Romania Industrial Sales Rise 11.6% In January-May
In the first five months of 2014, Romanian industrial sales rose 11.6% on the year, INS data showed.
Industrial sales increased 2.7% last month, after a 4.3% decline in April. Sales in the mining sector advanced 7.4% on the month in May, while manufacturing sales were up 2.5%, the data showed.
By segment, energy sales rose 20.1% month-on-month, while sales of intermediate and consumer goods increased 1.9% and 1.6%, respectively. Sales of durable goods inched up 0.5% from the previous month, but capital goods sales declined 0.1%. (Curierul National)
Companies Paying Lower Green Certificate Quotas Forced To Invest In Staff
Companies receiving state aid in the form of lower green certificate quotas are forced to keep layoffs to less than 25% of the staff registered at the time they become eligible for the state aid scheme.
The receipt of such state aid also conditions companies to render their activity more efficient and sign partnerships with schools for courses in their field of activity, according to a government decision published in the Official Journal.
Under the government decision, large energy consumers will only pay 15-60% of their allotted green certificate quota. The aid scheme is valid for ten years. (Romania Libera)
Competition Watchdog Checks Up Companies Participating In Transgaz Bids
Competition Council investigated the headquarters of 13 companies which participated in the public acquisition procedures organized by state-run natural gas pipeline operator Transgaz Medias in 2011, regarding potential bid rigging practices.
The 13 companies investigated are Inspet, Condmag Brasov, Trustul de Montaj Utilaj Chimic Bucuresti (TMUCB), Rominsta, Moldocor, CIS GAZ, Armax, Armax Gaz, Pegamont, Ecrpod, Amarad, Posada Med and Staza Invest.
The value of the ten contracts closed by Transgaz with the winners of the bids totals approximately EUR8 million. (Puterea)
UK Politicians Come Up With Plan On Restricting Number Of Foreign Workers
After over a year of aggressive campaign against immigrants, British politicians will present a plan for restricting the number of foreign workers, mainly targeting Romanians and Bulgarians.
The Conservative Party led by British PM David Cameron will present a set of measures on restricting the number of immigrants coming from the states where the average salary and welfare are lower than in the UK. The plan will have the support of the UK ruling coalition, formed of conservatives and liberal-democrats. (Adevarul)
Tennis Players Simona Halep, Horia Tecau, Named Ambassadors Of Romanian Tourism
Tennis players Simona Halep and Horia Tecau, Olympic champion Mihai Covaliu, violinist Alexandru Tomescu and inventor Ionut Budisteanu were named ambassadors of Romanian tourism and received diplomatic passports from the government.
“I would like to thank Romania and Romanians for this title. I am a 100% Romanian product, I will stay in Romania and give my best to Romanians,” Simona Halep stated. (Adevarul)