Business people expect consumption rebound

Mihai Marcu, MedLife shareholder, Melania Hancila, chief economist at Volksbank, Cornel Popa, partner at Tuca Zbarcea & Asociatii law firm, Dragos Rosca, CEO of investment fund Gemisa Investments, and Mihai Sfintescu, investment manager of 3TS Capital Partners talked at ZF's Expert meeting about the economic recovery they are expecting this year, about the steps that the Government should take and about Pitesti, the "only city that works" in terms of consumption.

"The macroeconomic situation is not very rosy at present. If we do see economic growth this year, it will not exceed 1%. But 1% growth does not mean much if we look at last year's steep decline. People are cautious, they are waiting to see what steps the Government will take. Private sector players do not see anything budging, no concrete measures being taken by the Government, so they put off investments," believes Melania Hancila, Volksbank's chief-economist.

All five business people that took part in ZF's editorial meeting agreed that consumption rebound would begin this year, with the trend to become apparent especially in the second half of the year.