Investments in the Romanian economy went up by 17.8% in the first half of this year, to 20.43 billion RON, compared with the same period in 2006, according to data published yesterday by the INS.

Romania's Gross Domestic Product increased by 5.8% in real terms in the first half of this year against a 7.4% rise for the same period in 2006, with the GDP put at 155.244 billion RON, the National Statistics Institute (INS) announced yesterday.

The economic growth registered in the second quarter of this year, against the same period in 2006, stood at 5.6%, with the GDP valued at 86.746 billion RON, according to an INS release.

In the first quarter of this year, the economy progresses by 6%, with the GDP valued at 68,498 billion RON.

The estimated value of the GDP for the first six months of 2006 stood at 136.908 billion RON.

Investments in the Romanian economy went up by 17.8% in the first half of this year, to 20.43 billion RON, compared with the same period in 2006, according to data published yesterday by the INS. The value of new construction works increased by 31.1% between January and June 2007, to a value of 10.27 billion RON, with transport and equipment acquisitions witnessing an increase of 2.9% to 8.9 billion RON, indicates an INS release.

The share of new construction works in overall investments increased from 44.4% in the first six months of 2006, to 50.3% in the same period this year, while the share held by equipment fell from 50.9% to 43.7%.

Industrial production climbed by 6.3% seven months into the year, a rise sustained by the manufacturing industry, while the electrical and heating industries, as well as the gas, water and extraction industries registered declines, according to the same release.

In terms of large industrial categories, growth was posted in the industries of intermediate goods (10.0%), capital goods (8.3%), consumer goods (7.4%) and durable goods (2.0%).