CAPA in Romania

Although Romanian banks will lend money to small businesses, almost no one goes there. Why? One reason is that they usually lend money only to those who already have it – which eliminates a lot of small businesses. As well, the requirements for getting a loan are so stringent that few qualify. Finally, most Romanians find banks to be impersonal and uncaring.

CAPA, on the other hand, is anxious to assist entrepreneurs who have good business plans and are willing to take initiative. "Our approach is different – it's not you need us, so take it or leave it, but we can work together," says Cristina Plescan, a loan officer in Cluj. "We are there to work with and support clients." Adrian Chindris, who directs CAPA's Cluj office, takes it a step further.

"We have a mission deep in our hearts to help people change our country," he says.

Legally registered in 1997 as a non-profit foundation to support small entrepreneurs, CAPA (Creditar, Asisenta, si Pregatire pentru Afaceri Foundation) has a head office in Bucharest and branch offices in Cluj, Craiova, Constanta and Iasi.

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"We are content"

Among those who have benefitted from CAPA are Monica and Arpad Rosias, who own a machine shop in Cluj. The couple, who have two children, employ 15 full-time and 24 part-time employees. They were approved for a loan to buy raw materials to fill all the contracts that were coming their way.

"We have to work very hard," says Monica, comparing life today to that before the revolution. "But we are content. We're using our education and training and seeing our business grow.

"We're glad we learned about CAPA. It's good to know there's somewhere for small businesses like ours to go for help."

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June 19, 2008 CAPA update.