The Romanian state, together with the German company Rheinmetall, the largest European weapons producer, will build a powder factory for ammunition worth 535 million euros in our country, the Ministry of Economy, Digitalization, Entrepreneurship and Tourism (MEDAT) announced on Wednesday in a press release sent to AGERPRES.

'Today, in Germany, as a representative of the Romanian Government, Minister Radu Mirută finalized the contractual framework for the realization, in Victoria (Brasov County), of a strategic investment: a powder factory for ammunition, built from scratch, which has the chance to be the most efficient in the world', the cited source shows.

The signing ceremony took place in the presence of Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger and high-ranking officials: NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, German Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil, Bulgarian President Rumen Radev.

MEDAT specifies that 'several intense weeks of discussions and negotiations, of serious work, with respect for partners, but with the firmness to defend Romania's interests' took place.

'When I took office, I found a contract with commercial provisions considered 'nailed in'. I could not accept less advantageous conditions than we have today for Romania. Today, we demonstrated that, if you negotiate correctly and firmly, even what others said was impossible can be changed,' declared Economy Minister Radu Miruta, quoted in the press release.

According to the minister, by reopening the discussions and invoking symmetrical commercial principles, Romania obtained: veto rights over major decisions; mandatory involvement of Romanian suppliers in the project; fair license costs; clearly quantified participation for the Romanian state.

Compared to the contractual form taken over by the current minister, the negotiations led to savings for the Romanian state of over 93 million euros.

'This result was possible with the support of the Presidential Administration and the Prime Minister, but also thanks to a team of trained professionals, and the Minister's advisor on development issues, Remus Cotut, who has earned the respect of his German partners,' the statement added.

Construction of the ammunition powder factory will begin next year, will last three years and will create 700 direct jobs in the area.

Thus, Romania ensures the raw materials necessary for the arms industry and a role as a relevant regional player in the field.

'This is the reason why I insist that professionals be at the helm of state-owned companies: so that strategic investments like this have the right framework and people. I will not give in. And I will not give in when it comes to Romania's interests,' Minister Radu Miruta also said.AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Cristian Angelache, editing by: Nicoleta Gherasi; EN - writing by: Catalin Cristian Trandafir)