Romania Unveils €100 Million Diaspora Investment Scheme to Attract Entrepreneurs Abroad
- 11 hours ago
- 2 min read
The government of Romania has introduced a €100 million financing initiative aimed at encouraging citizens living abroad to establish and grow businesses back home, in a renewed push to tap into diaspora capital and expertise.
The programme, branded “Diaspora Invests at Home,” is being rolled out by the Ministry of Finance Romania and is positioned as the country’s first structured funding mechanism exclusively targeting entrepreneurs from the Romanian diaspora.
Under the scheme, newly formed companies that are majority-owned by Romanian citizens residing outside the country will be able to access financial support packages tied to investment loans. Eligible businesses may receive grants of up to €200,000, with the funding designed to subsidise part of associated borrowing costs.
Authorities said the grants can offset as much as 60% of the value of qualifying investment loans, which will range from €5,000 to €500,000 depending on project scale and viability. The programme will be administered through the Investment and Development Bank and will run between 2026 and 2029.
To qualify, applicants must meet residency and experience requirements, including having lived outside Romania for at least 12 consecutive months within the last 18 months, alongside at least one year of relevant professional or academic background linked to the proposed business activity. Beneficiaries will also be required to retain ownership structure and maintain the investment for a minimum of three years after completion.
A personal contribution is mandatory, set at 10% of total project value, though younger entrepreneurs under 35 will benefit from a reduced threshold of 5%, a measure aimed at encouraging youth-led ventures.
Loan repayment terms under the framework may extend up to 10 years, with final maturities capped at December 31, 2037.
Interim Finance Minister Alexandru Nazare said the initiative is intended to convert diaspora skills and savings into domestic economic growth, noting that the government wants to strengthen ties with citizens abroad while expanding investment activity in key sectors of the economy.
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