President Iohannis encourages Swiss investments in Romania

President Klaus Iohannis, at a joint news conference Thursday with the President of the Swiss Confederation Alain Berset, on an official visit to Bucharest, encouraged the Swiss investments in Romania, emphasizing the need to boost the commercial exchanges between the two countries. 

"As for the bilateral relationship, I appreciated their dynamic and profoundness finding at the same time, the need for a better capitalization of the current potential. In context, I have identified certain priority development paths, such as collaboration in culture, education, research and innovation. I used this opportunity to encourage the Swiss investments in Romania. Currently, Switzerland ranks 11th among the foreign investors," Iohannis stressed. 

He underlined the need to boost the commercial exchanges, showing that their level is good, of over EUR 850 million. 

"Around 30,000 Romanian nationals live in Switzerland, most of them highly qualified, highly prepared, very well integrated and I believe we could say that they contribute to the development of the Swiss's economy and society," he said. 

Iohannis appreciated the Swiss financial contribution to the programmes carried out regarding the European Union's cohesion, specifying that so far it was worth Swiss Francs 180 million in projects in Romania regarding the borders' security, the local and regional management capacity, the upgrading of the judicial system, of the environment and infrastructure, the private sector's promotion, export included, as well as the social development and of the human resources. 

"I voiced my contentment for the until now programmes and my hope that things will go on in a positive manner," Iohannis asserted. 

He mentioned that the talks have also aimed at the future rotating presidency of Romania to the EU Council, and at the EU enlargement process, as well. 

"Romania will undoubtedly watch actively the negotiations regarding the signing of an institutional agreement-framework between the European Union and Switzerland, and of course to us it is important the new financial contribution of Switzerland to the EU cohesion Funds. I stressed the attention we pay to strengthening the role of the EU in the global multilateral architecture, and to the regional cooperation, too, I have addressed topics such as the Western Balkans and the Eastern Neighbourhood, and aspects connected to the Black Sea region. I specified that Romania will stay firmly committed in the furthering of the EU enlargement process, this enlargement process that contributes to the stability, prosperity and security of the European Union and Europe, in the broad sense that obviously includes Switzerland," President Iohannis concluded.