Voices of Romania

Investing in Romania in 2026: What Foreign Investors Must Know

Fri, 23 Oct 2026 09:25:48 +0000

Foreign direct investment in Romania fell from €4.9B to €1.1B (Jan–Jul 2026 vs 2025). Is Romania still worth it for foreign investors, and what legal checks do you need before you sign?

In the first episode of the Romania Insider Legal Series, in partnership with Gruia Dufaut & Asociații, Dylan Delhommois talks with Cristina Bojica, Partner at Gruia Dufaut & Asociații, about:
→ why Romania's structural advantages haven't disappeared
→ the sectors with the best opportunities (energy, defence, agri-food, IT)
→ the legal due diligence for a share deal vs a greenfield project
→ the €5M FDI screening threshold and when to notify the CEISD
→ how long FDI authorization takes (45 to 90+ days)
→ the costly mistakes investors make before signing

0:00 Coming up
0:39 Romania Insider Legal Series: introduction
1:22 Why Romania still attracts foreign investors
3:16 FDI divided by 4: is Romania off investors' radar?
5:03 Which countries invest in Romania
5:58 Sectors with the greatest opportunities
7:50 Legal checks before investing: share deal vs greenfield
10:07 When to notify the CEISD (FDI screening)
13:09 Who is covered and how long authorization takes
15:09 Most common mistakes before signing
17:35 Final advice for foreign investors

📰 More on business in Romania: https://www.romania-insider.com
⚖️ Gruia Dufaut & Asociații: https://www.gruiadufaut.com/ro/

#Romania #ForeignInvestment #FDI

Produced by Romania-Insider.com | Host: Dylan Delhommois

📬 Website: Romania-Insider.com
📲 Follow: Instagram • TikTok • LinkedIn (Romania Insider)
🤝 Partnerships & guest pitches: dylan@romania-insider.com

📝 Disclaimer: Opinions are those of the guests, not necessarily Romania-Insider.

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Andrei Manea (RPIA): Inside Romania's Solar Boom, Energy Prices and What Comes Next

Fri, 18 Sep 2026 06:09:28 +0000

Romania's photovoltaic sector has transformed dramatically over the past five years, but the story behind the numbers is more complicated than the headlines suggest.

Andrei Manea is Executive Director of the Romanian Photovoltaic Industry Association (RPIA), the association bringing together more than 70 members from across Romania's solar industry. With over 15 years of history and a mandate spanning advocacy, workforce reskilling, public education, and cooperation with Romanian authorities and local communities, RPIA sits at the centre of one of the country's most strategic sectors.

In this episode, Dylan sits down with Andrei for a wide-ranging conversation about how the photovoltaic industry in Romania has evolved over the past 3 to 5 years, both in installed capacity and production, and the concrete benefits it has brought to the country. They discuss why the instability of recent years, from energy crises to war and regional volatility, makes it urgent to accelerate investments in locally generated energy. They address the growing public narrative that speculative projects are blocking the grid and driving up energy prices, and Andrei explains what is actually behind elevated electricity prices in Romania. The conversation closes with a forward look at how the photovoltaic sector will develop in the coming years, and the concrete steps still needed to fully unlock its potential in the context of rising demand for affordable energy.

A clear, expert-led conversation on one of the most misunderstood, and most strategically important, sectors of the Romanian economy.

📝 Disclaimer: Opinions are those of the guests, not necessarily Romania-Insider.

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Inside Leroy Merlin Romania's Supply Chain: The New Marketplace & 48,500 sqm Hub | Ionuț Vasile

Thu, 17 Sep 2026 05:51:07 +0000

Welcome to the first episode of a new Romania Insider video series dedicated to Leroy Merlin Romania, one of the fastest-changing retailers in the country.

With 25 stores, 3.7 billion lei in 2025 turnover, eleven new openings on the way, a new distribution centre under construction, and the recent launch of the first Romanian marketplace in DIY and interior design, Leroy Merlin is quietly reshaping the way Romanians shop for home and living. Over the coming months, we will sit down with several of the executives leading that transformation.

We start with the backbone of the operation: the supply chain.

Our guest for Episode 1 is Ionuț Vasile, Head of Supply Chain at Leroy Merlin Romania. In this conversation, Radu Dumitrescu explores what it takes to run logistics across 25 stores, e-commerce, and a rapidly expanding network. Topics include the transformation of Romania's logistics and warehousing market, the new 48,500 sqm distribution centre being built with CTP at CTPark Bucharest West (handover February 2027), how the network is adapting to support Leroy Merlin's expansion, where e-commerce fulfilment and the planned urban platform for Bucharest-Ilfov fit into the operation, how the supply chain absorbs the sharp seasonal peaks of DIY and gardening, and what the next 12 to 24 months hold for Romanian logistics and last-mile delivery.

A rare, detailed look inside the logistics engine of one of Romania's most important retailers.

🎙️ Episode 1 of the Romania Insider Leroy Merlin video series.

Follow Romania Insider for more interviews and conversations with the voices shaping the country.

📝 Disclaimer: Opinions are those of the guests, not necessarily Romania-Insider.

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#6 - Katalin Orosz - Money Is Never About Money… in a Family Business

Fri, 14 Aug 2026 08:22:00 +0000

"In a family business, when we talk about money, we don't necessarily talk about money. We talk about love."

Every family business carries two conversations: the one in the board minutes, and the one at Sunday lunch. Katalin Orosz spends her career at the intersection of the two.

A Certified Family Firm Adviser accredited by the Family Firm Institute in Boston and an MBA graduate of HEC Montréal, Katalin has spent more than two decades working with entrepreneurial families across Canada and Romania. Her newly released book, "Afaceri de familie" (Editura Nemira), draws on that experience to offer a lucid, practical guide for the families navigating personal relationships and business decisions at the same time.

In this episode of Voices of Romania, Radu Dumitrescu sits down with Katalin for a wide-ranging conversation about the three fundamental systems that shape every family business (Family, Wealth, and Business), why what remains unsaid at home always returns to the firm, the particular moment Romanian family businesses find themselves in as founders face their first succession, why money is the hardest conversation at a family dinner, and what a healthy handover between generations actually looks like.

An honest, insightful conversation about the invisible dynamics that quietly shape some of Romania's most important companies.

📖 "Afaceri de familie" is available now from Editura Nemira.

🎙️ Voices of Romania is the official podcast of Romania Insider, the largest English-language media platform covering Romania.

Follow Romania Insider for more interviews and conversations with the voices shaping the country.

📝 Disclaimer: Opinions are those of the guests, not necessarily Romania-Insider.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

#5 - Ion Țiriac - Tennis, Stejarii, and the Making of a Champion

Fri, 29 May 2026 07:30:21 +0000

"If you don't seed, you cannot harvest."

Few names carry as much weight in Romanian sport and business as Ion Țiriac. From his beginnings in Brașov, to a legendary tennis career that took him to a Davis Cup final and into the inner circle of champions like Boris Becker, Guillermo Vilas, Marat Safin, and Goran Ivanišević, to building one of the most diversified business empires in Central and Eastern Europe, Țiriac's journey is unlike any other.

In this episode of Voices of Romania, Radu Dumitrescu sits down with him for a wide-ranging conversation about Romania's untapped potential and its place in the European Union, the lasting damage of communism on the country's sporting infrastructure, why true champions are built starting at 3 or 4 years old, the real story behind Stejarii Country Club, the philosophy of work versus talent through the careers of Năstase, Vilas, Becker and Halep, and what really comes after an athlete's career ends.

An honest, unfiltered conversation with one of the most influential Romanians of his generation.

🎙️ Voices of Romania is the official podcast of Romania Insider, the largest English-language media platform covering Romania.

Produced by Romania-Insider.com | Host: Radu Dumitrescu

📬 Website: Romania-Insider.com
📲 Follow: Instagram • TikTok • LinkedIn (Romania Insider)
🤝 Partnerships & guest pitches: dylan@romania-insider.com

📝 Disclaimer: Opinions are those of the guests, not necessarily Romania-Insider.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

#4 - Dan Ștefan - Autonom - Coming Home to Build Big

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 05:26:29 +0000

He left France to build in Romania — CEO Dan Ștefan on founding Autonom, near-collapse, scaling with his brother, and why Romania is still a real bet.

In this episode of Voices of Romania, Dylan Delhommois sits down with Dan Ștefan, CEO and co-founder of Autonom, for an unfiltered conversation on the real entrepreneur journey: the early chaos, the near-collapse, the bets that scaled the company, and why Romania is still one of the biggest bets you can make with your life. Recorded on the ground at Autonom HQ.

📝 Disclaimer: Opinions are those of the guests, not necessarily Romania-Insider.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

#3 - Andra Ghibuțiu - Beyond Business School - Building Leaders in Romania

Mon, 22 Dec 2025 07:09:28 +0000

On a Friday night in Bucharest, classrooms fill with founders, managers, and future CEOs who chose learning over going out. At the center of this energy is Andra Ghibuțiu, CEO and co-founder of Beyond Business School, a fast-track executive program built in Romania for Romania. We talk about what is broken in traditional education, how communities create leaders, and why Romania is the right place to build ambitious schools for the next decade.

What we cover

Origins: from law and advisory work to community building and events
The spark for Beyond and why a weekend, fast-track EMBA format works
How 60+ CEOs and entrepreneurs teach and mentor inside the program
Too much theory, not enough practice: what changes on Monday morning
Romania as a place to build and the case for returning from the diaspora
Expansion to South-East Europe and what will travel from the RO model
Personal lessons: doubt, resilience, and one small change for next week

📝 Disclaimer: Opinions are those of the guests, not necessarily Romania-Insider.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

#2 - Serge Ioan Celibidachi - The Yellow Tie / Cravata Galbena - Growing Up Celibidachi

Wed, 03 Dec 2025 09:32:01 +0000

It has been two weeks since Cravata galbenă / The Yellow Tie opened in Romanian cinemas. Director Serge Ioan Celebidachi, son of the legendary conductor Sergiu Celibidache, joins Voices of Romania for a candid, on-the-ground conversation about legacy, fatherhood, and turning a personal story into a national film. We cover premieres and audience reactions, the weight of a famous name, choosing directing, working with John Malkovich, Sean Bean, and Ben Schnetzer, building a large production entirely in Romania, and the question that remains when the lights come on: Would his father have loved this film?

What we cover

Two weeks in cinemas: posters, queues, surprising reactions Growing up as Celibidachi’s son: shield or weight, identity beyond music

Deciding to make the film: fear, truth, first moment seeing Malkovich as Sergiu

Directing choices, tough days on set, why the production stayed in Romania

What surprised Malkovich, Bean, and Schnetzer while filming in Romania

Diaspora and legacy: bringing Sergiu Celibidache back home

After release: responsibility as son and director, the one sentence for every cinema

📝 Disclaimer: Opinions are those of the guests, not necessarily Romania-Insider.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

#1 - Calin Matei - Groupama Romania - Scaling With Discipline, Not Ego

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 07:00:29 +0000

What does it take to lead with optimism in an ever-changing business landscape?

Join us in this enlightening episode of Voices of Romania, where host Dylan Delhommois sits down with the inspiring Calin Matei, the CEO of Groupama Asigurări Romania. Together, they explore the evolution of leadership during uncertain times, focusing on the critical elements of trust, adaptability, and the power of personal connections.

Calin takes us on her remarkable journey from technical roles to the helm of a major insurance company, providing invaluable insights into the significance of support and mentorship in leadership. The conversation dives deep into the challenges faced during the complex merger of three companies, shedding light on the intricacies of cultural integration and the paramount importance of clear communication in fostering a cohesive work environment.

As the discussion unfolds, Calin shares her vision for the future of the insurance industry, particularly the transformative role of AI. She advocates for innovative solutions that genuinely benefit both employees and clients, emphasizing the need for businesses to embrace technology while maintaining a human touch. This episode is not just about leadership; it’s about how to navigate the waves of change with a proactive mindset.

Listeners will gain practical insights into the importance of fostering a culture of optimism and responsibility in their own professional lives. Calin's reflections on the potential of Romania's market serve as a powerful reminder that opportunities are abundant for those willing to seize them. Her message is clear: we must embrace optimism and take charge of our futures, no matter the challenges that lie ahead.

Join us for this thought-provoking episode of Voices of Romania, where you’ll learn how to cultivate resilience, foster innovation, and lead with purpose in a world that demands adaptability. Whether you are a seasoned leader or just starting your career, this conversation will inspire you to rethink your approach to leadership and embrace the opportunities that await.

Don’t miss out on this engaging dialogue that promises to empower and motivate. Tune in now and discover how the principles of trust and adaptability can transform your leadership journey!

Produced by Romania-Insider.com | Host: Dylan Delhommois

📬 Website: Romania-Insider. com
📲 Follow: Instagram • TikTok • LinkedIn (Romania Insider)
🤝 Partnerships & guest pitches: dylan@romania-insider. com

📝 Disclaimer: Opinions are those of the guests, not necessarily Romania-Insider.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.