The use of renewable energy sources, the increase in energy efficiency and a clean and safe energy infrastructure are all challenges that once accomplished might boost Romanian productivity and thus competitiveness. Romania-insider.com looks at the structural funds for economic competitiveness and at the companies that got them.

The Romanian gross domestic product (GDP) contracted by 0.7 percent in the third quarter of this year from the second and it dropped by 2.3 percent from January to September, according to the National Institute of Statistics. The Romanian GDP in the third quarter shrank by 2.5 percent in gross series compared to July-Sept. of 2009 and by 2.3 percent by seasonally adjusted series.

Several companies announced their financial results yesterday and the Romanian media was quick to capture them: A&D Pharma, Rompetrol Rafinare, Ranbaxy, Edy International Spedition. Most of them posted positive results, which trigger hopes of growth for the future too. Meanwhile, a new real estate investment was announced: the Electroputere shopping center in Craiova, which will include an Auchan hypermarket and several other retail brands from the portfolio owned by billionaire family Mulliez, writes the local media. Read more headlines from the Romanian and international media.

Real estate developer K&S Developments, owned by investors Kris Carton and Steven Van Den Bossche, will open the Electroputere Parc shopping center in Craiova in the second half of next year. The shopping center will feature an Auchan unit, the French retailer has announced. The new shopping center will be built on 12 hectares of land on the Electroputere Craiova industrial platform, owned by Al Arrab.

Romania has set a too optimistic target in joining the Eurozone in 2015, according to Peter Sanfey, chief economist with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

Local transport company edy International Spedition posted EUR 49 million in revenues for the first nine months of the year, up 25 percent on the same period last year. This is above the market increase level and was triggered by the increase in volumes and by the optimization measures taken by the company, according to edy International Spedition.

Real estate developers Real4You Immobilien and Oasis Development have invested EUR 7 million in a 4,300 sqm shopping center in Giurgiu called Family Center. The project is anchored by a Kaufland supermarket, on 5,500 sqm, which was finalized in March this year.

Health care company A&D Pharma posted sales of EUR 482.2 million in the first nine months of this year, an increase of 32 percent compared to the same period of last year. The amount includes the EUR 16.7 million Q3 revenue from newly acquired Marketing & Sales operations outside of Romania.

Local company Remarul 16 Februarie, based in Cluj – Napoca, has signed an agreement with Bombardier Transportation to produce trains of high capacity in Romania. Remarul 16 Februarie will hold the exclusivity in producing and selling AGC trains in six countries in South – Eastern Europe- Romania, Greece, Bulgaria, Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro.

*BNR about the idea of adding supplementary tax for banks: we will respect the European decision – in Ziarul Financiar
*Unpleasant surprise for Petrom in the third quarter: strong RON and Kazakhstan have taken the company on the loss side – in Ziarul Financiar
*UniCredit's strategy is to increase lending and stop expenses – in Ziarul Financiar
*The Romanian – German Chamber of Commerce proposes a commercial arbitrage court for companies – in Ziarul Financiar
*Cheaper insurance policies brought a drop of business for Allianz – in Ziarul Financiar

The use of renewable energy sources, the increase in energy efficiency and a clean and safe energy infrastructure are all challenges that once accomplished might boost Romanian productivity and thus competitiveness. Romania-insider.com looks at the structural funds for economic competitiveness and at the companies that got them.

The Romanian gross domestic product (GDP) contracted by 0.7 percent in the third quarter of this year from the second and it dropped by 2.3 percent from January to September, according to the National Institute of Statistics. The Romanian GDP in the third quarter shrank by 2.5 percent in gross series compared to July-Sept. of 2009 and by 2.3 percent by seasonally adjusted series.

Several companies announced their financial results yesterday and the Romanian media was quick to capture them: A&D Pharma, Rompetrol Rafinare, Ranbaxy, Edy International Spedition. Most of them posted positive results, which trigger hopes of growth for the future too. Meanwhile, a new real estate investment was announced: the Electroputere shopping center in Craiova, which will include an Auchan hypermarket and several other retail brands from the portfolio owned by billionaire family Mulliez, writes the local media. Read more headlines from the Romanian and international media.

Real estate developer K&S Developments, owned by investors Kris Carton and Steven Van Den Bossche, will open the Electroputere Parc shopping center in Craiova in the second half of next year. The shopping center will feature an Auchan unit, the French retailer has announced. The new shopping center will be built on 12 hectares of land on the Electroputere Craiova industrial platform, owned by Al Arrab.

Romania has set a too optimistic target in joining the Eurozone in 2015, according to Peter Sanfey, chief economist with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

Local transport company edy International Spedition posted EUR 49 million in revenues for the first nine months of the year, up 25 percent on the same period last year. This is above the market increase level and was triggered by the increase in volumes and by the optimization measures taken by the company, according to edy International Spedition.

Real estate developers Real4You Immobilien and Oasis Development have invested EUR 7 million in a 4,300 sqm shopping center in Giurgiu called Family Center. The project is anchored by a Kaufland supermarket, on 5,500 sqm, which was finalized in March this year.

Health care company A&D Pharma posted sales of EUR 482.2 million in the first nine months of this year, an increase of 32 percent compared to the same period of last year. The amount includes the EUR 16.7 million Q3 revenue from newly acquired Marketing & Sales operations outside of Romania.

Local company Remarul 16 Februarie, based in Cluj – Napoca, has signed an agreement with Bombardier Transportation to produce trains of high capacity in Romania. Remarul 16 Februarie will hold the exclusivity in producing and selling AGC trains in six countries in South – Eastern Europe- Romania, Greece, Bulgaria, Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro.

*BNR about the idea of adding supplementary tax for banks: we will respect the European decision – in Ziarul Financiar
*Unpleasant surprise for Petrom in the third quarter: strong RON and Kazakhstan have taken the company on the loss side – in Ziarul Financiar
*UniCredit's strategy is to increase lending and stop expenses – in Ziarul Financiar
*The Romanian – German Chamber of Commerce proposes a commercial arbitrage court for companies – in Ziarul Financiar
*Cheaper insurance policies brought a drop of business for Allianz – in Ziarul Financiar