiative for AGERPRES. 

"The signals of this report are not encouraging at all. They show us that other countries are friendlier than us with private investment, entrepreneurship, and more and more countries are passing us by. The signal is all the more serious as public institutions have said they invest resources and energy in entrepreneurial public programs, but the results are very far from intentions and statements. 

In terms of starting a business, conditions in Romania have become tougher, which puts us 47 positions towards the end of the global rankings this year. What has been of concern for me for years is that we are at the top of the world's shame in terms of obtaining building permits and access to electricity, without firm reactions from the authorities to correct these anomalies even in 2018. Here, things can be fixed quickly, only political will is necessary," said Andreea Paul, president of the INACO think tank. 

On the other hand, representatives of INACO point out that Romania has retained its first position in the world at the ease of doing foreign trade and is in the 17th place in the execution of contracts. 

"Romania has improved its performance compared to the rest of the world in registering a property by only one position, from 45th place last year to 44th this year. In terms of acquiring building permits, we rose 4 positions in the world, from the 150th on the 146th place, but we continue to be at the bottom of the standings," says Anca Tamas, member of INACO. 

Romania was downgraded compared to the rest of the world's countries in the following criteria: starting a business (47 positions lost, from 64th to 111th at present), getting loans (2 positions lost, from 20th place lost to the 22nd place), protection of minor investors (7 positions lost, from 57th place to 64th place), solving insolvency (one position lost, from 51st to 52th place), access to electricity (7 positions lost, from 147th to 154th place) and payment of taxes (7 positions lost, from 42th to 49th place).