The government adopted on last Wednesday two measures to support farm producers affected by drought, providing for financial compensation and the legal suspension of the repayment of current and outstanding loans until August 2025.The decision comes as more than 230,000 farm producers (individuals, companies or family businesses) were hit by drought between September 2023 and August 2024, and provides for drought relief grants in the amount of RON 1,000 for each affected hectare, government spokesman Mihai Constantin said. The aid is disbursable based on a damage assessment minute acknowledging that the affected area is at least 30%. The budget of this state aid scheme is RON two billion.Another measure adopted by the government to support farmers who had difficulties this year provides for the possibility of legally suspending the repayment of current and overdue loans due in 2024, until August 1, 2025. The facility applies provided that two requirements are met: the applicant for suspension must have a record ascertaining an extent of damage of at least 50%; the interest charged by the lender is higher than 2.5% plus ROBOR for loans in RON, and 2% plus EURIBOR for foreign currency loans, Agriculture Minister Florin Barbu explained.Another emergency ordinance adopted on Wednesday aims to expand the "Farmer's Loan" state aid scheme, so that advantageous state-guaranteed loans can also be accessed for the payment of outstanding debts to suppliers and input distributors."We are talking here about 100% state-backed loans with a fixed interest rate of 1.95, and the ROBOR and all other fees are borne by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Government of Romania. (...) Let me tell you one more thing: Romania's self-sufficiency rate for domestic products is 100%. This year's wheat production exceeds by 1.9 million tons the 2023 crop. Practically, we have the necessary output for both animal husbandry and for export," the minister emphasized.
Pulitzer Prize winner Junot Díaz, Tracy Chevalier, the author of the international best seller Girl with a Pearl Earring, and French author Michel Bussi, known for his widely translated thriller novels, are among the authors set to attend this year’s Iași International Literature and Translation Festival (FILIT), the largest literary festival in the country. They […]
Bucharest is about to welcome a culinary moment like no other. This September, the JW Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel will host Michelin-starred Chef Theodor Falser - a name synonymous with nature-inspired haute cuisine - for three exclusive evenings that promise to delight the senses and tell stories through food. The Chef Who Cooks Nature Theodor […]
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has endorsed Romania’s latest fiscal measures, forecasting that the economy will grow by 1% in 2025 and 1.4% in 2026, the government said Friday, September 12, after talks with a visiting IMF delegation. The delegation, led by Joong Shik Kang, met prime minister Ilie Bolojan in Bucharest to discuss the […]
The George Ciprian Theater in Buzău has unveiled “E-Waste E-Motion,” the first performance in Romania in which all characters are played by small autonomous robots, blending art, technology, and sustainability in an experimental theatrical project. “E-Waste E-Motion” is part of a broader artistic research initiative supported by the National University of Theatre and Film (UNATC) […]
With extensive experience in the luxury hospitality sector, gained as General Manager of Sofitel Legend The Grand Amsterdam and Hotel Okura Amsterdam (LHW), as well as in various Director of Operations and Business Development roles, Ms. Emmy Stoel is a seasoned professional whose career reflects a deep passion for excellence in guest service, having successfully […]
Update: The woman made her first statements on Friday afternoon after being questioned. According to Digi24, she told journalists outside a police station in Bucharest that the items were family heirlooms from the Soviet era, and that she...
