Romanian Economic Forum:
The business community requests concrete measures for economic recovery
Bucharest, October 5, 2009: The American Chamber of Commerce in Romania (AmCham Romania), the British- Romanian Chamber of Commerce (BRCC), the Foreign Investors Council (FIC) and the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Romania (CCIRG) requested concrete measures for economic recovery during the Romanian Economic Forum held on October 5, 2009 in Bucharest.
On this occasion, the business associations - representing altogether more than 1.100 companies operating in Romania - have emphasized the need for structured consultations between the authorities and the business community, and signaled major areas of concern, and related solutions shared by companies in Romania, irrespective of country of origin.
During the Romanian Economic Forum the business associations urged the Romanian authorities to take immediate measures for our country's economic recovery. Main recommendations included:
- Formulating medium to long-term development concepts, identifying those areas/industries with the greatest potential for growth and committing the necessary resources. AmCham, BRCC, FIC and CCIRG believe that these priority industries should be: energy, agriculture, and ICT
- Reforming the education system - to meet the requirements of the labor market and ensure a higher labor productivity.
- Assist SMEs through providing access to expertise (governmental and private), to EU Funds and State Funds as well as stability through medium & long-term planning
- Transparent and competitive processes for public tenders and improved contesting procedures
- Systematized financial mechanisms.
Through the Romanian Economic Forum event business community representatives called for the consultation and involvement of the business community in the decision-making affecting the economic and social environment and reiterate the importance of adopting sustainable, transparent and predictable measures, aimed at economic performance and not electoral cycles, as well as measures for increasing Romania's competitiveness, for keeping and attracting direct investments, especially as our country's economic attractiveness is decreasing in the context of the financial crisis.
Specifically, the business associations proposed the creation of a Economic Advisory Council - non-political, non-executive body to the Romanian Presidency, made up of representatives of the business community in Romania, a think-tank that can be consulted on high-impact economic matters, evaluate and propose economic policies.
The business associations expressed their availability for a constructive dialogue with the Romanian authorities, offering its members expertise accumulated in the international, European and local business environment.
About us:
American Chamber of Commerce in Romania - www.amcham.ro
The American Chamber of Commerce in Romania (AmCham Romania) is a non-profit and non-political organization that promotes the commercial and economic interests of U.S., international and local business community in Romania. Established in 1993 by American investors in the country, it is now one of the 105 international AmChams in 91 countries affiliated to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, based in Washington D.C., and a member of the European Council of the American Chambers of Commerce (ECACC).
AmCham Romania has over 300 members, representing a total investment of more than 10 billion USD which generated over 150.000 jobs. Therefore, it is very important for our members to benefit of powerful representation and advocacy for their business interests. All members are invited to share their views and ideas on important issues for all AmCham affiliates by taking a pro-active participation in the various Committees and Task Forces, created to better serve members interests: Tax, Competition, State Aid, and Single Market Access, Corporate Governance, Energy, Environment and Infrastructure, Healthcare, ICT, Labor Market, Human Resources and Education, Public Procurement and Structural Funds, Tourism.
British Romanian Chamber of Commerce - www.brcconline.eu
The British Romanian Chamber of Commerce is a not for profit organization, established in 1998. A British registered company limited by guarantee with a permanent presence in both London and Bucharest, entirely membership owned and membership driven, with the mission to use our good offices and activities to increase British-Romanian business, investments and social and cultural relations.
Since our inception over 10 years ago the BRCC has built a high quality brand reputation and is now considered to be one of the top professional business organizations of its kind in the marketplace, seen to be both an effective voice for its members and the British-Romanian community as a whole.
Foreign Investors Council (FIC) - www.fic.ro
The Foreign Investors Council (FIC) is an association of the leading foreign investors in Romania. The FIC was established in 1997 when started officially its activity with 26 companies as members. Today FIC accounts about 110 companies. The membership includes multinational firms providing the Romanian economy with a wide variety of goods and services. Currently, the FIC has 110 Members whose combined investment in Romania represents approximately two thirds of Romania's total foreign direct investment since 1990.
The member companies of the FIC believe that the dialogue between policy makers and the foreign investment community lies at the very heart of successfully improving the climate for investment while stimulating the development of the Romanian economy.
The FIC is well positioned to provide constructive input to policy makers given the breadth of its membership, both in terms of their international experience and their substantial investment in Romania.
The senior management of the member companies devotes its time individually or in work groups, proposing solutions to the decision makers. We have produced six "White Books", setting out detailed improvements which we felt were needed in the business and investment climate, based on research and debate by our members.
German-Romanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry www.ahkrumaenien.ro
With over 550 members, the German-Romanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry is one of the major bilateral trade organisation in Romania.
The German-Romanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry was founded on the 7th of August 2002 and is a service provider for the development of economic relations between the two countries. The most important services offered are:
Consultancy: market analysis, business partner search, location selection and personnel recruitment
The German-Romanian Chamber assists predominant small and medium-sized companies from Germany and Romania in entering the Romanian respectively the German market.
The Chamber services are orientated towards the interests of the companies: acquisition - selling - investing
Training, seminar an vocational education
The Chamber organises seminars for the Romanian as well as German employees from middle-management and above. It also elaborates concepts on personnel qualification.
Networking
The monthly meetings of the members, Summer Party and New Year Reception, round tables and informative evenings regarding different themes are bringing together the Chamber members, and at the same time they give a great opportunity to the members to socialize and find new contacts, to develop and streghten the relations between companies, to sustain their own business and exchange experience.
Lobbying
As a lobbying - and communication-platform the German-Romanian Chamber represents the economic interests of their members towards public agencies and institutions, public authorities and other institutions. For more information: