Leasing companies focus on medical services and infrastructure

Players on the leasing market expect a drop of at least 40 percent in this sector in 2009.

The Romanian leasing market fell three percent in 2008, to an estimated total of €4.817 billion, after previous years brought increases of over 45 percent. “We will direct our portfolio towards viable sectors, the medical sector, infrastructure, and niche sectors, communications, agriculture. The latter will be a success only if the government provides subsidies and sustainable programs for farmers,” said Mihaela Mateescu, head of Raiffeisen Leasing.

The level of repossessed goods rose 300 percent at Raiffeisen Leasing in the first part of this year compared to the same period in 2008. “We repossessed over 200 goods this year, compared to 50 goods last year, due to the crisis, the exchange rate and the freeze on salaries. I believe the market will fall 60-70 percent in 2009,” Mateescu said.

“I expect the market to drop 40 percent in 2009, but nothing is certain because this business is like a lottery,” said the head of UniCredit Leading, Dan Constantinescu.