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Kraft Foods Appreciates Land Offer, Romanian Plant Still To Close

15:54, 19 Nov. 2008
International giant Kraft Foods on Wednesday said the decision to shut down its chocolate factory in Romania still stands, despite an “appreciated gesture” of local officials to offer the company more land to expand operations.

Bucharest Ring Road Expanded To Four Lanes By End-2010- Romania Transp Min

14:43, 19 Nov. 2008
Expansion works on the Bucharest ring road to four lanes will be completed late 2010 and construction contracts on the last three ring road sections will be signed next week, Romania’s transport minister Ludovic Orban said Wednesday.

Romania’s Postal Co To Dismiss 500 Employees, Transfer Other 1,500 To Partner Cos

14:20, 19 Nov. 2008
Romania’s state-owned postal services company Posta Romana will lay off 500 employees and will transfer in 2009 other 1,500 in charge with cleaning and transport of assets to other companies to which it outsourced these services, the operating manager of the company, Mihai Buciu, said Wednesday.

Four Fire Victims In NE Romania Remain In Critical Condition

12:03, 19 Nov. 2008
The four children taken to “St Marie” Hospital in Iasi, northeastern Romania, victims of the blaze that occurred Tuesday evening in a commune in Neamt county, are in critical condition, and doctors are reserved regarding their chances of recovery.

Romanian Telecom Unaffected By Intl Fin Crisis, To Grow By Up To 10% In ‘09– Comm Authority Head

11:20, 19 Nov. 2008
The international financial crisis will not affect the Romanian telecom and related services market, that will register a growth rate of up to 10% in 2009, compared with over 10% this year, Liviu Nistoran, head of National Communication Authority, staid Wednesday.

Blaze Injures Eight Kids In NE Romania

20:13, 18 Nov. 2008
Eight children were injured in a blaze that started in Romanian Neamt county commune Girov, in a home. The children were taken to the Piatra Neamt Emergency county hospital.

Romania’s Petrom To Cut Gasoline Pump Prices By RON0.03/Liter

18:51, 18 Nov. 2008
Romania’s largest vertically integrated oil company Petrom (SNP.RO), owned by Austria’s OMV (OMV.VI), will cut Wednesday its gasoline pump prices by 0.03 lei (EUR1=RON3.8391) per liter, keeping the same prices for its diesel oil, the company said in a statement.

Romanians To Enjoy Nat Geo Music And Nat Geo Adventure As Of 2009

17:25, 18 Nov. 2008
National Geographic Channel Romania will launch TV channels Nat Geo Music and Nat Geo Adventure on the Romanian market in 2009, Anca Ivanciu, PR&Marketing manager at the National Geographic Channel, said Tuesday.

Ctrl Bker: Effects Of New Lending Rules To Be Analyzed Three Mos After Adoption

17:22, 18 Nov. 2008
The National Bank of Romania told the commercial banks that the effects of the new household lending regulations will be analyzed three months after their adoption, Adrian Vasilescu, adviser of the central bank's governor, said Tuesday.

Romanian Businessman Acquitted Of Using False Documents

17:18, 18 Nov. 2008
A Bucharest court on Tuesday acquitted Romanian businessman Sorin Ovidiu Vantu of using false documents to set up a bank.

Rescuers Go In For Last Four Bodies Of Miners Killed In Blast, W Romania

16:08, 18 Nov. 2008
Four teams of rescuers descended Tuesday afternoon in the Petrila mine, central Romania, to try to bring out four remaining bodies of people who died in two blasts Saturday.

Romania Auto Registry Says Blame For Used Cars Overload Misplaced

16:06, 18 Nov. 2008
Romanian cars are thoroughly tested for technical requirements, and the Romanian Automobile Registry (RAR) even proposed checkups of cars over 7 years old be operated annually, but the authorities had no reaction to the proposition, RAR said Tuesday.

Romanian Social Democrats Drafted Governing Plan In View Of Nov 30 Gen Elections

15:47, 18 Nov. 2008
Romanian social democrats completed their governing program in view of general elections on November 30, party leader Mircea Geoana said Tuesday, adding the plan envisages 4.5% economic growth in 2009.

Romania Automotive Registry Eliminates Authenticity Certificate In Some Cases

15:43, 18 Nov. 2008
The Romanian Automotive Registry, or RAR, decided Tuesday to eliminate, in some cases, the certificate of authenticity requirement for vehicle registration.

Romanian Govt, Administration Should Buy Romanian Cars– Leftist Opp Head

15:15, 18 Nov. 2008
Romanian social democrat leader Mircea Geoana said Tuesday the temporary cancellation of the registration tax for cars is a “commonsensical” solution in the short run, and added that, in order to encourage Romanian industry, authorities should only purchase Romanian cars.

Bush Administration Backed Romania For Visa Waiver Program But Rejection Rate Is Too High – Official

14:25, 18 Nov. 2008
Romania was backed by the Bush administration for the Visa Waiver Program, but efforts are impaired by the fact that the visa rejection rate of over 10%, Amy Kudwa, spokeswoman for the United States Department of Homeland Security, told MEDIAFAX Tuesday.

Ctrl Bker: Some Romanian Bks Pay 10% For Deposits, But Ask 35% For Loans

13:59, 18 Nov. 2008
The Romanian national authority for consumers’ protection, or ANPC, should take notice on banks that pay interest rates of about 10% of the deposits, but increased the loan interest rates to near 35%, Adrian Vasilescu, adviser of the central bank's governor, said Tuesday.

Romania Could Target Becoming Seventh Power In EU – PM

13:58, 18 Nov. 2008
Romanian Prime Minister Calin Tariceanu said Tuesday in western Romanian city Timisoara that Romania could aim to become the seventh power in the European Union if it makes use of its natural potential.

FOCUS: Auto Importers in Romania, Carmaker Dacia Cut Costs, On Lower Demand

13:52, 18 Nov. 2008
Massive used car imports and harsher lending conditions, in the fallout of the global financial crisis, prompted Romanian auto importers to cut costs, scale down their car fleet, curb the expansion process and hire people only in exceptional cases, while local car maker Dacia even halted production.

Romanian Bks Want Softer Lending Rules To Unblock Mortgage Loans

12:45, 18 Nov. 2008
Romanian lenders will request the National Bank of Romania to amend the regulation regarding household lending, as the new rules have blocked mortgage lending, the president of Romanian Banks’ Association, Radu Gratian Ghetea, said Tuesday.

Romania’s Waste Collector Protan Temporarily Resumes Activity In All Units

12:19, 18 Nov. 2008
Romania’s non-hazardous waste collector Protan Tuesday announced it resumes the activity to collect and neutralize animal waste in all its eight units countrywide, following negotiations with the Agriculture Ministry.

Romanian PM: Govt Won’t Increase Flat Tax, VAT

20:50, 17 Nov. 2008
The Romanian government is not planning to increase the flat tax or the value added tax to ensure the necessary funds for supporting the economy, but it will focus on improving the budget revenues collection from taxpayers, Prime Minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu said Monday.

Colgate-Palmolive To Close Factory In C Romania By Mid-December

19:08, 17 Nov. 2008
The Romanian subsidiary of US personal care products maker Colgate-Palmolive will close its plant in the central Romanian city of Brasov by mid-December, and the company will move its production to Poland, the company said on Monday.

Petrila Mine Rescuers Bring Up Four Of Eight Bodies

19:03, 17 Nov. 2008
Rescuers brought up the bodies of four of the eight Romanian miners who perished in the Petrila mine, Hunedoara county prefect Aurel Pricajan announced.

Romanian Govt May Cut Pollution Tax For New Cars To Tackle Used Cars Imports

18:52, 17 Nov. 2008
Romania's Government plans to suspend for three to six months the pollution tax for the acquisition of new cars in order to limit the imports of used cars, Prime Minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu said Monday.

Layoffs Are Not Currently An Option At Oltchim – Romanian Pres

18:12, 17 Nov. 2008
Romanian President Traian Basescu said Monday after talking with the management of chemical plant Oltchim that he would tell the employees unemployment is not in their current outlook, as measures are planned in relation with oil company OMV and state privatization authority AVAS.

China’s HOYO-SHK To Invest EUR20M In Tractor Factory C Romania

17:27, 17 Nov. 2008
HOYO-SHK Modern Agricultural Equipment, the representative of China's Shantuo Agricultural Machinery Equipment in Europe, will invest $20 million in a low-power tractors assembling factory in the central town of Brasov.

Romanian Analysts: Higher Taxes Required To Cope With Electoral Promises

16:02, 17 Nov. 2008
Romania's future government will be forced to increase taxes to ensure the budget revenues needed to apply the recent promises, especially the ones regarding wage hikes, Romanian economic analysts said in a press conference Monday.

Three Bucharest Citizens Caught Testing Smuggled Guns

15:38, 17 Nov. 2008
Three Bucharest citizens were discovered by police, at the end of last week, as they were testing their gas pistols, bought in Bulgaria, in a field in Giurgiu county, the Romanian Police announced.

Professional Rescuers To Try To Bring Up Bodies Of Miners Killed In Blast Saturday

14:46, 17 Nov. 2008
A team of professional mine rescuers arrived Monday at the Petrila mine, Hunedoara county, western Romania, where two blasts claimed the lives of twelve people Saturday, to try to bring out the bodies of eight miners killed in the first blast.

Second Bucharest City Hall Corruption Suspect Brought In

14:25, 17 Nov. 2008
The second Bucharest City Hall clerk targeted by the corruption sting operation unfolded Thursday by anticorruption prosecutors, and who was under an all-points bulletin, Gheorghe Dicu, was captured and arrested for 29 days under charges of soliciting bribery.

Ford Strategy For Romania Not Affected By Intl Crisis, EC Probe

14:04, 17 Nov. 2008
The international financial crisis and the European Commission’s probe on the state aid granted to US automaker Ford for personnel training, will not affect the group’s plans for investments in Romania, a Ford representative told MEDIAFAX on Monday.

Romanian President Proposes Car Tax Exemption For New Cars To Overcome Crisis

14:00, 17 Nov. 2008
Romanian President Traian Basescu said Monday after a visit to the plant of Dacia, the Romanian carmaking unit of France’s Renault, that a solution to the crisis that is affecting the local auto industry would be a temporary tax exemption for new cars.

Romania Offers Unconditioned Support To EU Enlargement – PM

13:53, 17 Nov. 2008
Romanian liberal Prime Minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu said Monday, within the reunion of liberals in South-Eastern Europe, that Romania offers unconditioned support to the enlargement process of the European Union in the hopes of turning the Western Balkans into a region of stability and prosperity.

Romanian Miners, Rescuers, Management Members Heard In Mine Blasts Investigation

13:11, 17 Nov. 2008
Mine rescuers, miners and “members of the management” are being questioned Monday within the investigation at the mine in Petrila, Hunedoara county, western Romania, where two blasts claimed twelve lives Saturday.

Romania’s Petrom Cuts Diesel Oil, Gasoline Prices By RON0.03 Per Liter

13:08, 17 Nov. 2008
Romania’s largest oil company Petrom SA (SNP.RO) cut Monday gasoline and diesel oil reference prices by 0.03 lei (EUR1=RON3.7379) per liter, the company said in a statement.

Union Leaders To Attend Talks In Vienna Over Kraft’s Romanian Chocolate Factory

12:54, 17 Nov. 2008
Two union leaders representing employees of Kraft Foods’ Romanian, Brasov-based chocolate factory said Monday they will go to Vienna on Nov 24 to meet with representatives from all of Kraft’s European units and discuss the problems of the Romanian factory.

Romania Court Delays Trial on Appeals Of Communist-Era Generals To 15 Yr Jail Term

12:13, 17 Nov. 2008
Romania’s Supreme Court decided Monday to put off until January 26, 2009 the trial of the appeals of former high-ranking generals Athanasie Stanculescu and Mihai Chitac for the annulment of the sentence to 15 years in jail each for their role in killing demonstrators during the 1989 anti-communist revolution.

Holland Might Put On Hold Labor Mkt Opening To Romania, Bulgaria

21:13, 16 Nov. 2008
Dutch minister of social affairs, Piet Hein Donner, decided that Holland put on hold the opening of its labor market for Romanian and Bulgarian workers until July 1, 2009, the Brabants Dagblad daily reported on its website Sunday.

Romania Must Adjust Budget To Economic Crisis – IMF Adviser

19:01, 16 Nov. 2008
Romania should target a lower budget deficit in 2009 to 1-1.5% of gross domestic product through prudent spending policies, given that the slowdown in economic growth to 3-4% will trigger a sharp decrease in budget revenue, International Monetary Fund adviser Mihai Tanasescu said Sunday.