POLITICS

Romania's President Klaus Iohannis said that the US Vice-President, Joe Biden, voiced his satisfaction over Romania's progress with its fight against corruption

ECONOMICS

Medical staff salaries will increase by 25 per cent starting from 1 October, a rise that will benefit more than 200,000 employees in the health system, according to Mediafax

ENERGY

Due to the decrease of natural gas consumption, Romania is about to attain its independence from the natural gas imported from the Russian Federation

INFRASTRUCTURE

Softronic Craiova inaugurated last week its second multi-unit Hyperion train through a maiden voyage that left the railway station of Craiova, at 7:30 am, and arrived in Bucharest′s Northern Railway Stati...

INVESTMENTS

Sonaca Aerospace Transilvania, advised by Noerr law firm through the entire investment project, obtained from the Romanian authorities a grant in amount of 24.1 million RON (5.4 million Euro), according to a pr...

INVESTMENTS

EKR Elektrokontakt Romania, manufacturer of cabling solutions for the automotive industry and part of the German group Nexans, will receive state aid of nearly 40 million RON (almost nine million Euro) for an i...

INVESTMENTS

Romanian chemical manufacturer Chimcomplex Borzesti completed an investment of 14.35 million Euro into a unique plant in Romania in terms of energy efficiency, which allows the plant to significantly reduce uti...

INVESTMENTS

Chocolate manufacturer Heidi Chocolat opened a new production division within its factory in Bucharest, a project that was started in 2014 and is due to be completed next year, with a total investment of 15 mil...

AGRIBUSINESS

Farmers in Romania will benefit from funding of 11.1 million Euro from the European Commission, within a programme totalling 500 million Euro, intended to support European farmers affected by lower prices of po...

GREEN

Romanian authorities will ask Volkswagen to pay the difference in the environmental tax which will result from the reclassification of the engines with emissions problems, so car buyers will not be affected fro...

REAL ESTATE

Real-estate developer Skanska announced it has completed the transaction regarding the purchase of a plot over 21,000 sqm located in the central-western part of Bucharest

REPORTS

While the Romanian government gloats over the positive economic results of the past period, banks pick themselves up off the floor and try new lobby moves to regain consumers‘ trust. As lending picks up, companies seem to recover some ground, while new insolvency rules emerge in the retail and households sector, writes Bogdan Tudorache

BUSINESS LEADERS

Innovation, ambitious plans and Romanian intelligence have fuelled Teamnet Group's development over the past 14 years into one of the most important IT&C integrators in the region, with annual revenues close to 90 million Euro. The group plans to further capitalize on its vast expertise and capabilities in delivering complex products and projects, aiming to enhance its strategic development at international level

COUNTRY FOCUS

As the second largest investor in Romania, Austria has not reached the top by leaps and bounds, but by a steady and constant growth. In the context of a healing economy, Alexandra Cioboata (Lopotaru) talks to Austrian Ambassador Gerhard Reiweger and major players in order to stress the development of Austrian business community in Romania this year

SECTOR ANALYSIS

Although still in its infancy compared to other countries, Romania's operational leasing industry saw constant growth in past years and specialized companies are confident that everything will keep coming up roses in the following period, especially over the next five years when it will witness double-digit growth y-o-y. Alexandra Cioboata (Lopotaru) talks to major players to detail their development in the first half of 2015

COUNTRY FOCUS

Romania and Germany have always maintained tight economic bonds, but since the election of Klaus Iohannis as Romania's President the cooperation between countries seems to have deepened. German investors are currently more optimistic towards the future compared to previous years, but still prefer to keep a prudent eye open. Alexandra Cioboata (Lopotaru) talks to the German Ambassador, to AHK's GM and to other important players

BUSINESS LEADERS

This year, OMV Petrom will invest one billion Euro, even if its first-half result was deeply affected by the steep descend in oil prices, the company`s CFO Andreas Matje tells The Diplomat - Bucharest. The company's net profit dropped about 25 per cent in the first six months of 2015, and the Capex (Capital Expenditure) is expected to fall by 30 per cent this year. By Alexandra Cioboata (Lopotaru) & Bogdan Tudorache

COUNTRY FOCUS

Even built on the 65-year historical dialogue tradition between Romania and China, the bilateral trade exchanges and investment intentions of Chinese investors resulting in concrete projects in Romania are still moving in slow motion. The reasons are various, from the unstable predictability and multiple changes of Romanian fiscal and law setting, the multitude of guarantees asked by the Chinese partners, to the lack of a proper bu

EXPERTS PLATFORM

As we celebrate 135 years of diplomatic relations between Romania and the United States, let me pause for a moment to appreciate the extraordinary partnership the two nations have today

BUSINESS LEADERS

Adrian Mihai, Managing Partner of FAN Courier, the local CEP market leader, speaks to The Diplomat – Bucharest about the local CEP market reality, further opportunities and successful investments strategy. FAN Courier has been the local CEP market leader for more years. You have marked a constant increase of business, even during financial crisis. Did you have the luck to operate on an increasing market or is there a success rec

COUNTRY FOCUS

As Romania's fourth-largest foreign investor with nearly 8,000 companies registered, France keeps looking at the local market as an important partner for doing business, with no exception this year. Alexandra Lopotaru talks to representatives of French Embassy, CCIFER and large French companies to measure the economic thread that ties both countries

COUNTRY FOCUS

It is said that solid friendships are difficult to find, but even more difficult to maintain. After a tradition of 135 years in diplomatic relations, Romania and the US seem to have found the perfect recipe for a strong partnership. This year, the US business community receives positive signals from the political activity, while the TTIP is still on track. Alexandra Lopotaru and Magda Purice talk to representatives of the US Embass

SECTOR ANALYSIS

As e-commerce grows y-o-y, so does the B2C share in the courier players' business, but not without its challenges. End customers are becoming more and more demanding regarding the quality of the services received, while couriers are trying to find solutions to cope with client needs. Alexandra Lopotaru talks to ANCOM and major players to deliver 2015's picture