Solutions must be found after the two cyber attacks, PM Grindeanu says. At least an ATM in each village

Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu said on Monday that two cyber attacks have taken place this month and the best solutions must be found for the benefit of the citizens and of the economy.

“Two cyber attacks have taken place this month. They shocked the entire world and showed us we have to be better prepared and be more efficient. I am aware of the banks’ interest for the use of the new technologies and I can tell you we have the same objectives. We need to capitalize on the solutions for the citizens and for the Romanian economy,” Grindeanu said during the Financial Market Forum in Bucharest, organized by the Romanian Banks Association (ARB).

The Premier praised the initiative to build an inter-ministerial working group, to include banking representatives, to prepare the process. “It would be a pity to miss the opportunities, especially that Romania is ongoing a good economic period,” he said, stressing the largest economic growth in the EU registered by Romania in the first quarter.

In his speech, the Prime Minister spoke about the vision for 2020, as everyone sees a dynamic, prosperous Romania, connected to the European infrastructure.

Grindeanu added that better financial-banking education for the population is needed. “We should use the advantage technology brings. The school should increase the level of financial education and here comes your part, to better explain the instruments and the advantages in the areas where banking has a small coverage,” the Premier said.

At least an ATM in every village

PM Grindeanu told the bankers that rural areas should be modernised and that each village should have at least one ATM. “Rural Romania is less attractive financially, but time has come to have in the countryside, besides the church, the village hall, the school, also an ATM in each village and commune. I don’t ask you to volunteer, but I ask you to consider the huge potential of the rural areas where half of Romania’s population lives and which has unlimited opportunities,” the Premier said.