PM Ciuca, EconMin Spataru meet with French businessmen

Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca and Minister of Economy Florin Marian Spataru met on Thursday with representatives of MEDEF (Mouvement des Entreprises de France), an organization that brings together over 75 pct of the French companies, who voiced the desire to invest in Romania's economy, in areas that would generate development and new jobs, the government informed in a press release.   "Among the sectors of industry identified as having significant potential are the microelectronics industry, for which the Ministry of Economy prepares projects worth 500 million euros through PNRR (National Recovery and Resilience Plan) - this investment supporting the EU's approach to become a net exporter of semiconductors, the development of industrial and technological relations between the two countries by creating an environment conducive to the development of the circular economy, for the use of new technologies in order to reduce carbon dioxide emissions," reads the government's release.In the context of investments in the integrated circuits industry and the microelectronics industry, the sides talked about creating premises for the participation of Romanian companies in the field in the European objectives of developing the European ecosystem through PNRR, facilitating Romania's involvement in a large-scale project that brings together over 100 companies in Europe.Representatives of some French companies interested in expanding their business or investments in Romania discussed, on Wednesday, with the Deputy Secretary-General of the Ministry of Economy, Entrepreneurship and Tourism of Romania, Corneliu Cirstea, during the visit paid by the MEDEF International delegation, the largest employers' federation in France.According to a press release issued by the relevant ministry on Thursday, the French companies in the delegation presented their intentions to expand or initiate investments in Romania in areas such as transport and logistics, tourism, road and rail infrastructure, urban planning, water management, agriculture, aerospace and defense, energy, digitization and innovation, the insurance sector.Present at the meeting, MEDEF President Geoffroy Roux de Bezieux was accompanied by other representatives of the organization and members of the French Embassy in Bucharest.During the meeting, the Deputy Secretary-General of the Ministry of Economy, Entrepreneurship and Tourism praised the good cooperation with the business environment in France and appreciated the high level of investment of top French companies in Romania, as well as the high level of bilateral trade and trade surplus - indicator of the appreciation of the quality of the Romanian products on the French market.The Deputy Secretary-General also communicated to the French side the existence of a significant potePM Ciuca, EconMin Spataru meet with MEDEF representativesntial for enhancing bilateral cooperation and referred to the measures taken by the Government to improve the business climate, mentioning the sectors of major importance for Romania towards which the joint efforts for boosting economic cooperation should be directed.In order to take advantage of these opportunities, Corneliu Cirstea proposed the organization of several promotional events in France aimed at bringing to the attention of the French business environment the current attractive economic realities in Romania.The French team highlighted both the importance of the economic dimension in the bilateral relationship and the collaboration at European level, and expressed their interest in exploring investment opportunities in Romania.The two delegations agreed to intensify future cooperation so as to take advantage of bilateral trade and investment opportunities.   The same day, the Fench delegation had a meeting at the Bucharest City Hall with the General Mayor Nicusor Dan. "Our guests from France have presented the experience of companies they represent, as well as the possibilities of collaboration they've identified, especially regarding the improvement of transport infrastructure, the energy sector and digitization, as well as in relation to modernizing healthcare infrastructure and seismic risk management. The Bucharest City Hall is open to collaboration with French companies as part of the public investments that we will make, but also to attract French private investments, which would create new jobs and develop the industries and services of Bucharest," said the General Mayor, on Facebook.He mentioned that he presented, in his turn, the priorities of the municipality regarding the modernization of the heating system, including the European funds project worth 281 million euro which was recently launched; public transport and transport infrastructure - the acquisition of electric buses, trams and trolleybuses, but also the building of the metropolitan train or the radial roads that Bucharest will use to link to the future ring road; consolidation of buildings with seismic risk; digitization of public services and the institutions of the local administration. France is Romania's sixth largest trading partner and the third largest destination for Romanian exports. In the first ten months of 2021, trade between the two countries amounted to 7.4 billion euros, with a surplus for Romania of 549 million euros.In terms of investments in Romania, France ranks 6th, with a subscribed share capital of 2.38 billion euros and actual investments exceeding 7 billion euros. According to National Trade Registry Office (ONRC), in December 2021, as many as 10,140 companies with French capital were registered in Romania.