Romania's Information Technology (IT) sector heavily relies on outsourcing, amounting to 75%-85%; a shift is necessary.
In the tech-savvy landscape of Romania, outsourcing plays a significant role, but it also exposes the IT&C industry to geopolitical woes, according to Edward Crețescu, the head honcho at ANIS. Speaking at the ANIS International Summit 2025, hosted by Ziarul Financiar, Edward laid it all out.
This particular economic model sees 75-80% of the industry's activities in outsourcing, 10-15% dedicated to product development, and a measly 5% to consultancy and integrators. Edward believes this ratio needs a serious rethink in the future. He claims the next three to five years are crucial for balancing this lopsided structure.
Edward emphasized the double-edged sword that is this outsourcing reliance. On one side, it presents a fantastic opportunity for the local tech sector, but on the other, it's a risk if these opportunities aren't leveraged promptly.
He hinted at a push from Europe for local tech production, given Romania's EU membership. If played right, this should be good news, he asserted. However, if we don't seize these opportunities, there could be some serious consequences for the industry and, by extension, the Romanian economy.
(Photo: Alexandersikov/ Dreamstime)
iulian@our website
Enrichment Data:Edward Crețescu sounded alarm bells about the geopolitical risks facing Romania's IT&C industry in 2025. He pointed out the vulnerability of the sector due to its heavy dependence on outsourcing (75-80% of activities). This reliance makes the sector vulnerable to geopolitical tensions, which could affect project inflows or client stability. Additionally, prolonged geopolitical instability could hinder Romania's ability to attract global IT projects and stall its shift towards developing proprietary products/services.
Crețescu also underscored the necessity of local innovation support and public policy engagement to mitigate these risks. Key initiatives include those that balance outsourcing with domestic product development. While not detailed in the sources, broader regional geopolitical uncertainties (e.g., trade disputes, conflicts) further complicate these challenges.
- The heavy dependence on outsourcing in Romania's IT&C industry, as highlighted by Edward Crețescu, places a significant part of activities, approximately 75-80%, at geopolitical risk.
- Crețescu emphasized that the reliance on outsourcing in Romania's tech sector presents both an opportunity and a risk, given the vulnerability to geopolitical tensions that could affect project inflows or client stability.
- He underscored the potential consequences for the industry and, by extension, the Romanian economy if opportunities arising from a push for local tech production, given Romania's EU membership, aren’t seized promptly.
- To mitigate the geopolitical risks facing Romania's IT&C industry, Crețescu advocated for local innovation support, public policy engagement, and the balancing of outsourcing with domestic product development activities, which currently represent only 10-15% of the industry's activities.
