Govnet

Timisoara will be European Capital of Culture in 2021

Under the slogan "Light Up the City through Yourself", Western city of Timisoara won the competition of becoming the second Romanian city elected European Capital of Culture after Sibiu. The other Romanian cities competing for the title were Bucharest, Baia Mare and Cluj-Napoca.

General

Romania ranks sixth in Europe for jobs created by foreign direct investments

A growth of 17 % compared to 2014 placed Romania on the 6th place in Europe when it comes to jobs created by foreign direct investments (FDI). In 2015 there were 12 000 jobs created by FDIs, according to Ernst & Young European Attractiveness Survey 2016.

FDIs in Europe reached their historical maximum – 5.083 projects that generated 217.666 new workplaces. Western Europe is still the most attractive hub, with 77 % of the projects, out of which 51% are hosted by UK, Germany and France.

General

The Government changes the law of packaging and managing the packaging waste

According to an emergency ordinance promoted by the Government, the operators are accountable for the waste generated by their primary, secondary and tertiary packaging, excepting the waste generated by packaging at the sales point of their products. For these, the operators that overpack individually packed products in order to sell or redistribute it, are responsible. Also, the operators that lease under any form, with professional title, the packaging, are responsible for the waste.

General

Astra Vagoane Calatori Arad starts production for electric buses and trolleybuses

After a year where the company's profit dropped to 320 000 euro comparing to 9.4 million euro the previous year, and 21.3 million euro revenue from 64.4 million euro, businessman Valer Blidar, manager of Astra Vagoane Calatori in Arad, decided to start production for electric buses and trolleybuses and hopes to double the revenue by the end of the year. “We launched two production lines, one for electric buses, and one for electric trolleybuses. I recently came back from France, where I signed a agreement with a large component producer that we will be collaborating with”, says Valer Blidar.

General

ANA Hotels announces 20 million EUR investments in expansion and consolidation

Ana Hotels, the largest hospitality company in Romania considering its revenue (28.3 million EUR in 2015, and 2.9 million EUR profit), is announcing investments worth 20 million EUR in its properties in Bucharest. The plan includes complete renovation of the rooms in Athenée Palace Hilton starting 2017, and also erecting a new hotel building with approx. 70 rooms, and a 900 sqm conference hall, both next to Hilton.

General

The Government drafts new rules for public investments' documentations

According to the government, the current technical-economical documentations for public investments, written in 2008, are inconsistent with the developing needs and are not "oriented towards the analysis of the opportunity and necessity of investment objectives", thus affecting the quality of the project and creating major difficulties in financing and implementation.

General

Nestlé and R&R Ice cream will form a new entity called Froneri

Private equity fund PAI partners, owner of R&R Ice Cream and Nestlé will form a new entity called “Froneri”. The two are some of the world's top ice cream companies and the joint venture will cover markets in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, South America and the Philippines. The deal is expected to close around the end of the year, subject to employee consultations and regulatory approval, and will employ 15 000 people.

General

Intel, world’s largest chip producer, shuts down office in Bucharest

Intel, world’s largest chip producer, shuts down its software development center in Bucharest, active since 2010. The decision follows the restructuring plan of Brian Kraznich, the new CEO, that converts the global strategy from software to hardware activities. Almost 200 IT employees will be set free in Romania, from a total of 12 000 fired worldwide, out of 107 000. The Romanian software engineers were developing and researching open source technologies and next-generation computing solutions. Intel’s independent subsidiary in Galati, Wind River, with 160 employees, will not be affected by the restructuring plan.