Romania proposes ‘Diaspora Investește Acasă’ business program

The Romanian government is debating a legislative proposal titled ‘Diaspora Investește Acasă’ (Diaspora Invests Home), aimed at encouraging citizens living abroad to return and start businesses in Romania. The program proposes providing up to 200,000 euros to eligible applicants who have resided abroad for at least 24 consecutive months in the last five years and commit to living in Romania for a minimum of five years.

While some reports describe the initiative as a non-reimbursable grant, other analyses suggest the program functions primarily as a state-guaranteed bank loan. Under this model, beneficiaries would be required to repay the full amount plus interest over a 10-year period. Critics warn that social media promotion may be misleading by omitting the financial risks and repayment obligations associated with the credit.

To qualify, applicants must present a viable business plan in priority sectors such as IT, agriculture, tourism, manufacturing, education, or healthcare. Funding is expected to come from the state budget and European funds, such as the PNRR or structural funds.