The economy has a contraction of between 30 and 40%, and after the peak of the epidemic has been reached and this crisis could enter a downward slope we want to have the measures ready for the economic recovery, said Economy Minister Virgil Popescu on Radio Romania on Monday.

“We are obviously affected, very affected. The economy has actually slowed down, we can say that it has already contracted between 30 and 40%… In the period immediately after Easter we would reach the peak of the epidemic, after which we could speak of a downward slope of this crisis, a downward slope in which we want to already have the measures ready for the recovery of the economy,” said Virgil Popescu, according to Agerpres.

He mentioned that the areas most affected by the pandemic are tourism, HoReCa, transport, as well as the auto industry, which was stopped.

“Easy by easy, the car industry seems to be recovering. It is a wonderful thing. We have received signals from the field, from the horizontal car industry, from the components, that startup scenarios are being considered. A big manufacturer from Romania, starting today, April 13, in Târgu Jiu, in Caransebeş and in Drobeta Turnu Severin, makes car wiring. I have the information, including from Dacia that they are preparing to restart with the 21st the production in the engine area and with fewer employees, but production will start, also with the companies I mentioned before, however, we still have areas that are badly hit: the service industry. Think about all the companies, all the small and medium-sized businesses that have been hit directly by coronavirus and closed by military ordinances, they are currently without activity,” said Virgil Popescu.