• The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MADR) has launched a draft Government Decision for public consultation that brings significant adjustments to the National Program for the Development and Support of the Food Industry INVESTALIM (2023–2026).
The initiative aims to consolidate the Romanian agri-food sector by facilitating access to financing, simplifying procedures and providing a more flexible framework for the implementation of investments.
What changes does the project bring?
The draft regulatory act proposes several changes aimed at meeting the needs of producers and processors in the food industry:
- Extension of implementation deadlines: Beneficiaries will have more time to complete projects, especially those involving complex retrofitting processes or the construction of new processing units. This measure is designed to ensure the successful completion of strategic investments.
- More transparent and fair rules: The new provisions will also apply to beneficiaries who already have signed funding agreements, thus guaranteeing uniform treatment for all program participants.
- Simplifying bureaucracy: By revising the articles of Government Decision No. 844/2023, MARD aims to eliminate administrative obstacles, facilitating access to available funds.
"Through these changes, we support Romanian producers and processors who invest in modern processing units and in the re-engineering of production flows. Our objective is to consolidate the food industry, reduce dependence on imports and increase the competitiveness of Romanian products both on the domestic market and in exports", declared the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Florin-Ionuț Barbu.
INVESTALIM: Strategic program for the food industry
Launched in 2023, the INVESTALIM Program, with a total budget of 590 million euros, represents one of the main pillars of the MARD strategy for the modernization and development of the Romanian food industry. The program supports investments in competitive and sustainable processing units, with a focus on reducing dependence on imports and promoting domestic products on international markets.
To date, 20 financing agreements have been approved, and seven more payment requests are expected by the end of 2025. To support these commitments, MARD has allocated the necessary funds in the 2025 budget, demonstrating its strong commitment to the continuation and expansion of the program.
Encouraging investment
INVESTALIM was designed to address the challenges in the agri-food sector, where Romania still imports a significant amount of processed food products. The program encourages investments in modern technologies, which will allow processors to offer high-quality products, competitive both on the domestic market and for export. The initiative also contributes to the creation of new jobs and the development of the rural economy, by supporting enterprises in the agri-food chain.
The public consultation launched by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MADR) is an essential step to ensure that the proposed changes reflect the real needs of beneficiaries. Producers, processors and other stakeholders are encouraged to submit proposals and observations to help shape a more efficient and accessible program.
Article source: MADR Press Release
Article written by Gabriela Dan, Editor-in-Chief Arta Albă
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