Timiș County Council evaluates AEM factory purchase

Alfred Simonis, President of the Timiș County Council, has expressed interest in the former AEM factory site in Timișoara but noted that current Romanian legislation limits the ability of local administrations to engage in profit-seeking business ventures. Simonis suggested that legislative changes are necessary to allow public institutions to generate revenue through private-sector style investments, a practice common in developed nations.

The discussion follows a proposal by county councilor Marcel Mihoc to have the council purchase the bankrupt AEM factory to restart production, specifically for gas meters. The property, which includes six hectares in central Timișoara, has seen its asking price reduced from 50 million to 25 million euros. While Mihoc argues the investment could be recouped within three years and aims to protect traditional industry from real estate speculators, Simonis maintains that the 25 million euro price tag remains high given the land's industrial legal status and potential constraints.