Consultations between Government and business community

   The Prime Minister's Chancellery hosted consultations on Friday at Victoria Palace of Government with representatives of chambers of commerce and entrepreneurs' associations, which also addressed the reform and professionalization of the Romanian Agency for Investments and Foreign Trade (ARICE).According to a Government press release, participants stressed the need for a national economic strategy to support investment projects that bring added value to Romania."The discussions focused on reforming and professionalizing ARICE so that it becomes an institution able to provide the business community with comprehensive and consistent information for initiating and developing investment projects, as well as for promoting Romanian companies abroad. In this context, strengthening the National Contact Point for Responsible Business Conduct within ARICE was also highlighted, with a view to implementing the OECD Guidelines," reads the press release.According to the same source, representatives of the chambers of commerce emphasized the need to ensure the stability and consolidation of Romania's network of economic diplomacy abroad, so as to maintain dialogue with foreign investors.Other topics on the agenda included the development of a single digital platform to centralize information and investment opportunities, the creation of a joint database with the business community, expanding digitalization, and shortening the time needed to obtain permits.The Government reiterated its commitment to supporting the investment environment ? either Romanian or foreign entrepreneurs ? and to promoting exports, said Raul Gutin, State Adviser in the Prime Minister's Chancellery.For his part, Secretary of State in the Foreign Affairs Ministry (MAE) Luca Niculescu, who coordinates Romania's OECD accession efforts, emphasized the MAE's support for external economic diplomacy, while Ambassador Bogdan Mazuru highlighted the important role of economic attachés in promoting Romania's interests abroad.Presidential Adviser Radu Burnete pointed out that the Presidential Administration and the Government are working closely together to meet the expectations of the business community.Chambers of commerce and entrepreneurs' associations stressed the need for legislative and administrative stability and predictability to provide confidence to those seeking to invest in Romania.The dialogue between the Government and the private sector will continue in the coming period, focusing on proposals put forward by business representatives and on adopting best practices from other countries to attract investors to Romania.The meeting was attended on the authorities' side by State Adviser Raul Gutin, State Secretary Luca Niculescu, Ambassador Bogdan Mazuru, and Presidential Adviser Radu Burnete. Business representatives included the Foreign Investors Council, French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Romania, AmCham Romania, Swiss-Romanian Chamber of Commerce, British-Romanian Chamber of Commerce, Dutch-Romanian Chamber of Commerce, National Council of Private SMEs in Romania, Belgium-Luxembourg-Romania-Republic of Moldova Chamber of Commerce, Concordia Employers' Confederation, The Association of Businesspeople in Romania (AOAR), and the Romanian Business Leaders Foundation.