Prime Minister Florin Cîțu says that Eurostat data on the level of
prices for consumer goods and services in the European Union confirm
that Romania has the cheapest food products. He claims that the "boom
of prices" is fake news. Overall, the level of prices for consumer
goods and services in the European Union has varied by almost one to
three between the cheapest and the most expensive EU member state.
The current moment is perfect for boosting investments in local
economy, as investors are trying to make plans on a long term. This was
one of the conclusions of ZF video conference "Biggest Players in
Economy. Time for Action 2021". The event was organized by Ziarul
Financiar in partnership with Vodafone Romania, Ijdelea Mihailescu law
firm, DP World Constanta, EY Romania, Immofinanz, ING Bank Romania, ONV
Law, Noerr, Aqua Carpatica, CITR and Antibiotice.
State loans grew by over 18.1% (or by 13.9% in real terms) in May 2021,
compared to the same month of 2020, to nearly RON 160.88 billion, as a
result of the increased spending of the government and local
administrations. Moreover, state loans were up 1.7% against April 2021,
according to data published by the National Bank of Romania (NBR)
yesterday.
Deposits of resident non-government clients grew by 0.6% in May 2021
compared to the previous month, to RON 435.903 billion, and by 13.7%
(9.5% in real terms) compared to May 2020. Residents’ deposits in RON,
accounting for 65.1% of total deposits of non-government clients,
increased by 0.5% compared to April 2021, to RON 283.768 billion and by
15.4% (11.3% in real terms) compared to May 2020.
The Alternative Banking Dispute Settlement Centre (CSALB) sends the
received requests to credit institutions or to non-banking financial
institutions (IFN), but 9 out of 10 requests for re-registration from
the Credit Bureau are rejected by banks and IFNs. The organization
indicates that the de-registration decision belongs to traders and no
longer involves a negotiation within the Center.
Banca Transilvania is part of a new grants program, this time for the
HoReCa sector, which means non-reimbursable financing for SMEs
activating in the hospitality industry: hotels, restaurants, guest
houses, travel agencies and event organizers. Entrepreneurs can benefit
from financing of up to 20% of the turnover decline recorded in 2020,
compared to 2019, with a maximum limit of EUR 800,000.
Hidroelectrica has signed the contract for the modernization of the 20
kV stations Voila, Viştea, Arpașu, Scoreiu and Avrig, located on the
Olt Superior sector. The works, initially estimated at RON
1,388,566.75, VAT not included, will be carried out by the association
formed of Energotehnica (Leader), Energoconsult (associate) Energototal
(associate), which has won the sectoral acquisition contract for RON
1,208,285, VAT not included.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has
invested EUR 42.5 million in the latest green bonds issue of real
estate developer CTP, the largest owner of warehouses in Romania. In
February, CTP issued the third tranche of green bonds, with a nominal
value of EUR 500 million.
Catinvest has obtained the necessary building permit to start works on
a new extension of Electroputere Mall in Craiova. Starting from July,
with a total investment estimated at EUR 6 million, Catinvest will
develop an extension of the area allocated to restaurants in
Electroputere Mall, thus adding 5 new restaurants, 3 of which will have
private outdoor terraces, a new common outdoor terrace that can be
shared by restaurants’ customers and an additional extension of the
retail area by 5,500 square meters.
NBR Governor Mugur Isărescu has sent to Parliament a request to amend
the draft law banning public sector employees to simultaneously earn a
pension and a salary. According to the Governor, the provisions of the
draft law on some measures regarding persons who meet retirement
conditions, in their current form, do not allow some of the members of
the National Bank of Romania’s Board of Directors to continue their
mandate, throughout its entire duration.
Yesterday, the Chamber of Deputies adopted the draft law submitted by
USR PLUS, which establishes that, in case of failure to fill school
principal positions, interim principals should no longer be appointed
by school inspectorates, but by the schools’ Boards of Directors. The
draft law, initiated by USR PLUS senators Stefan Pălărie, Silvia Dinică
and Darău Irineu, will now be sent to the Senate, for debates, and may
be adopted by the end of the parliamentary session.
The European Commission laid out on Wednesday (23 June) its vision for
a Joint Cyber Unit to tackle evolving cyberthreats and to increase
European resilience. The Joint Cyber Unit will serve as a platform for
cooperation for cybersecurity communities across the EU, enabling them
to draw on each other’s support and to create a cybersecurity shield to
detect cyberthreats before they can cause damage.
The National Committee for the Coordination of Anti-Covid-19
Vaccination Activities (CNCAV) has announced that a new tranche of
Johnson&Johnson vaccines, consisting of 60,000 doses, will get to
Romania. The doses will be stored at the National Storage Center, and
will be distributed to the existing regional centers at national level
in the following period.