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The
Agency for Financing Rural Investments (AFIR) told Reuters it
began using robots from software automation company UiPath a
little over two years ago.
The robots have taken over the time-consuming tasks of tapping
state databases to procure land registry and judicial records
for farmers, entrepreneurs and state institutions applying for
EU funds.
"AI-based automation plays an extremely important part in
speeding key processes for farmers and making them more
efficient," AFIR director George Chirita said.
Since it began using robots, the agency has handled financing
requests worth 5.32 billion euros ($5.75 billion) from more than
50,000 farmers, companies and local institutions, it told
Reuters in written comments.
Robots have saved roughly 784 days worth of document searches
for AFIR staff, it said. The agency has disbursed 21 billion
euros worth of funds over two decades.
Although Romania has emerged as one of Europe's most active
technology hubs, with a highly skilled labor pool, it still lags
many other European nations in offering digital public services
for citizens and business and has struggled to tap billions of
euros in EU development funds.
Eurostat data showed only 28% of Romanians had at least basic
digital skills in 2023, below the EU average of 54%. Digital
public services for citizens and businesses ranked at 45
compared with the EU average of 84.
UiPath, the Romanian company valued at $13.3 billion after going
public on the New York Stock Exchange, told Reuters it has
delivered automation services to other farming agencies
including in Norway and the United States.
($1 = 0.9252 euros)
(Reporting by Luiza Ilie; Editing by Sharon Singleton)
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