Romania, the second-largest market in Europe for Italian construction companies, with contracts worth over €5.8 billion

42 Italian companies are present in Bucharest for the Italian Economic Mission conference, held from July 1–3, an event that brought together Italian businesses and industry associations. Eastern Europe and the Balkans (EU and non-EU) account for around 15% of the foreign turnover of Italian firms. Romania ranks first in this region. In the construction materials segment, Italian exports exceeded €3.5 billion in 2024. Orsolya Mária Kövér, State Secretary at the Ministry of Development, Public Works and Administration: “We will soon have a new legal framework that will repeal all existing urban planning and construction legislation.” Irinel Ionel Scriosteanu, State Secretary at the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure: “We plan to give increasing importance to the railway system in the coming years. Our goal is to reduce freight traffic on roads and shift it to rail infrastructure.” The conference was opened by the Italian Ambassador to Romania, H.E. Alfredo M. Durante Mangoni.   Bilateral relations between Italy and Romania in the construction sector have experienced significant growth in recent years. This is one of the reasons why 42 Italian companies and trade associations gathered in Bucharest for the Italian Economic Mission forum – “ITALY & ROMANIA: Building Together Sustainable Infrastructure”. The event focused on sustainability in infrastructure, highlighting both the challenges and opportunities tied to adopting advanced technological solutions for environmental and social sustainability.   Following the previous editions in 2022 and 2023, the conference returned to Bucharest to strengthen bilateral economic dialogue and promote new partnership opportunities in Romania’s infrastructure sector, with a focus also on neighboring markets.   “We are ready to build sustainable investment pathways with our Romanian partners – based on quality and social and environmental impact. It’s not only a political and economic priority, but a strategic one with implications for international trade, regional security, and the Black Sea. The key word is sustainability, understood as a holistic approach and a qualitative leap in the way we execute infrastructure projects,” stated H.E. Alfredo M. Durante Mangoni, Ambassador of Italy to Bucharest.   Italy’s construction industry has seen consistent growth in foreign revenues, even in increasingly competitive markets, despite a complex and constantly shifting international context. Romania, in particular, has become the second-largest European market, with over €5.8 billion in contracts awarded to Italian construction firms—many of which have had a long-standing presence in the country.   “This mission fits perfectly into Romania’s ongoing need for major investments, particularly in large-scale infrastructure, to achieve sustainable and long-term development. Italian companies, with their proven expertise, are ready to contribute meaningfully to strategic projects – from highways to railways, energy systems, and social infrastructure – all essential for the country’s growth and development,” declared Dr. Micaela Soldini, Director of the ICE – Italian Trade Agency Office in Bucharest.   Italy’s contribution is proving to be strategic in the context of Romania’s large-scale projects, such as the doubling of the national motorway network, improving links between the capital and peripheral regions, and modernizing the national railway system.   “Our member companies have helped carry out major projects in transportation – rail, road, port, airport – and overall connectivity. Energy, water, and social infrastructure sectors are also highly relevant. Eastern Europe and the Balkans account for around 15% of our foreign turnover. Romania is the leading country in this region and is strategically important, especially for the reconstruction of Ukraine,” stated Alfredo Ingletti, Vice President of OICE.   The construction materials sector, which includes companies producing hardware, façades, roofing, metalwork, sunshading systems, and other technical components, is also of significant interest.   “It is a key part of the Italian industry, highly focused on sustainability, with strong export capacity and presence on international markets. A clear example: in 2024, exports under the Caseitaly brand exceeded €3.5 billion,” said Nicola Fornarelli, FINCO Board Member and President of ACMI.   The mission took place under the umbrella of the “Growth Diplomacy” initiatives promoted by the diplomatic network and ICE offices, on the initiative of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Antonio Tajani.   The delegation was led by Vincenzo Ercole Salazar Sarsfield, Coordinator for the Promotion Abroad of the Infrastructure and Major Projects Sector within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and organized by the Italian Embassy in Romania and ICE – the Italian Trade Agency, in cooperation with the Italian Chamber of Commerce for Romania and Confindustria Romania, with the support of the associations ANCE (National Association of Builders), OICE (Association of Engineering and Architecture Companies), ANIE (Federation of Electrotechnical and Electronic Companies), and FINCO (Federation of Industries for Products, Installations, Services and Specialized Construction Works). The economic mission also hosted the exhibition CITTÀ IN SCENA. URBAN REGENERATION: THE ITALIAN WAY TO A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE, presented for the first time outside of Italy. The exhibition showcased best practices in urban regeneration developed in Italy and promoted innovation, expertise, and technology in the design of sustainable urban spaces. (Photo:https://www.facebook.com/)