After 1990 a lot of national, regional, local and professional SMEs associations were established. We cannot determine their exact number, but we estimate at over 200. The main RDAs are presented in this study.

Since Romania shifted from a centrally-planned to a market-oriented economy, the Romanian Internet market has registered a steady increase in size in the area of company users about 20% a year and a huge increase of about 100% per year in the area of individual users.

The Romanian IT industry increased in 1997-2000 with 45% to over 323 million USD. There were registered by the end of 2001 over 30,000 domains .ro of which 27,000 were in use.

More than 200,000 PC were connected to Internet and over 3,5 million mobile phones are in use, creating a re-orientation of the consumer behaviour from "by-place" activity to the "digital mobile life-style".

RDAs and SMEs using RDAs' services haven't established a good IT infrastructures and services yet.

Romania has several networks of RDAs - about 50, from which 16 are important - associations, chambers, councils, unions, foundations, centres, etc . They are serving the SMEs on national, regional or local level.

The RDAs - Map

About 50% of the RDAs member companies have a web site and only 25% of them have a security site protection.

Romanian Parliament approved the Law concerning e-commerce. Other reglementations were issued by Romanian Government especially regarding e-government. Romania is trying to accelerate the IT development and to surmount the gap existing not only with the advanced countries, but also with the East European ones. The new law has effect not only for the companies, but also for REDs. We estimate that by the end of 2002 more than 60% of them will have a site, e-mail address and 20% will implement online services and promote e-commerce, m-business, B2B and B2C.

There are about 400,000 active SMEs in Romania. ICI, a Romanian IT Institute, estimates that the Internet services will increase in 2001 to over 42 million USD and other 95 million USD for Intranet, involving more than 10,000 SMEs.

For example, Transilvania Business Center -CAT's SMEs - actual, previous and potential clients - could be divided in:
Actual active members – 200
Actual associated members – 500
Ex members – 600
Potential clients contacted in 2000 (North West of Transylvania): 9000
Potential clients contacted in 2001 (South East of Transylvania): 8000
Potential clients contacted in 2002 (Center of Transylvania): 7000

These companies are from the following sectors: manufacture, trade, transportation, tourism, IT, insurance, banking, service provider, organised in guilds by sector of activity and on decentralised local CATs.

The large number of SMEs are from the most important cities of Transylvania such as: Brasov, Oradea, Zalau, Baia Mare, Satu Mare, Bistrita, Alba Iulia, Deva, Sibiu, Medias, Hunedoara, Resita, Miercurea Ciuc, Covasna, Sighisoara. The small towns and communes are on the priority list of CAT.The list of all CAT's companies could be found and selected by the search engine created at: http://e-cat.ro/addreseutile.html named CATransilvania Data Base.

We shall present the :

A. NATIONAL RDAs ………………………………………………………....page 3
B. REGIONAL RDAs – (Transilvania Region was selected)……………...page 8
C. BRANCHES RDAs……………………………………………………….page 15
D. Other important RDAs and organizations……………………………….page 29

Founded in 1992 aims to protect and to promote the private SMEs. The organization has in this moment 41 branches. CNIMM facilitates business contacts in Romania and abroad, supplies jaslc free or low cost business services, promotes and defends SMEs members’ specific interests, proposes financial opportunities, business missions, fairs and exhibitions, juridic and financial consultancy, personnel and entrepreneurs training, provides experts in different fields (industry, trade, buildings, etc.) and levels (local, guvernamental, local administration), etc.

Non-governmental, public-interest, self-sufficient organisation meant to promote Romanian trade and industries both at home and abroad, and to defend the interests of Romanian traders before the domestic authorities and in their relations with specialised foreign organisations. It offers support and promotion for the benefit of businesses in the field of industry, agriculture, trade, tourism and services: business consulting; assistance to company formation and operation, including Trade Registry activity; promotion of business contacts, bilateral and multilateral business partnerships; organisation of fairs, exhibitions and commercial events at home and abroad; organisation of Romanian business missions abroad; organisation of foreign business missions to Romania; advertising and commercial promotion; charts of top companies; high-standard distribution of products and services; quality guarantee of products and services, standardisation; basic and further training in advanced information technologies.

All these goal-missions are developed by a wide range of specific forms and methods drawing on the national and international experience of chambers of commerce, with the contribution of the departments and offices of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Romania and Bucharest, as well as of the commercial companies in which the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Romania and Bucharest holds the controlling interest.

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry has approximatelly 42 branches spread in each county and around 150,000 SMEs member companies from all fields of activity: industry, media, constructions, trade, transports, tourism, IT, etc. Each chamber of commerce has a site with the services provided to their member companies. The list of the county Chambers is presented at http://www.ccir.ro/businfo/links/eng/cci.htm, http://www.cci.ro

The Chamber co-operate with the Bilateral Chambers of Commerce, established with 26 countries http://www.ccir.ro/businfo/bilatcci/eng/Index.html
 
 

UGIR has the function of representing and defending the Romanian industrialists in front of guvernamental and bank-financial institutions. The organization also has a professional and a managerial training function, marketing and commercial assistance, organizing seminars, business meetings, fairs, exhibitions. UGIR also accomplish an information, research and database role for it’s members. UGIR has on this moment 75 member companies and 42 branches in the most important towns.

CRIMM foundation was established in 1992 and it is non-governmental and nonprofit. The objective of CRIMM is to support the SMEs sector for their local social-economic development. The members are private entrepreneurs, chambers of commerce, banking and financial institutions, local centers for SMEs development, universities, professional associations, mass-media institutons. CRIMM is registered in the Central Register of Consultants in Bruxelles starting 1996, having the number 20731. PHARE Programs for SMEs were administrated by CRIMM.

The objectives of ANEIR - Foreign Trade Promotion Centre S.A. are the promotion of pragmatic needs of Romanian exporters and importers as well as the international practices in the field. In this respect the main activities developed are: promotion and implementation of commercial policy; promotion and implementation of the Romanian's Government international commercial policy at the level of economic operators, especially SMEs with foreign trade activity; feed-back approach of commercial policy implementation; collecting information from companies with foreign trade activity, regarding the implementation of the official regulations in the field; creation and implementation of pilot projects in line with international standards for increasing foreign trade activity; development of Electronic Data exchange at the level of economic operators; co-operation with governmental and non-governmental Romanian institutions for creation of "Export Consultancy Centres" at local level, in order to foster the internationalization of SMEs; establishment of long term co-operation links with other national and international trade promotion organizations; facilitation of business contacts, in the country and abroad, on request of Romanian and foreign economic operators; providing full range business assistance services; market research; business plans; training.

World Trade Center Bucharest was created in 1994 in order to assist foreign and local business people in finding trading partners, suppliers and markets and to offer consulting services on trade-related issues. WTC acts as focal point of international trade activities in Romania, to provide small and medium size companies with a platform for internationally oriented trade operations and to support Romanian concerning international trade.

Based on a "four-in-one" concept, World Trade Center Bucharest meets the demands for a single venue combining exhibition space, conference facilities, offices and hotel accomodation and offers a comprehensive package of services through its four distinct centers: The Convention Center, The Exhibition Center, Executive Business Services, Hotel Sofitel, Offices to Rent, The Shopping Gallery, World Trade Village and "Le Club"

Black Sea Romanian Business Centre, having as main shareholders the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Romania, Romexpo S.A., Chamber of Commerce Industry Navigation and Agriculture of Constanta, was conceived for providing the best conditions in development of business dialogue, inside an area, appointed by the new European political and diplomatical actions as the Black Sea Zone.

Endowed with modern facilities (simultaneous translation, fast means of communication, conference, and business meeting rooms, computerised information system, it represents a gateway to the business world, through the on-line access possibilities to the databases of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Romania, BRE NET of European Comission, global net IBCC NET, World Chambers Network - WCN.

The communication by e-mail and the documentary materials of the Centre Library, which can be consulted free of charge, come to fill in the pallet of available services
 
 

Transilvania has 14 counties and 3 development agencies: ARDNV for North West (no.7); ARDC for Center (no. 6); ARDV for West (no.5) and a Regional Business Center – CAT (no. 5+6+7).

Address: headquarters Cluj-Napoca, Str. Toplita, nr.2, Cluj-Napoca, cod 3400. Telefon: 0264-43.15.50. Fax: 0264-43.92.22, e-mail adrnv@mail.dntcj.ro

NW Transilvania Region is composed by the following 6 counties: Bihor, Bistrita-Nasaud, Cluj, Maramures, Satu-Mare and Salaj.

The Region has 34.159 sqkm representing 14,38% of the Romania surface. There are 11 municipalities, 36 towns, 386 communes and a total of 1908 localities. NW Region has 2 845 000 inhabitants and a diversified economy: mining, industry, agriculture, services, education and research. The most important universities and IT centers are located in Cluj-Napoca.

The infrastructure is developed and the transportation, Internet communications are an important support for the local new and traditional industries.

The Agency is a public organization guided by The Regional Development Law: 151/1998 and represents the executive body of the Regional Development Council. The Agency has 3 departments (Economic, Regional Co-operation and Regional Development), which are accomplishing its responsibilities. The Director of the Agency is managing the activities and its programs.

The Agency co-operate with the Consortium of the Chambers of Commerce from NW Transilvania.

The Agency’s objectives are:
- to prepare the legal and the institutional background for answering to the integration criteria in the
European Union and for the open access at the Structural Funds of European Union;
- to govern the local activities and the policies correlation, stimulating the initiatives and getting advantage of the local and regional resources;
- to stimulate the international, national and local co-operation, including the euro-regions.

The Agency's responsibilities:
- the elaboration of the regional development plan and promotion of the activities, which are resulting from the regional growth policies and strategy;
- the administration of the fund allocated for the region by European Union Funds;
- the elaboration of the administration plans for Governmental funds;
- the identification of the poor areas and assurance of the technical support for the investors;
- the financing proposals from the National Fund for Regional Development.
 
 

Address: 2500 Alba Iulia, Decebal Street no.12 , Phone: 0258-81.86.13 , Fax: 058-81.86.13 , E-mail adcentru@abx.logicnet.ro

The Region Center is composed from the following 6 counties: Alba, Brasov, Covasna, Harghita, Mures, Sibiu.

The Region surface is 34099,4 square kilometer, which represents 14,31 % from Romania surface.

The population of the Center Region was in 1999, 2652 thousands peoples, representing 11,8 % from Romania population. The hire relative development rate of the Region reflects in the infant mortality rate, which is one of the lowest from the country.

In the Region there are areas with sustainable economical developed and areas with development problems. Also there are isolated mountain areas with special problems, in which the level of the medical assistance is very low and the schooling rate is low because the schools doesn’t exist and the access to the center of the village is difficult.

A characteristic of the Center Region is the fact that almost all the industrial sectors are represented: machines building industry, metal and chemical processing, building materials, wood processing, textile and food industry. The industry has 36,2 % from the total of the active population at the Region level, compared with the national average of 27,1 %.

The Region has an agricultural potential lower than the national media; the agricultural surface of the Region (1932,7 thousands ha) represents only 56,7 % from the total surface of the Region, towards the national media of 64 %.

The Center Region has an important wood potential; it has 36,4 % from its surface covered with woods.

The key problems of the Region are: the outdated technological and industrial equipment, the existence of some polluted industry, the absence of the skills regarding the industrial management and the insufficiency of the financial resources.

The economic insufficiency or the high pollution rate leaded to the closing of some production capacities, at the diminution of the employee’s number, the industry becoming the major branch generating unemployment.

The unemployment rate is 10,7 % (compared with 11,3 % at national level). The most powerful impact of the unemployment is found in monoindustrial towns centered on the metal processing and in the miner towns.

The objectives of the Agency are:

- The growth of the economic performances represents a priority, aiming to build a powerful regional economy. This objective will be reached by realizing the following strategic actions:

• The modernization and the diversification of the economic activities;

• The reorganization of the unprofitable industrial branches and the stimulation of establishing performing industrial activities;

• The promotion of a modern and efficient tourism;

• The modernization of the agriculture and the rational exploitation of the woods;

• The growth of the SMEs weight in the economical activities;

• The rehabilitation and development of the transport, communication and energy infrastructure;

• Developing the services which assure the financing of the economic activities and encouraging the development of the private sector;

• The growth of the labor force performances for facing an economical development.

Considering the necessities, the limited material and financial resources and the concrete conditions from the region, the following objectives were adopted:

• The development of a system which should assure to all citizens the equal access at education and which should be correlated with the socio-economic development of the area;

• Assuring access at the quality medical services in all the region;

• Raising the living standard by creating the town networks in villages and extending and maintenance of the existing ones in towns;

• The modernization of the consuming model of the population by the diminution of the existing unbalances.

• The creation of an efficient venture between the public administration organs and the population with a view to a stable development of the towns

• The promotion of the cultural an historical patrimony of the towns

• The protection and development of the areas with natural touring potential

• The preservation of the towns’ particular values by strengthening their identity and by framing the constructions in a traditional esthetic.

Address: 1900 Timisoara, Proclamatia de la Timisoara Street no.5 , Phone: 0256-19.19.23 , Fax: 0256-19.19.81 , E-mail adr@mail.sorostm.ro

The following 4 counties composes the Region: Arad, Caras-Severin, Hunedoara, Timis.

The Region surface is 32.034 square kilometer, which represents 13,4 % from Romania surface. The region neighbors are Yugoslavia at SouthWest and Hungary at NorthWest. The West Region has a favorable geographic position, being situated at the crossing of some important European roads.

The economic structure and the population occupation

The total population of the Region is 2 million people.From the point of view of the socio-economic development the West Region is one of the most developed region from the country. All the economic sectors are well represented: industry, agriculture, and services. The most important industries from the Region are: the food industry, the chemical industry, the light industry, the wood processing industry and the railway industry.

One handicap of the regional industry is constituted by the absence of the network of promotion the local industries, which should support the cooperation between the regional businessmen and the external ones, and should take at the improvement of the communication and information system from the area.

The main tendency of the last period is the constant decreasing of the agricultural and industrial production and the development of the services sector, stronger that in any other Region.

The unemployment, which appeared as a following of the industrial reorganization, creates social problems in the area.

Although the advantages of the cooperation between industry and research are obvious, in practice, most companies gave up the research laboratories, after 1990. The industrial companies are confronted, in present, with innovation crises. The Region has specialized human resources involved in the research activity.

Agriculture is characterized by the private property expansion; the agricultural potential is not valued at its real value.

For the support of the economic agents activities it was developed a business infrastructure which is composed by: the Duty Free area Curtici, the Chambers of Commerce, the business incubators, the consulting companies. The missing points about this infrastructure are the information systems and the coherent programs for sustaining these activities.

We can say that the West region is still "clean" regarding the environment quality.

The strategy of the regional development

The West Region is confronted with problems regarding: the high unemployment from the mining and industrial areas, the necessity of the reorganization of the hard industry, the old infrastructures, the low development of the rural area, the low performance of the agriculture, the immigration of the high qualified labor force.

But, the West Region still has some advantages and opportunities such as: different industry, qualified labor force, high tourist and agricultural potential, transport and telecommunication networking, foreign investment. Some developing strategies were elaborated, focusing the strong point of the region for the capitalization of the identified opportunities.

For realizing the general objective, some strategic objectives were defined:

• The private sector development;

• The region tourist potential capitalization;

• The creation of a favorable frame for the rural development;

• Increasing the human resources usage efficiency;

• Improving the environment quality;

• Improving the support infrastructure of the economical and social development

Transylvania Business Centre (CAT) Cluj-Napoca, was set up in 1992 and received during its seven years of activity regional and international recognition for its vocation.

The Transylvania Business Centre is a grass-roots non-profit organisation (NGO) for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) providing development opportunities, promotion, internationalisation, business links, travel, education, consulting, training, research and data base, other services, in assistance to the development of global market economy mechanisms and democratisation.

More than 1000 private companies from the Transylvanian region are associated to the organisation, their fields of activity being industry, construction, transport, trade, banking, insurance, stylism, media and tourism. They were created eight independent CATs in the Transylvanian towns to improve the level of services for the local community and SMEs, which are facing a transition period to a new economy. The list of the local descentralized organizations created by CAT could be found http://www.e-cat.ro/centre.html

CAT transformed itself from a real into a virtual business center with on-line business tools for SMEs development E-CAT.RO, E-BURSA.RO, V-MARKET.RO, M-BUSINESS are sites which prepare the new mobile business expansion, m-business in Transylvania. A large database with companies and their offer/demand of goods and services, business opportunities and links is under construction with EU support. More then 30000 companies will be included in this search-for-business engine http://www.e-cat.ro/addreseutileeng.html
 
 

The Economic Development Agency of Timis County was founded in May 1995. It was the first specialized structure of local and regional economic development founded in Romania.

The Economic Development Agency of Timis County is a non-profit, public institution, founded by Timis County Council, in partnership with the key actors of the local development, Timisoara City Hall and Timisoara Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture.

The Economic Development Agency of Timis County proposes to be a link between the local public administration and the private sector, a promotion center of the best policies, methods and economic development practices.

The purpose of the agency is to contribute through specific ways at the socio-economic development of Timis County. The agency objectives are the following:

• The initiation of programs and projects which can assure with solutions at the socio-economic problems in the interest of the local community;

• Identification of the methods and ways for realizing the socio-economic development programs and forecasts and for the improvement of the local infrastructure;

• Supporting the implementation process of the local community developing programs;

• Supporting the SMEs activities and the entrepreneurs;

• Stimulating the development of the national capital and attraction of the foreign capital;

• The promotion of the image and the business opportunities and cooperation at local and district level and the identification of some internal and external financing sources for the capitalization of the local economic potential;

• Stimulating the creation and implementation of the partnerships mechanisms public-private.

• Elaborates and proposes towards the approbation to Timis County Counsel the annual and economic development program;

• Elaborates concrete studies, projects, methods and procedures for realizing the socio-economic development programs and forecasts;

• Initiates and prepares the substantiation documentation for the realization of the projects from the local economic development area;

• Elaborates financing applications and gives technical specialized assistance regarding the financing programs;

• Organizes information, consulting, publicity actions, seminars and symposiums in social and economic area;

• Stimulates and supports through specific ways the developing of the promotion activities;

• Gives consultancy services for promotion and supporting the private initiative;

• Assures the specific frame for establishing contracts between Romanian partners and between them and foreign partners;

• Supports the foundation of developing agencies and business caters in villages and towns from Timis County;

• Organizes management and training courses;

Beneficiary

The beneficiaries of the services of ADETIM are:

• The local public administration;

• The internal and external institutions and organizations;

• Physics and juridical persons from Romania or foreign countries.

11 persons compose ADETIM’s staff and it has a network of 30 external collaborators. The Agency offers to its stuff specific services of public and private interest in the following activity areas, which disposes of quality technical examinations:

• The elaboration and realization of projects, studies and local and regional development drafts;

• The elaboration of projects and financing applications for local and regional development;

• The elaboration of projects and financing applications for achieving some investments objectives;

• Project management;

• The intermediation of partnerships and international cooperation (joint ventures);

• Identifying the towns business opportunities and promote them;

• Courses and seminars for perfecting the local public administration;

• Courses and seminars for entrepreneurs regarding:

• The start-off of a business

• The company management

• The project management

• Financial and marketing planning

• Obtaining some credits

• Business consultancy regarding: Management, Business plans, Financing projects, Market studies, Marketing plans.

3. BRANCHES RDAs

1. Asociatia Nationala a Intreprinderilor de Software (ANIS) - National Software Enterprises Association

ANIS acts as a joint marketing and coordination body for Romanian Software Producers and plays an active role in the international software community. ANIS is a member of EISA (European Information Technology Services Associations) the most representative European IT association which is associated with WITSA and it promotes software exports with partners around the world. ANIS provides services to its members including: domestic and international marketing support, contacts with foreign companies and organizations, organization of technical and marketing conferences in Romania and abroad, prevention of piracy and protection of intellectual property, software-related legal and legislative informations and advocacy.

ANIS members are software companies incorporated or registered in Romania. The most important factors in granting membership to a company, is its commitment in achieving the Association’s goals of proven quality of products and services. ANIS members are complying with the EISA Code of Conduct on Privacy. Full Members are companies registered in Romania. ANIS has also foreign companies as partners. The 58 members of ANIS mainly concentrate on developing software for: networks, communication, manufacturing, multimedia, design, office automation, banking and financial services, retail and distribution, e-commerce .

The services provided by the members cover the full cycle of product or system development: business analysis, requirements engineering, design, programming, implementation and quality assurance.

The members use the latest hardware and software technologies, including those related to the Internet and Distributed Systems. The members, software companies, are able to offer complete solutions in IT area: software development and implementation, design and installation of computer networks, project management consulting, management informations systems, and Internet services. Many of the members are also involved in "offshore" development projects, for American companies.

The Romanian IT Industry Information Technology constitutes one of the most dynamic sectors of the Romanian economy. The Romanian IT Industry plays a very important role in the development of the telecommunication infrastructure of Romania and in the building process of the IT infrastructure required in the re-building process of the Romanian economy. Romania's IT effort started in the 1970s with Western European support. Romania’s population is 23 million, and it graduates 5,000 computer specialists every year. Romania has a higher density of software professionals per 1,000 inhabitants than Russia and India. Romania's pool of software developers is the third largest in central and Eastern Europe. The quality of Romanian IT personnel constitutes a key factor in the software industry’s development. The percentage of graduates in the Romanian Universities (relative to the population) is 20% higher than US. The quality of the graduates and their skills are highly appreciated by the Western European and US companies and Universities that are hiring them as specialist, researchers or professors.

Information Technology and Communication Association is an independent and non-governmental association with a non-profit, apolitic, stientific and professional character. ATIC organizes and developes information exchanges, co-laboration and co-operation between it’s members, promotes science and applications for an efficient and professional use of the new scientific knowledges. ATIC’s main objective is developing the Information Technology and Communication enviroment in Romania. It is member of the World Information Technology Software Alliance (WITSA). ATIC has 51 associated members and another 100 collaborating companies.
 
 

ARIES is the association of electronics and software companies of Romania and aims at promoting and protecting the Romanian IT and electronic business environment, as well as the professional and commercial interests of its members. ARIES is the most influential factor of the electronics and software industry in Romania. ARIES has more then 140 members and is the largest IT&C association in Romania.

ARIES has developed a national strategy to increase the Romanian hi-tech potential and two strategies on turning Romania into an important software producer and exporter globally and research funds redirectioning towards the SMEs.

ARIES commented on the copyright law and R & D ordinance along with the American Bar Association and forwarded legislation proposals for modifications of current laws on taxes, investments and environmental protection, in cooperation with legislation experts. The respective documentation has been multiplied in over 30 copies and distributed to important Romanian political groups, including the President’s Cabinet, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Research, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, CNI and all the presidents of the Senate and Chamber of Deputies’ economical committees.

ARIES is the trade/professional association of electronic and software companies in Romania with the best relationship to the universities and to other business associations. Moreover, ARIES has signed a cooperation agreement -- Strategic Alliance of Business Associations --for the promotion of a competitive and high quality business environment, along with over 36 business associations and local chambers of commerce to increase the authority and credibility of the associations’ activities. ARIES organized a seminar on communication channels for not-for-profit organizations, along with the Strategic Alliance and CISA, and the President of Romania attended this seminar.

ARIES has developed other activities for the promotion of its members’ products and business relationships. It organized an electronics and software exhibition at the Small Business Development Center at the very beginning of its activity, and business meetings with the Electronic Industries Association, Los Angeles Regional Technology Alliance, ZVEI, OPIC, US Chamber of Commerce, Denmark, Netherlands, CNA Veneto and other organizations. ARIES has also gathered an important database of corporations in this field and other fields studies and books.

ARIES has succeed in taking SOFTCHIM company, by means of its strategically privatization project. ARIES believes it can not only manage a technological park, but also create it, by virtue of self-sustainability.

Currently, ARIES provides its expertise for an information system, which will provide quality and competitive information flow within the membership.

In 1998 ARIES organized BINARY’98, the first evaluation forum of the business environment of software developers in Romania. At this time ARIES edited the first directory of the Romanian software developers and the first study of the business environment of software developers in Romania and with the sponsorship of the Ministry of R&D, Oracle, Microsoft and Sybase awarded at the first time in Romania the best software solutions.

One of the most important and strategic objectives of our association is to develop cooperation relations between Romanian and other countries companies. There are considered the next types of activities:

• The achievement of long term cooperation connections with associations from other countries;

• The organized participation at exhibitions from the other countries

• The participation at economical missions and previous preparing of these actions as also to prepare the firms for a better presentation;

• Company and products directories;

• CD of presentation;

• Informational system – Internet;

• Studies and statistics.

• BINARY – software national fair (Interval: 1 year; Location: Bucharest)

• EXPO-SIITME – electronic national fair (Interval: 1 year; Location: Bucharest)

• By a program displayed in collaboration by ARIES and CRCE managed to introduce six Romanian firms into a program of promotion of OSEC - Switzerland. By this program these firms benefit of financing from the Swiss organization for participation during three consecutive years at ORBIT (Switzerland) and SYSTEMS (Germany) fairs.

• The organization of BINARY ’98, ‘99 and 2000 and EXPOSITME ‘99 events - evaluation exhibitions of the Romanian achievements in software and electronic developing.

• BINARY was organized in collaboration with ANSTI, ANCI, UPB and ICI. On this occasion ANSTI instituted the national distinctions for the best software realizations and also on this occasion the first directory of the software firms was edited.

The second edition of Binary attracted the interests of some investors from USA which

decided to invest about hundred million USD in the Romanian IT Industry. Also the event

convinced OSEC to select other five Romanian software companies to be sponsored at

Systems 2000 and 2001.

• ARIES realized the first cluster analysis about the software industry (based on Michael Porter's model) as well as statistics .

• On September 1, 1999, ARIES organized in collaboration with Romania's Embassy in Bern, "Romania's Day" within the International INELTEC '99 Market for Electronics (Basel, August 31 - September 3, 1999).

• Some agreements were signed with similar trade professional-commercial associations such as: GAIA (Spain), SwissSoft (Switzerland) and SEPVE (Greece).

• The "IT for US" business meeting, organized in collaboration with ICI which put in contact the firms from the association with the beneficiaries come from the Romanian firms with American capital.

• The participation of ARIES with an own stand at TII'98, CERF '99 and IFABO '99 in Romania.

• In 2000 ARIES became the most important trade mission organizer of the Romanian software industry to USA, EU and Switzerland.

I. Lobby and advocacy
II. Information and communication
III. Promoting the image of the IT industry and of the interests of the associate firms as well
IV. Specialized work-group creation
V. Other activities (schooling, projects)

I.1. Lobby project realization
I.2. Relations with the state institutions
I.3. Participating in work-groups organized by state institutions

II.1. Permanent relations with governmental institutions, chambers of commerce and other such institutions
II.2. The creation of communication opportunities among the firms

III.1. Image creation
III.2. Internal promotion
III.3. External promotion

III1.1. The organization of internal exhibitions
III.1.2. Realization of promotion instruments (studies, statistics, policy-papers, catalogues, presentation materials, ARIES site etc.)
III.2.1. Relations with professional-commercial associations from other areas
III.2.2. Editing and distribution of information materials and the magazine
III.2.3. Mass-media promotion
III.2.4. Organizing work-group exhibition events
III.3.1. Establishing permanent relations with similar associations from other countries
III.3.2. Collaboration with Romanian commercial representatives from abroad in the promoting action
III.3.3. Identifying opportunities and firm preparation for the participating in international manifestations
III.3.4. The organization (in Romania) of manifestations with external participation

Lobby and advocacy

I.1. Lobby project realization

The "Minimal strategy program for the development of software export:" project
The "Elimination of barriers in the advanced technology import" project
The "Technological Park" project
The "Incubator of software projects" project
The "Community cybernetic centers within the large commune" project

I.2. State institution relations Romanian Presidential council board , Parliament, Ministries

I.3. Participation in work-groups organized by state institutions: Work-groups related to MCTI (the former CNI, ANCI), Work-groups for the elaboration of national strategy

Information and communication

II.1. Stable relations with the governmental institutions, chambers of commerce, and other such institutions
CCIR, ANEIR, CRCE, ANDR, ANSTI, FEMIRC, Foreign embassies in Romania, the Delegation of the European Commission, PHARE, IBD, BDG

II.2. Opportunity creation for communication among the firms

II.3. Mailing list

Promoting the image of the IT industry and of the interests of the associate firms as well

III.1. Image creation

III.1.1. Organization of internal exhibitions
The organization of BINARY – The National Exhibition of Evaluation of the Software Production

III.1.2. The realization of promotion instruments (studies, statistics, policy-papers, catalogues, presentation materials, ARIES site, etc.)
Realization of statistical studies
Realization of the cluster study concerning the Romanian software industry – according to the Michael Porter methodology
Realization of data base – firms from the IT area
Catalogue of Software firms – the edition in Romanian
Catalogue of Software firms – 2 editions in English
Catalogue of Software products – the edition in Romanian

III.2. Internal promotion

III.2.1. Relations with professional-commercial associations from other areas
Founding member of the Strategy Alliance of Business Associations
ADER member

III.2.2. Editing and distribution of information materials and the magazine

III.2.3. Mass-media promotion
Constant presence in mass-media

III.2.4. Organization of exhibition events
IT for US – Show-room – Target – Romanian firms with American capital 1999
Hi-tech for Health – Show-room – Target – Institutions from the medical field 2000
The ARIES stand at CERF and IFABO

III.3. External promotion

III.3.1. Establishing permanent relations with similar associations from other countries
Collaboration proceedings with SwissSoft (Switzerland)
Collaboration proceedings with SEPVE (Greece)
Collaboration relations with GAIA (Spain)
Collaboration relations with JPCA (Japan)

III.3.2. Collaboration with Romanian commercial representatives from abroad in the promoting action

III.3.3. Identifying opportunities and firm preparation for the participating in international manifestations

Specialized work-group creation: Public Administration, Medicine Health, Educational Software, Industrial and Automated Software, Community Cybernetics Centers

Other activities (schooling, projects)
Participation in the 1999 and 2000 editions of the IT Interbalcan Forum
Participation in the Round-Table of the countries in transit organized by ITC Geneva
Participation in the EJSP project Tokyo organized by JETRO

Projects with Infoville – a European Project aiming at the citizens’ access to information
The R-Soft Center: The Center of Resources and Information for the Development of the Technological Park – Project for the regional development.

Mission
To protect and promote the Romanian electronic and software business community
To develop services for the benefit of the members
To develop the awareness of IT&C sector among general community

CREDO
ARIES is the force and image of the Romanian electronic and software industry.
Our organization’s image is our power of negotiation.
ARIES believe that the electronic and software industry is a sine qua non support for the performances and quality of any modern economy.
ARIES believe in the social and strategic importance of the electronic and software industry.
ARIES are convinced that only together, through our industrial organization ARIES, we can promote and impose the performances and quality required by our nation and by each individual. We believe in our organization’s synergetic capacity.
ARIES are convinced that the electronic and software industry offers a real and effective basis for the quality, productivity and competitiveness growth and assurance of any nation, and also a basis for the assurance and growth of any individual’s quality standards.
ARIES believe in the school that formed us, we believe in our teachers and in the new generations they are preparing.
ARIES believe in the chance of the electronic and software industry in Romania and we have decided to find and use all the possible and necessary means for making it reality.
ARIES believe in our future.
The headquarters of ARIES is in Bucharest, 202A Splaiul Independentei, sect.6 Phone. +40 21 6387240; 6385960, Fax: 2202712, E-mail: aries@hades.ro web: www.aries.ro

ANIS is a non-profit organizationestablishedin the year 1998, through the initiative of 30 Software Enterprises.
ANIS carries on activities aimed at the promotion of the IT&C field and the creation of the basis of the information society in Romania.
The association comprises at present about 70 members, which are the companies with most weight in the IT&C field in Romania.
The members, software companies, are able to offer complete solutions in IT&C area: software development and implementation, design and installation of computer networks, project management, management information systems, and Internet services. Many of the members are also involved in "offshore" development projects.

OBIECTIVES

• To act in the name of producers and users in the IT&C field toward the effective development of Software Industry in Romania;

• To facilitate these activities are aimed at the stimulation of the demand for and supply of software industry and IT services, the increase of the quality of IT&C products and services;

• To assure the interface between ANIS members and governmental organisations, by upholding in various ways the interests of the members of the association with governmental and parliamentary bodies, mass media and non-governmental organisations in Romania and abroad;

• To assure the free exchange of knowledge and scientific information inside the IT&C field;

• To organise conferences, symposia and exhibitions, and other specific events;

• To watch the way the Romanian legislation regarding the intellectual property (copyright law) is observed by IT&C users;

• To support the development of the human resources that are necessary in the software industry, high priority is the education;

• To facilitate the contacts and co-operation between IT&C firms and internal and foreign organisations in the field.

• The appointment of a Minister of Communication and Information Technology, who will undertake, and implement nationalstrategyplan for the introduction of our country into the Information Society

• To promote the tax incentives policy for the strengthening of the ICT sector.

• The linkage of the ICT market with the Universities of our country and the readjustment of the study programs based on the market needs.

• The support of the local ICT enterprises through development programs with a priority to the small and medium sized companies.

• The foundation, Technological Park aiming to strengthen the development of new enterprises through joint ventures companies.

• The promotion of our company into foreign markets through fairs, business mission and other exports promotion programs. 3 relevat studies on ICT : (1) The Impact of the software sec; (2) Contribution of the software industry; (3) The Software and Services Industry - present situation and perspectives; are available at http://www.anis.ro/romana/index4e.html

A Director Council representing the companies, members of the association and a secretary staff that implement activities, directs the ANIS.

ANIS hadquarters is in Bucharest, Bd. Unirii 64, Bl.K4, Sc. 5, Ap129, RO-7000, tel/fax +40-21-3271546, a.mustea@anis.ro , http://www.anis.ro
 
 

The association aims to promote and support the interests of the Romanian Internet Service Providers. The association will support the legal organisms to promote the legal frame for Internet industry development and for alignement to European Community standards.

For realizing it's main purpose the association has the following objectives: to sustain the abilitated organisms in ellaborating a legal frame for Internet development; to sustain national programs of training specialists and to stimulate their work in Romania; to promote and sustain knowledges, informations, experience and technologies transfer (related to Internet), stimulating IT&C creativity and innovations. ANISP has around 22 ISP members from all Romania.

ARoWeb is a professional non-profit association representing an active forum of the Romanian Webmasters. ARoWeb is trying to be the tool through which the Romanian IT and Internet business community will change the social enviroment in it's favour. It also represents the link between the Romanian Business Community and the Internet Industry.

NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT IN INFORMATICS, ICI - BUCHAREST carries out advances research and development activities in the ICT field.

ICI Bucharest established in 1970 has achieved significant results in the strategic planning for the advancement of the domain and for societal informatisation in Romania.

It is a knowledge-intensive organization whose mission is to support the development of information society in Romania through advances research, software development and technology transfer, large scale information system design, implementation and integration. Special importance is attached to software technologies, standardisation and quality assurance in IT. The institute is also the operator of the Romanian National Computer Network for R&D (RNC).

ICI main areas of expertise are: Database System; Web Technologies; Knowledge Enginnering Computer Networking; Decision Support Sistem; Business Process Re-engineering; Computer Integrated Manufacturing; Mathematical Modelling, Simulation and Optimization; Software Engineering & Qualit Assurance; Multimedia Technologies; Geographical Information System.

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

ICI has entered the Romanian market with a special focus on national level information system for big industries and public administration, general purpose software applications and tools, turn-key systems and consultancy.
 

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

ICI is open for co-operation with any research or industrial organization for the development of integrated systems to foster information society in Romania.

ICI has the headquarter in Bucharest, Bd. Averescu 8-10, RO-71316 , Tel.:0040 21 224 52 62 , Fax:0040 21 224 10 30 E-mail: marketing@ici.ro , Web: http://www.ici.ro
 
 

II. Tourism Industry

ANAT is a professional non-profit organization founded in 1990, its main aim being to represent and to defend the members' interests and to assure them assistance in exercising their trade. The association was set up on a free will basis of the members and sums up over 500 tourist agencies. Structured in 14 local councils covering the whole country. International representation: Since 1993, a member of the Universal Federation of Tourist Agencies Associations - UFTAA / FUAAV. Starting 1996, the only IATA authorized training centre (International Air Transport Association) in Romania.

Since 1998 ANAT is a founding member of the Black Sea Tourism Co-operation Association, BSTC. In 1999 ANAT became a member of the European Community Tourist Agencies Association - ECTAA. Domestic representation: It is represented on the Tourism Advisory Board, on the Council of Administration of the Tourism Authorization and Control Office, of the Tourism Promotion Office and the National Centre for Tourism Training.

Activities:

• Issues news bulletins with wide distribution: tourist agencies, tourism professional associations, partner institutions and the mass media etc.
• Training for ticketing operators - Issues a yearly catalogue of members and other promotional materials

Founded in April 1992 in Bucuresti it has 135 tourism companies and 53 tourism agencies owners or directors. It is a professional non-governmental, apolitic, non-profit association. FPT helps to create and promote economic and juridical politics for the member societies. I

Activities:

• members’ information about: economic politics, commercial politics, fiscal politics, internal and international market evolution, business meetings
• offers services like: fesability and marketing studies, finding business international opportunities, commercial and technical assistance, finding programs and projects for supporting it’s member activities, experience exchange, promotes incoming and outgoing tourism development.

The National Association for Rural, Ecological and Cultural Tourism in Romania, (ANTREC) is a non-governmental, apolitical and non-profit, association, member of EUROGITES (The European Rural Tourism Federation).

ANTREC was set up in 1994, and has now over 30 branches all over the country, 2225 members, over 2500 boarding houses and agro-tourism pensions, with 7500 rooms. Starting from Black Sea to Bucovina and Maramures, over 2500 houses have suitable conditions for rural tourism.

The well-known natural and cultural inheritance of Romania, together with the traditional hospitality, are the best trump cards regarding the development of the rural tourism. The rural tourism had been practiced in Romania before 1990, but not in an organized manner, the way it is today. Until 1989, hosting foreign tourists used to be prohibited by the law.

Through an efficient campaign, ANTREC succeeded in involving a large number of its members to put together various touristic programs, inside the country and outside of it. ANTREC purpose is:

- To identify and promote the opportunities of the rural tourism;
- To organize training courses for hostesses and travelling agencies, seminars, courses, know-how exchange between ANTREC and other similar organizations from Romania and from other countries;
- To transmit information regarding the rural tourism to the whole ANTREC network and the other institutions involved directly or indirectly in the promotion and the development of this kind of tourism;
- To organize advertising mass - media campaigns for the units included in the network;
- To participate in the major specific internal and external events, such as exhibitions and fairs.

By Order, no. 61/27/1999 of National Authority for Tourism issued by the ANTREC has all units in the rural area which must meet certain comfort requirements, in order to be acknowledged and classified (by daisies). The Technical Commission is comprised of the officials of The Authorization and Supervision in Tourism and the officials from ANTREC (a 30-member group of the association, which became experts in classifying and acknowledging rural tourism units, after graduating from specialization courses).

Together with a software company, ANTREC is working to create a national network designed especially for reservations in the rural tourism. This project is almost completed.

Monthly, ANTREC publishes a newsletter for its members and for those who want to become members. The summary includes information regarding the activities of ANTREC, events organized by the association at a local level and a national one, recommendations, resolutions.

Major events organized by ANTREC: three marketing rural tourism seminaries; the International Festival of "Sarmalelor", the second edition organized in Praid in September 1999; the Pies International Festival, first edition organized in Bacau in October 1996; "Saint Nicholas" (Mos Nicolae) Celebration organized in Bran in December 1996 Valentine's Day organized in February 1997; The International Rural Tourism exhibition, first edition organized in Brasov, in February 1997 The National Tourism Exhibition organized in cooperation with Romexpo, ANAT, FIHR, FPT, OPTBR), first edition in April 1999 and the second edition in October 1999.

ANTREC received from "Capital" publishing house the OSKAR CAPITAL award for the initiative with the biggest social impact in 1995. Since 1994 ANTREC became member in EUROGITES, being included in its catalogue, third editions 1995, 1996, and 1997. Near France, Germany, Belgium, Portugal, Spain and other 17 European countries, Romania is with its 30 offices. At the Rural Tourism Exhibition from Brasov, the first edition, organized between the 17th - 19th of April 1997, ANTREC launched the ANTREC CD - ROM, the first CD - ROM that presents the Romanian rural tourism activity.

During its 5 years of activity, ANTREC proved its initiative and organizational capability to create a viable network that is now in competition with other countries with tradition in this field.

ANTREC has headquarters in Bucharest, 7 Maica Alexandra Street, sector 1, Bucharest, tel/fax: +40-21-2237024, E-mail: office@antrec.ro, http://www.antrec.ro

The National Organization of Spas was founded in 1993. The map of Spas

The 34 members activate on the health tourism domain, majority have a national or international recognition, http://www.spas.ro/engleza/members.htm. OPTBR promotes:

· Wide exchanges of information in order to develop complex co-operation between members for promoting each company's balneal tourist product;
· Develops a specific commercial policy of members on third markets;
· Co/operation between members and between the said organization and the state authorities in order to develop an appropriate set of laws meant to protect the national hydro climatic and curative natural assets, and to stimulate the development of balneal tourism;
· Co-operation of members for obtaining higher development investments;
· Marketing and feasibility studies for members;
· Promoting more efficient advertising campaigns by every channel, including publication of the organization's own magazines, catalogue, etc.;
· Prevention of unfair competition and monopoly tendencies;
· Protects members' interests before legal entities and natural persons, state bodies, etc.;
· Arranges professional training of the staff employed in member companies;
· Supervises both the balneal tourism as a whole ad the individual businesses employing legally-licensed natural persons and legal entities, and forbids the performance of any practice without the documents required by law;
· Encourages and develops discussions with trade unions forming for this purpose mixed committees (trade unions -employers) and also supports, or if necessary, represent members at the negotiations;
· Provides technical and commercial assistance in order to support the spas and health resorts members of the organizations;
· Co/operates with other similar organization in the country and abroad, with tourism, medical, technical and ecological associations;
· Also sets different other objectives agreed by most of the members, in compliance with the laws in effects for employers' organizations.

OPTBR has the headquarters in Bucharest, 2-4 Luterana St., tel/fax 0040-21-3122993, optbr@tx.ro, http://spas.ro

FIHR is a trade association that represents the Romanian hospitality industry business interests on legislative, governmental, media, non-governmental, trade unions and other NGO'S bodies, and in European and international hospitality organizations.

We are proud to have as member establishments 97 representative hotels, offering more than 25,000 rooms and employing over 15,000 highly trained and educated people.

FIHR is not a consumer organization and has no regulatory or control powers over the operating practices of individual hotel & restaurant properties, which are or are not our members.

FIHR as the headquarters in Bucharest.

Romanian Convention Bureau -The Romanian National Association of Professional Conference and Exhibition Organizers gathers over 65 institutions and companies with activities related to conference, exhibition and incentive organization: from PCOs and exhibition organizers, travel and DMC agencies, to conference and exhibition centers, hotels and catering, technical and services providers, interpreters, advertising, PR. and press agencies, flight company, banks and insurance companies.

Between the most well known companies, members of RCB, there are: International Conference Center of the Romanian Parliament- member of AIPC, World Trade Center- Bucharest, International Trade Center- Brasov, Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel, Hilton Athenee Palace, Bucharest Sofitel and TAROM-Romanian Airlines.

Romanian Convention Bureau, established in 1997, is a Non governamental and Nonprofit Association, member of the Romanian National Council of Tourism .

Since 1999 Romanian Convention Bureau is member of ICCA-Category D and ICCA Central

EuropeanChapter.

Romanian Convention Bureau offers to its members and to the clients the following services: creates, supervises and promotes business opportunities; offers consultancy and support for event organizers; supplies information and databases; conducts market research and statistics; develops marketing and promotion campaigns; represents Romania and its members at the national and international fairs; edits monthly info-bulletins and annually Directory; edits the annually Calendar of events organized in Romania.

TNT is the most important tourism event in Romania, your chance to develop valuable partnerships and to position your brand on the market.

Significant key figures of the fair edition on 25-29 April 2002 prove this: with 150 exhibitors representing 8 countries, in the spring 2001 edition and over 21.000 attendees, TNT provides ample opportunities to network with travel agencies, tour-operators, hotels, spas, boarding houses, airlines, transporting companies, also with the touristic services consumers.

TNT proved its ability to develop a dynamic business environment for the tourism field operators.

The survey among the exhibitors is relevant: in the previous spring edition 70% of exhibitors concluded new business contracts, 77% new information on the market, 74% launched new tourism products and 87 % expressed their intention to participate in the next edition.

TNT offers a complementary services package to satisfy clients marketing objectives:

Direct mailing: starting with this edition a periodical and direct information system referring to the seasoning of the event will be established, the distribution channel targeting to a representative range of tourism companies from our database; Business Meeting Point: will facilitates your business contacts with specialized visitors and exhibitors who want to contact you; www.tntexpo.ro: the presence in our fair will allow you free registration on the fair website; Conferences and seminars: Romexpo Conference Centre located inside Romexpo Exhibitions Centre offers you 7 halls, containing between 80 and 700 places, endowed with the appropriate equipment for modern presentations.

TNT is organized by the Ministry of Tourism, Romanian Chamber of Commerce and the Tourism Associations, in Bucharest at ROMEXPO http://www.tntexpo.ro
 
 

III. OTHER Important Romanian Associations

AOAR is an organization that represents exclusively the interests of the private capital in Romania and abroad. Its members are owners and managers of companies in all economic fields, active in Romania and in the large business centers all over the world, with a total turnover of more than one million US $.

Application to become a member of AOAR is an option of those that assume the condition of developing their own capital as a source for the general progress.

As an apolitical organization, without corporate objectives, AOAR recognizes and cultivates the social value of the private entrepreneurs. Its members defined as their main objective the significant increase of the contribution of the private sector to the Romanian economy by making at least 2/3 of the gross domestic product (GDP) up to the end of the present decade. Another primary purpose of AOAR is harmonizing the general desideratum of relaunching the economy with the social protection, taking into consideration the fact that the companies managed by AOAR members generate incomes for a signifiant number of employees and their families.

AOAR considers that Romanian society has a natural availability for prosperity by free union between work and capital, for respect towrds individual success in life, estimating that the solution for transition completion and occurrence of structures to use correctly the national energy consists in encouraging the entrepreneurial spirit and accumulating capital.

The Romanian Association of Importers of Automotive Equipment, spare parts and accessories owes its apparition in the Romanian economy to necessity, and has the aim to vouch and impose the desiderata of a large number of companies that are very important both economic- financially (due to their turnover), and socially due to the number of persons directly or indirectly employed in automotive services and repairs.

The foundation and further development of this association may be explained through the formation of a collective guild consciousness which naturally brings forth the will of affiliation to a protective forum created ad-hoc.

At the same time, ARIEPA by the aims regarding the quality of the comecialised automotive supplies, stipulated in the statuary provisions, and whichare to meet the buyers expectations, follows the requirements of the Ministry of Transports, expressed by Order no. 536/December 1997 and other normative acts.

The professionalism of the present-day members of the associatin resulted in a certain "Statute", they acquired in economy by which their reputation grows higher. This is seen in the incessantly growing number of the members of the association (most of them founders), the turnover of these members (ca. 30% of the entire imported automotive accessories market), and in the present number of members - more than 400, both employers and employees.

The adhesion to a collective and official representational forum like the association is an outcome of the above mentioned desiderata and gives access to certain specific facilities.

Herewith is the most signifiant facilities, that agree totally with the legislation in force and with its members desiderata: useful exchange of views and information, facilities granted on the occasion of various events in the field (as exhibitions), information, through the monthly bulletin of the association, on matters of common interest and legislative news; access to confidential information from the National Board of Statistics regarding imports of automotive spare parts, equipments and accessories, on/line advertishment and in specialised periodicals, Romanian Golden Pages, Pagini Nationale etc.

It has around 23 members from this field of actvity.

In october 1992 the Romanian Furniture Producers’ Association was founded. It is a professional, non-profit and non-governamental organization. It aims to inform, support and promote the member companies for developing the furniture industry. On this moment APMR has 180 members companies: furniture producers and traders, different raw material producers, designing institues, etc. The association has approximattely 80% from the Romanian furniture production.

UNTRR is a profesional, non-governmental, independent, apolitical, non-profitable organization which promotes and protects the interests of the road hauliers.

It represents and protects the interests of the Romanian road hauliers on an international scale and it offers documentation concerning:

• granting transport and execution licences in accordance with the Custom Convention on the international transport of goods (TIR convention);
• the convention on the contract for the international carriage of goods by roads (CMR convention); the European Agreement concerning the work of crews of vehicles engaged in international road transport (AETR);
• is a guaranty organization for international goods transport under the cover of the TIR carnets; offers to its members economical, financial, legal, social and professional assitance and the services of The Psychologic Center.

• acces to information concerning road transport (regulations, road taxes, temporary traffic interdictions, fuel prices maximum authorizes axe loads, maximum authorized total weight);
• legal and economical advice, assistance in case of litigation

with foreign partners;
• the possibility to participate in training courses, congresses, seminars, symposiums dealing with road transport, taking place in Romania and abroad; the possibility to get documents necessary in international road traffic

AGIR is an apolitical, fully autonomous, professional organization, with juridical personality; its tradition spans over 1oo years and at present it represents and defends the social and professional interests of the engineers' body in Romania.

According to its Statute, The General Association of Engineers in Romania was founded with the object of defending the professional and social interests of the Romanian engineers' body and also of achieving unity in its actions, in view of strengthening the authority and prestige of the engineering title and profession.

To attain this basic aim, AGIR has the following objectives in view:

• to organize activities for the professional improvement of the engineers and to support their (private) business initiatives;

• to attract new individual and collective members in the AGIR structures;

• to support the development of technical and scientific research and to encourage the inventors;

• to organize meetings on technical, scientific and economic problems;

• to bring out publications of interests for the engineers;

• to participate in working out regulations and standards with technical implications;

• to develop international cooperation relationship.

FAIR is a non-governemental, apolitic and non-profit fundation established with the aim of promoting and developing SMEs sector. FAIR is in the same time is a consulting network having 18 centers spread in whole country and it co-operates with every institution which wants and is capabile of supporting the SMEs.

The members are 17 local foundations which promote the private SMEs.

It was establishes in 1995 and it's mission is to assure on the stock market the placement sector, networking it's members. The organization has 13 broker-administration societies which administrate 20 open Investment Funds, 5 Financial Investment companies and 2 Banks Deposits.

UNSLR is a professional, nonprofit, apolitical, and independent organization, established under Romanian legislation. It's goals and objectives are:

• to represent the interests of Romanian leasing companies;
• to promote cooperation between Romanian leasing companies;
• to analyse the legislation for leasing operations in Romania and to take a common stand in issuing and applying regulations;
• to cooperate with domestic and international authorities for meeting the above-mentioned objectives;
• to promote the latest concepts, techniques and methods of the leasing industry; to organize fairs and debates, in order to support these objectives (e.g. INTERFINANCE’97, ’98 and ’99);
• to promote a better involvement of UNSLR's members in the development of the leasing industry.

ASOEXPO gathers 34 Chambers and companies interested to rganize fair and exhibition. The organization provide its membres with information, consulting and training services, develop a database, defend the members, cooperate with other international organization and mentain a loyal competition between its members.

Members' list at http://www.ccir.ro/pro2000/fise/reclame/asoexpo/members.htm

The Romanian Agency for Foreign Investments (RAFI) was established according to Law no. 390/2002 as a specialized governmental body of the central public administration responsible for the implementing of the Government’s policy of promoting and attracting foreign direct investments in economy.

Responsibilities .The Agency’s field of activity consists mainly of:

• Coordinating the preparation of the strategies and action plans for attracting the foreign capital in economy, as well as the effective promotion activity of the Romanian investment projects, both on the domestic and international markets;

• Monitoring the compliance with the legal frame regarding the foreign investments in Romania and proposing its improvement ;

• Setting up the necessary conditions for providing a friendly business environment for promoting foreign direct investments;

• Providing specialized assistance to the investors interested in developing projects in Romania, prior to and following the achievement of their investments, by cooperating with other institutions and organizations, governmental or non-governmental;

• Identifying and promoting priority investment fields and their existing opportunities as well as the organizing a data base with available information for investors regarding investment projects, financing sources, potential business partners, available locations, etc.

Periodically reporting to the Government with reference to the volume, origin, structure and trend of the foreign investments in Romania and abroad, by cooperating with other specialized institutions, organizations or structures, public or private, which record and hold information in the field

Structure . The Agency’s structure is the following:

Department for Foreign Investment Assistance
Department for Foreign Investment Promotion

27. There are more than one hundred organizations (RDAs) on specific sectors but unfortunately they do not have yet a presentation web site. They are mentioned in:

• PAGINI AURII - Pagini Albe /Yellow Pages http://www.paginiaurii.ro

• CAT search engines http://cat.twf.ro/informatiiutile.html

A tentative list contains:
1. Asociatia pentru incurajarea IMM-urilor - SMEs Encouriging Association: Str. Vasile Alecsandri 9, Bucuresti 711221; Tel:+40-21-3125183
2. Asociatia Patronilor Privati din Romania - Romanian Private Owners Association: Str. Vasile
Alecsandri 15, Bucuresti 711221; Tel:+40-1-2111152; Fax:+40-21-2101847
3. Asociatia Feroviarilor din Romania - Romanian Railway Association: Bd. Dinicu Golescu 38,
Bucuresti 771131; Tel: +40-21-2234020
4. Confederatia Patronilor din Industrie - Romanian Industry Owners Confederation: Calea Victoriei 152, Bucuresti 711011; Tel:+40-21-2107612
5. Federatia Proprietarilor Privatizati din Agricultura - Privatized Agriculture Owners Federation: Bd. Nicolae Balcescu 17-19 , Bucuresti 701111; Tel:+40-21-6131869; Fax:+40-21-6133043, 3234759
6. Federatia Proprietarilor de Stat din Agricultura - State Owned Agriculture Owners Federation: Bd. Carol I 17 , Bucuresti 704312; Tel:+40-21-3237001; Fax:+40-21-3124074
7. Federatia Patronilor din Industria Usoara - Light Industry Owners Federation: Soseaua Pantelimon 300, Bucuresti 735611; Tel:+40-21-3366800
8. Federatia Patronilor din Industria Carnii - Meat Industry Owners Federation: Bd. Iuliu Maniu 19, Bucuresti 772051; Tel:+40-21-4106671; Fax:+40-21-4105328
9. Federatia Patronilor din Electricitate si Electrotehnica - Electronic and Electrotechnical Owners Federation: Str. V. Lascar 31 , Bucuresti 711121; Tel:+40-21-212645; Fax:+40-21-2110298
10.Federatia Patronilor din Industria Energetica - Energetic Industry Owners Federation: Str. Biserica Amzei 23, Bucuresti 701721; Tel:+40-21-3154770
11.Federatia Patronilor din Industria Materialelor de Constructii - Building Materials Industry Owners' Federation: Str.Radu Calomfirescu 8, Bucuresti 704742; Tel:+40-21-3149275; Fax:+40-21-3154770
12.Federatia Patronilor din Chimie si Petrochimie - Chemical and Petrochemical Owners' Federation: Splaiul Independentei 202A, Bucuresti 771411; Tel:+40-21-6376585; Fax:+40-21-2121716
13.Federatia Patronilor din Metalurgie - Metalurgical Owners' Federation: Str.Mendeleev 21-25, Bucuresti 701681; Tel:+40-21-6594765; Fax:+40-21-3129682
14.Federatia Patronilor din Geologie si Ape Minerale - Geological and Mineral Waters Owners' Federation: Str. Milcov 5, Bucuresti 783442, Tel:+40-21-2242088
15. Organizatia Patronilor din Comunicatii - Communications Owners' Organization: Bd.Libertatii 14-16, Bucuresti 761062;Tel: +40-21-4001101; Fax:+40-21-4001228
16. Uniunea Patronala a Unitatilor de Cercetare, Dezvoltare si Proiectare din Romania - Romanian Owners' Union from Research, Development and Design: Sos. Oltenitei 103, Bucuresti 756511; Tel/Fax:+40-21-3325611
17. Asociatia Forestierilor din Romania - Romanian Forestrey Association : Sos. Pipera 46A, Bucuresti 23311; Tel/Fax:+40-21-2321072
18. Asociatia Generala a Inginerilor din Romania - Romanian Engineers General Association: Calea Victoriei 118, Bucuresti 701792; Tel:+40-21-6594160, 6592395; Fax: +40-21-3125531
19. Asociatia Meseriasilor si Comerciantilor din Romania - Romanian Handicrafts and Traders Association: Str. Smardan 15, Bucuresti 704071; Tel:+40-21-3156938; Fax:+40-21-3156912
20. Federatia Patronala a Constructiilor de Masini - Car Buildings Owners' Federation: Calea Grivitei 355-357 , Bucuresti 783411; Tel/Fax:+40-21-6654045
21. Asociatia Nationala de Turism Rural, Ecologic si Cultural - Rural, Echological and Cultural Tourism Association – ANTREC: Str. Maica Alexsira 7, Bucuresti; Tel/Fax: +40-21-6665948, 2237024, 3112845
22. Consiliul National al Intreprinderilor Private Mici si Mijlocii din Romania - National Council of SMEs: Str.Mendeleev 36-38, et.9, Sector 1, Bucuresti 70169; Tel: +40-21-3126893, 3126608
23. Confederatia Nationala a Patronatului Roman - Romanian Confederation of Employers: Str. Mendeleev 36-38, Bucuresti 70169; Tel:+40-21-6594467; Fax: +40-21-3121224
24. Asociatia Romana pentru Certificarea Calitatii - Romanian Quality Certification Association: Str Ioan Slavici 9, Bucuresti; Tel:+40-21-3112844; Fax:+40-21-3112844
25. Asociatia Romana a Antreprenorilor de Constructii - Romanian Construction Entrepreneurship Association: Splaiul Independentei 202A, Bucuresti 771411; Tel:+40-21-6374550
27. Asociatia Romana a Bancilor - Romanian Banks Association: Calea 13 Septembrie, Bucuresti 761172; Tel:+40-21-4115375
28. Asociatia Romana din Industria Electronica si de Software - ARIES - Romanian Electronics and Software Industry Association: Splaiul Independentei 202 A, Bucuresti 771411; Tel:+40-21-6387240
29. AFIR - Asociatia Investitorilor Straini din Romania - Foreign Investors in Romania Association
30. AFMR - Asociatia Femeilor Manager din Romania - Romanian Manager Women Association
31. AGER - Asociatia Generala a Economistilor din Romania - Romanian Economists General Association
32. ASPAPLAST-Asociatia Patronala a Producatorilor de Mase Plastice - Plastic Producers' Association
33. CONPIROM-Confederatia Patronala din Industria Romana - Romanian Industry Owners' Federation
34. FEPAIUS - Federatia Patronala din Industria Usoara - Easy Industry Owners' Federation
35. FPM - Federatia Patronala Metalurgia - Metalurgy Owners' Federation
36. METACOM – Organizatia Patronala din Comertul cu Produse Metalo-Chimice - Metalo-Chemical Products Trade Owners' Organization
37. Asociatia Agentiilor Imobiliare - Real Estate Agencies Association: Str. Ion Câmpineanu nr.26, bloc 8, sc.A, apt.3, sector 1, Bucuresti; Tel: 021-313.68.69
38.Asociatia Actionarilor din România - Romanian Share Holders Association: Bd. Unirii nr.45, bl.E3, sc.2A, ap.40, sector 3, Bucuresti,Tel: 021-321.31.36; E-mail: giordache@aaro.ro
39. Asociatia Nationalã pentru Protectia Investitorilor - National Association for Investors' Protection: Str. Popa Tatu nr.71, sector 1, Bucuresti; Tel: 021-312.43.56; E-mail: anpi@investitor.com
40. Asociatia Nationalã a Societãtilor de Valori Mobiliare - Brokerage National Association: Bd. Expozitiei nr.2, sector 1, Bucuresti; Tel: 021-224.24.22, 224.24.09 Fax: 021-224.24.31
41. Asociatia Crescatorilor de Taurine "Bruna Schwyz" - "Bruna Schwyz" Association of Bulls Producers: Str. Popa Lupu 62, Sighetu Marmatiei 4925, jud. Maramures
42. Uniunea Crescatorilor de Pasari din Romania / Romanian Association of Poultry Producers: Bdul I. Mihalache nr.106, bl.84, sc.A, apt.24, Bucuresti; tel: +0216663795
45. Asociatia Producatorilor si exportatorilor români de ovine si caprine – A.P.E.R.O.B. - Romanian Sheeps and Goats Producers and Exporters Association – Bucuresti, Str. Braziliei, nr.15, sector 1, 021 230 1327; 021 230 0808
46.-127. BF - Business Foundations and CDMs – Local Consulting and Managemen Foundations for SMEs Development ( http://euinfo.fiman.ro/layout/layout4.html )
128. French-Romanian Business Center – CENTRAFROM: http://www.centrafrom.com/
129. Asociatia Patronilor din Judetul Cluj - Owners Association http://www.e-partener.ro
130. Asociatia Patronilor si Meseriasilor Cluj – Association of Employers and Handicrafts Cluj , str. Avram Iancu nr. 53, tel/fax 0264-430148
131. Romanian-Dutch Business Network – RomOrange: http://www.romorange.ro/
132. The American Business Community: http://www.usbiz.ro
133. The British Business Community: http://www.ukbiz.ro

Economic Sections/Office of the:

Romanian Embassies abroad:
http://domino.kappa.ro/mae/home.nsf/MisiuniEng?OpenView&Count=999

Foreign Embassies in Romania/Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, Timisoara, Sibiu…
http://domino.kappa.ro/mae/home.nsf/MisiuniStraineEng?OpenView&Count=999
 

Dr. Radu-Adrian Mlesnita

Regional Development Board

The Regional Development Board is the deliberative body, which co-ordinates the activities promoting the objectives implied by the regional development policies, at regional level.

The Regional Development Board is made up of:
the Presidents of the County Councils within the development region;
a representative of the city local boards within every county of the region;
a representative of the municipal local boards within every county of the region;
The Regional Development Board has a president and a vice-president, elected for one year, from different counties in the region.
The prefects of the counties may participate, without voting rights, at the meetings of the Regional Development Board. Representatives of the local, municipal, city and communal boards as well as representatives of other institutions and organizations with competence in the regional development field may be invited to participate at the meetings. The Manager of the Regional Development Agency participates at each reunion of the board.

Main responsibilities:
analyzes and decides over the regional development strategy and the annual and multi-annual regional development programs;
analyzes and decides over the regional development projects selected and submitted by the Regional Development Agency;
analyzes and approves the criteria and selection priorities of the regional development projects, as well as the allotment and destination of the resources of the Regional Development Fund;
analyzes and approves the project for the budget of the Regional Development Agency, designated to the organization and functioning expenses;
coordinates the activity of the Regional Development Agency, makes sure that the objectives of the regional development policy are obeyed and ensures an equal and fair treatment towards all the counties that make up the region;
appoints, through a contest and releases from duty, under law, the head of the Regional Development Agency;
approves the documentation elaborated by the Regional Development Agency in view of obtaining for some areas of the region, the status of disadvantaged area;
solicits to the Regional Development Agency to present studies, analysis and to make recommendations concerning the ways of accomplishing the objectives of the strategies of regional development.

The Regional Development Agencies

The Agencies for regional development are non-governmental organisms, non-profit, for public use, with legal personality, which act in the area specific to regional development. They are organized and function according to the law of regional development (151/1998) and to the organization and functioning status, approved by the Regional Development Board.

The Regional Development Board on the basis of competition appoints the Manager of the Regional Development Agency and the latter may also dismiss him.

The financing of the organizational and operational expenditures of the Regional Development Agency is provided from the Regional Development Fund, the amount being approved by the Regional Development Board.

The Regional Development Board approves the organization chart so that every county is equally represented.

Main responsibilities:
designs and submits for approval to the Regional Development Board the regional development strategy and programs and the planning of the management of the funds;
implements the regional development programs and the planning of the management of the funds, in accordance with the decisions adopted by the Regional Development Board, observing the legislation in force, and is also responsible for their accomplishment;
identifies the disadvantaged areas within the development regions, together with the local or county councils, and submits the necessary documentation, previously approved by the Regional Development Board, to the Ministry of Development and Prognosis and the National Board for Regional Development;
provides specialized technical assistance, together with the local or county councils, for the natural or legal persons, with either state or private capital, investing in the disadvantaged areas;
submits to the Ministry of Development and Prognosis proposals to finance the approved development projects out of the Fund for Regional Development ;
acts to attract financial contributions to the Regional Development Fund ;
manages the Regional Development Fund in order to achieve the objectives settled by the regional development programs;
is held responsible by the Regional Development Board and the legal competent bodies for the correct management of the allotted funds.

Source:

- Public documents of the Ministry for Development and Prognosis http://www.mdp.ro

ADRNV http://www.nord-vest.ro
ADRV http://www.adr5vest.ro
ADRC http://www.mdp.ro/romana/dezvoltare/regiuni/r7_centru/index.htm
Camere de Comert din Romania http://www.cci.ro
Ministry of Foreign Affairs http://www.mae.ro

Prof. Dr. Radu-Adrian Mlesnita