How BNR explains the decrease in foreign direct investments in Romania in the first semester of 2026 / Leonardo Badea: "A signal that cannot be ignored"

Foreign direct investments (FDI) in Romania recorded a significant decrease in the first half of 2026, totaling 669 million euros, compared to 3.72 billion euros in the same period of 2025, according to the BNR.

Leonardo Badea, the first deputy governor of the BNR, explained that this decrease is driven by the distribution of dividends, a reduction in operational profitability, and a specific conjuncture. According to the BNR official, FDI contributes to financing the current account deficit, but in the context of their decline, there is a shift towards instruments that will increase external debt.

Additionally, reinvested profits had a negative balance of 1.124 billion euros, suggesting that the distributed dividends exceeded the realized profit, according to the first deputy governor. Furthermore, Leonardo Badea mentioned that the decrease in 2026 is more pronounced than in previous years, highlighting the importance of European funds in this context.

He also pointed out that a retail transaction has also influenced capital participations, and confidence in the business climate remains essential for attracting FDI.