Renault will invest some 2.2 billion euro until 2010 in the Technical Center in the Romanian city of Titu, a facility that will employ 22,500 people. The construction works for the new center begun on Thursday, Romanian president Traian Basescu and Prime Minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu participating in the event, along with French company officials.

Tariceanu spoke about the importance of the investment, given the fact that one job in the car industry generates four other jobs in spare parts and components production.

President Traian Basescu pointed that 80,000 cars were exported to France and 60,000 to Germany, out of the 230,000 cars produced in 2007, proving that Renault became a competitive company, even for such exacting markets.

The new Renault plant will employ some 3,000 engineers, along with the 2,00 engineers who already work for Renault in Bucharest and Pitesti.

Renault also opened in May the Design Center for Central Europe, as part of its larger development project.