The volume of orders the largest German industrial group Siemens has contracted or is about to from the Romanian railway companies is of approximately 740 million euros, according to the latest available data. Besides the ongoing commercial contract with CFR Calatori and worth 321 million euros, the Germans have three more orders in store: the option in the contract with CFR Calatori for a further batch of 104 self-propelled trains estimated to 300 million euros, an order for equipping a number of railway stations with electronic centralisation systems and the delivery of 40 diesel engines to CFR Marfa.
Strategically speaking, the German group has built a powerful position on the Romanian market in two fields: the railway and the energy sectors. Over the last three years, the contracts signed have enabled the Germans to take a significant lead over their international competitors operating on this market, Alstom (France) and General Motors (US). The state-run railway companies need to upgrade their infrastructure and Siemens has fully capitalised on this opportunity.
"Siemens is interested in having a significant position on the Romanian market. Romania could see the same development as Switzerland on this segment, which has as an entirely profitable railway industry," Adrian Baicusi, general manager of Siemens SRL, the local branch of the German group told Ziarul Financiar. The German group was invited by PM Adrian Nastase last fall to consider participating in the privatisation of Electroputere Craiova, but has kept out of this business, so far.
Siemens in 2001 signed the biggest deal in the domestic railway industry after 1989. Its partner was CFR Calatori and the funding was secured by the State. The contract was closed for 120 self-propelled Desiro trains to be delivered by 2007, 57 of which set to come from Germany and the rest set to be assembled at Astra Vagoane Arad. The contract was worth 321 million euros and the value of the order might double soon.
"The contract concluded with Siemens has a provision that allows us to order another 104 self-propelled trains, if we are satisfied with their performance. In case we opt for the additional order, it should be filled as soon as the current batch of trains is delivered," Valentin Bota, general manager of CFR Calatori explains.
He added Siemens had signed the contract as a result of a tender it had won back in 1995-1996. The signing of the contract started producing effects last year, when the local branch of the group was expecting turnover to triple to 240 million euros, mainly because of the deal with CFR Calatori.
adrian.mirsanu@zf.ro
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