Business Review

After Romanian exports posted an encouraging 22.5 percent growth in the first 11 months of last year on the same period of 2010, companies are now facing a rough ride as the looming recession in the European Union, Romania’s main export destination, threatens their foreign sales. Emerging markets outside the EU are luring local companies but to what extent are they a viable alternative?

Simona Bazavan

Romania has gained visibility in the domain of climate change, through the Romanian Atmospheric 3D Research Observatory (RADO), built with the help of a Norwegian grant and inagurated this October.

Ovidiu Posirca

This year’s list includes deals that have been completed in 2011, involving law firms that advised on the transaction at a local or international level. The M&A market has seen an active presence from investment funds this year. Oresa Ventures acquired a manufacturing plant, while private equity fund Innova Capital gained an operator on the card market. Investment fund GED snapped up a minority stake in a Romanian hotel chain, while New Europe Property Investments (NEPI) also sealed deals on the local market.

Ovidiu Posirca

The Romanian tisanes and tea market has grown this year and is expected to do so even more by yearend, as the cold weather is exactly the industry’s cup of tea. A consequence of changes in lifestyle and consumption habits during the happier times before the crisis, sales volumes are estimated to continue brewing, going up by about 5 percent in 2012.

Simona Bazavan

Romania has taken some of Europe’s toughest austerity measures in the last two years, and the process is ongoing. However, the lack of any stimulus for companies may cripple the economic growth of 2 percent forecast for 2012, although the flexible workforce could prove to be a valuable asset. These were among the pronouncements made by members of the foreign investors’ community who gathered last week at the Foreign Investors Forum organized by Business Review.

Ovidiu Posirca

Romania will be able to weather the financial storm and meet its growth targets, President Traian Basescu has confidently declared. The former naval officer compared Romania to a ship that has to respect its contract and get to its destination despite the conditions. This was among the pronouncements made at a conference organized last week by The Economist Group on Romania's economic potential.

Ovidiu Posirca, Simona Bazavan

After expanding production capacity with the help of a Norwegian grant, UTTIS Industries, a Romanian manufacturer of industrial heating equipment, is looking to access the Russian market.

Ovidiu Posirca

A EUR 1.88 million project is currently being implemented by the Romanian National Agency for Cadastre and Land Registration (ANCPI) to improve its capacity to produce geographical information and thus contribute to a more secure real estate market for investors and individuals alike.

Simona Bazavan

No major French investor has left Romania in the past couple of years and there have even been newcomers like Axa Insurance and Leroy Merlin. This shows that firms from the Hexagon have built solid businesses here and are realistic about the potential of the Romanian economy, argued company representatives attending the third annual French Business Forum, organized by BR last week.

Simona Bazavan

The past year has been no vie en rose for French companies active in Romania, but despite the slowdown, investors from the Hexagon have kept their sangfroid. BR takes a look at the way some of the largest French investors in Romania have handled their business in the past year.

Simona Bazavan