Romania Amends Unfair Competition Legislation
Denigrating competitors and defrauding the clientele through the use of trade secrets is punishable by fines of up to RON50,000, according to government’s amendments to the legislation regarding unfair competition.
It is more difficult to accuse firms of breaching the legal provisions regarding unfair competition after the government recently passed an ordinance amending law 11/1991. (Romania Libera)
One Third Of Romanian Exports To Russia Are Vehicles
Vehicle sales account for one third of Romania’s exports to Russia, which rose by $500 million last year, to $1.84 billion, and cars, machinery and electrical equipment make up a quarter of exports, with Dacia, ArcelorMittal, Michelin and Danfoss among top exporters.
At the end of 2013, the total volume of Romania’s trade exchanges with the Russian Federation neared $5 billion, up 12.7% from 2012. Exports stood at $1.84 billion, 36.1% higher than in 2012, while imports stood at $3.15 billion, 2.5% higher than in 2012. The trade balance was at minus $1.3 billion, 24% lower on the year, which places Russia at number seven among countries that contributed to Romania’s trade deficit.
According to statistics, Russia is Romania’s seventh largest trade partner (after Germany, Italy, Hungary, France, Turkey and Poland), with 3.4% of the total, its ninth export partner, with 2.8%, and its sixth import partner (after Germany, Italy, Hungary, France and Poland), with 4.3%. (Romania Libera)
ANRE: Natural Gas Prices For Households To Go Up By Less Than 3%
Romania’s energy watchdog head Niculae Havrilet said Thursday that natural gas prices for households may go up by less than 3%, starting October 1.
He also said that natural gas prices for non-household consumers will not go up as of October and electricity prices for households will be kept unchanged. (Puterea)
INS: Romania Industry Sales Rise 10.8% In First Six Months
Romanian industrial sales rose 10.8% in the first six months compared with the same period of 2013, boosted by higher demand in all sectors, according to the country’s statistics institute INS.
Sales in the mining sector advanced 10% on the year in the first half, while manufacturing sales were up 10.8%, the data showed.
By segment, energy sales rose 30.1% year-on-year, while sales of durable and intermediate goods increased 12.9% and 10%, respectively. Sales of capital goods were up 9.8% from January-June 2013, while consumer goods sales went 6.3% higher. (Curierul National)
Basescu Officially Rejects Ponta’s Minister Nominations For Culture And Budget
President Traian Basescu officially rejected Prime Minister Victor Ponta’s nominations for culture and budget ministers.
Ponta proposed Rozalia Biro for deputy premier and culture minister, to replace Culture Minister Kelemen Hunor, and Claudiu Manda to replace minister delegate for Budget Liviu Voinea.
Thus, Voinea and Kelemen will keep their seats. However, according to a decision of the Romanian Constitutional Court, the president is obliged to accept the second round of nominations. (Gandul)