Economy, Digitalization, Entrepreneurship and Tourism Minister Irineu Darau said in Cluj on Tuesday that the current political crisis is not helping anyone and is affecting the economy of the country.

'There are crises which can be avoided, which are unnecessary, a political crisis at this moment in Romania is absolutely unnecessary. Our responsibility, of those who are in power, is very great. The fact that some choose to push us into an additional crisis, which will increase costs for entrepreneurs, for ordinary people, country costs in terms of loans, it is not a necessary crisis at all, it is not unavoidable and this is why it would be best, that, at the eleventh hour, there is a return to wisdom and responsibility, because we are in two non-electoral years. Who benefits now from a kind of electoral fight that will compromise our chances of relaunching? We all want a relaunch after this budget clean-up,' Irineu Darau said.

He added that there is a risk that, after several months of local political crisis compounded by the international fuel crisis, 'our economy could be very seriously affected.'

'I do not know how many of those who take such decisions to generate crises think about the Romanian entrepreneur who struggles from one day to the next. They should think more often about that, about those who produce value in the country and who also pay the salaries of those in the public sector and keep the entire state budget going,' Irineu Darau added.

On the other hand, the Economy minister also stressed that Romania has significant potential and many opportunities.

'It is good that many serious Western companies are interested in producing here. I believe we have countless opportunities for partnerships between private companies in Romania, private companies in the West and state-owned companies where applicable, I believe we have human capital that is respected across Europe (...) and we have a pre-existing industrial base. What we must not do is become complacent, think we can get through this period without significant innovation, without changing the way we do things, both in private companies and even more so in state-owned companies. But I believe the potential is here, I see strong interest from many companies and investors to come to Romania, to make direct investments and this will represent net value, a net opportunity for all Romanian companies,' the Economy minister said.

Irineu Darau participated on Tuesday in an international event dedicated to defence technologies and cybersecurity, organised by the German-Speaking Business Club of Northern Transylvania (DWNT) and the Romania United Foundation.

Also attending the event, among others, was National Defence Minister Radu Miruta. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Marius Septimiu Avram; EN - writing by: Rodica State)