Romania has been urged to make sure it continues to implement various structural reforms in its business sector.

According to Arabela Aprahamian, private sector development specialist at the World Bank, this could be vital for ensuring it remains competitive on a global scale, reports Financiarul.

She said pressing ahead with various changes would also help the eastern European nation continue to weather the worldwide financial crisis.

Investing in innovation was flagged up as one priority that the government should focus on, as well as upgrading its transport and telecommunications networks.

Ms Aprahamian added that that modernising the labour market and putting more money into the human resources sector would also be a prudent move.

The comments come after official figures cited by Reuters show that the Romanian central bank is expecting inflation to go up next year.

Forecasts for 2009 have been raised from 4.2 per cent to 4.5 per cent.