IT investments by companies will increase by 23 per cent in 2007 as compared to last year, according to a survey made public by CIO Council association.

For this year, priorities will be the “business intelligence” applications, the infrastructure management and development and the enterprise applications (Enterprise Resource Planning – ERP, Customer Relationship Management - CRM).

“The high rate of IT investment growth in Romania, 23 per cent, may be explained by the extensive development of companies, but also by the fact that an increasing number of companies understand that the IT segment is critical to their growth,” Enescu pointed out.

According to the survey, competition in the local market is growing tougher. Last year, 85 per cent of the companies eyed increase rates higher than the market growth rates, and for this year the figure is 75 per cent.

''CIO Agenda in Romania Survey is based on answers given by 25 IT managers of the largest companies in the country, which manage a combined IT budget of EUR 270 M, and total revenues of EUR 15 bln,” said CIO Council chairman Felix Enescu.