“The 2008 increase may seem modest compared to that registered in 2007, which far exceeded 100 percent. However, we must say that 2007 was, on the one hand, the year when the Calarasi glass factory and the new Ploiesti-based fiberglass production line started their activity, and on the other hand, the year when new companies – and I refer mainly to Rigips Romania – were integrated into the Saint-Gobain group,” said Olivier Lluansi, Saint-Gobain’s General Manager for Southeastern Europe.
The French group invested €26.6 mln in Romania last year, raising the total level of investments to over €231 mln.
“Of course, we have also been somewhat affected by the crisis, but the impact is not catastrophic. The final quarter in 2008 was indeed weaker, below the expected level, but we already have signs that the market is beginning to rebound, as people realize that this crisis is not the end of the world. Moreover, the downturn makes people more careful in terms of reducing energy consumption, with European regulations beginning to have an impact in this matter, and our basic products are perfectly adequate for this purpose,” Lluansi added.
