The booming development in modern forms of trade in recent years may be curbed next year following a government decision on retail to come into effect this week that will introduce a series of restrictions and formalities.
Large retail structures - structures with a sales area of over 1,000 square metres - will need to be licensed by a special commission starting by the middle of this month and in line with Government Decision no. 1454/2004. The commission does not yet exist and according to the decision will need at least another three months to become functional.
In effect, the three months could become a longer period of time, according to traders, which would hinder the starting of constructions planned for the second half of 2005 or the first half of 2006.
"I do not believe too many licences will be granted for large structures by the middle of next year. In this case, I see a time gap of at least six months during which almost nothing will be built, at least when it comes to large stores," said Dan Viorel Sucu, chairman of the Mobexpert group of firms.
Francois Oliver, general manager of the Carrefour network in Romania, which announced a pace of development of two stores per year, is pessimistic as to the impact of this regulation.
"The law is good, being in fact a step forward in aligning Romanian legislation to EU standards. I do not think, however, that it is well-timed. In Europe, this law was adopted in order to help stall large area developments, but in Romania this type of commercial areas has barely emerged," explained Oliver.
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