The Romanain PC market advanced a modest 5.9% in volume and 6.9% in value last year, but IDC analysts believe things will radically change this year, when a 30% growth is predicted.
IDC analyst Calin Mirea believes notebooks will drive the market growth this year amid a slight setback on the desktop segment. Intensified retail, structural funds, public contracts, small- and medium-sized enterprise growth, cheaper technology and economic growth will be the main growth factors.
Another trend predicted by IDC consists in the artificial inflation of the value of the IT hardware market in Romania as a result of the depreciation of the USD against the RON. Last year, the PC market in Romania amounted to 503,93 million USD from 643,812 sold units.
As for services, IDC estimates an 18% annual growth rate between 2007 and 2011. The market value will get close to 640 million USD in 2011. The market will be strongly influenced by the SME growth and access to EU funds.