Transylvania Today - Royal Edition 2017

Under the High Patronage of HRH Prince Radu of Romania

2017 Royal Edition

When Royals Mean Business

RECOMANDATIONS: Interview

History & Legacy Economy

Business

Education Business

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A project of Transylvania Today and Cluj Today Associations www.transylvaniatoday.ro www.clujtoday.ro ISSN 2501-9961

Project manager: Editorial manager: Editor in chief: Art Director:

Rada Morar Bianca Pădurean Claudiu Pădurean Mihai Armanca

Cover photo: made by D aniel Angelescu /AngelsPhotography Design by:

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Royal Edition

EDITORIAL

Romania, between Growth and Development

Romania has been one of the biggest economic growths in the European Union over the last five years. Those who have invested all these years in Romania have made good profits, and the analyses of the World Bank, IMF and the European Commission show that this growth will continue in the years to come, even if the pace will diminish over time. Romania's economy returned to the pre-crisis indicators, but the business environment structure has begun to change.

The rise in the minimum wage and labour productivity shifted the focus from those economic branches that attracted foreign investment because they provided cheap labour to those industries that rely on good labour productivity, talent and innovation. This transition can be noticed in the IT field, where companies shift their focus from outsourcing to software architecture and to making their own products.

New investments in high technical areas have also emerged. For example, a Dutch company produces at Cluj some of the most powerful robotic arms in the world, and a Belgian company created at Turda one of the newest factories for the aerospace industry. IT companies are starting to produce applications to control satellites in the planet's orbit. And the trend can be noticed in other areas as well, such as life sciences.

Ultimately, this is the great challenge for Romania: growth which will bring development.

The key to this evolution is the Royal House of Romania. With an increasing role in society, recognised as such by the State institutions, public administration, political forces and the business environment, the Royal Family of Romania is the guarantee of continuity, stability and predictability that any investor expects. The Royal Family proposes to Romania a mediumterm vision that goes beyond the electoral cycles. Members of the Royal Family stimulate excellence through mechanisms such as the awarding of Royal House Official Supplier labels.

Moreover, it promotes, through official visits abroad, Romania's interests, and Romanian companies have the opportunity to join these visits and sell their products or services abroad. There are other mechanisms through which the Royal Family ensures a transfer of prestige from the Royal House to the economic environment.

With all these things, the Royal Family of Romania does two important things: hepls the Romanian institutions, most importantly, it educates the Romanians by the power of the personal example and thus sows the seeds of the future.

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Interview

Ist van Vakar: European Businessmen are Interested in Investing in Romania!

The economic missions organised during the official visits lead by His Royal Highness Prince Radu of Romania are an example of efficiency and clairvoyance, says the Vice-president of the County Council, Istvan Vakar. He also said that businessmen in Cluj, Transylvania and entire Romania should make the most of these opportunities.

Reporter: What is the involvement of the Royal Family in supporting the business environment of Cluj?

Istvan Vakar: It means a lot of good things. The initiative belongs to His Royal Highness Prince Radu of Romania, that enjoys a great international prestige and who has acquired great experience in Romania's service both as a member of the Royal Family and while being High Representative of the Romanian Government for Integration, Cooperation and Sustainable Development. His Royal Highness has a tremendous credibility capital and enjoys many useful external relations that are used to support Romanian companies, opening doors that would otherwise remain closed. Thus, these companies have the opportunity to meet high-ranking officials from the countries visited, stay at the same table with potential partners or investors, and discuss serious partnerships. And I'm glad that business people have grasped this huge potential. We had the pleasure of hosting a meeting between his Royal Highness, the business environment and representatives of the public administration at the County Council. The meeting took place on the 23rd of March 2017, on the anniversary of two years since their Royal Highness Princess Margareta and Prince Radu became Honorary Citizens of Cluj County. During the meeting in Cluj, we performed a review of the economic missions that have already taken place and set forth some landmarks for the future activity.

One of these missions took place in Germany.

How did it go?

Yes, we are talking about the mission from September 2016 that took place in Dusseldorf and Neuss. German businessmen knew almost nothing about Romania. But when they heard the presentations of the companies from the delegation, as well as the information provided by the representatives of the public administration, they became interested in the possibility of investing in Romania. Of course, there are many German companies in our area, but few from the Dusseldorf area. As a result, we organised a RomanianGerman-Moldovan economic conference, to be held in Cluj.

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One important thing is that the Dusseldorf Stock Exchange is interested in listing Romanian companies. In Germany, the interest rates offered by banks are very low and practically they do not cover the cost of bank fees during this period, so these businessmen lose money if they make bank deposits.

That's why they're looking to put their capital into profitable investments. Enjoying economic growth over the recent years, Romania may be an interesting destination for these capitals.

What are the results of the visit to the Republic of Moldova?

There are more possibilities for cooperation. Things are obviously clear in the agricultural and food sector. The Republic of Moldova can offer both high quality products and raw materials for the Cluj processors. But there is also the opportunity to collaborate in IT. The number of IT practitioners in Cluj is becoming insufficient for the needs of the market, but there are still IT practitioners available in Chișinău and Bălți. The Cluj companies can open their subsidiaries over the Prut or find partners for new projects, especially in outsourcing. There are also opportunities for cooperation in infrastructure and many other fields ...

What will happen from now on?

We expect some of the contacts of businessmen to generate new investments in Cluj and Transylvania. There are many reasons in favour, but the well-trained workforce of the Cluj universities is one of the most important. We need, however, to strengthen our education system, including by encouraging the dual schools which are gaining ground in Cluj. Moreover, we try to prepare another official visit to Israel.

It's a very interesting country. We can develop cooperation projects in the field of agriculture, irrigation systems or new technologies, but also in the field of processing. Maybe we will manage to export some food to Israel. Furthermore, the data provided by the International Airport and the County Council, Univers T Hotel show that the interest of tourists from Israel to Cluj has increased year by year. Tetarom company, which manages the industrial parks of the County Council, can host the new investments of Israeli companies.

We hope to attract such investment in high-tech areas, from the high-tech industry to the electronics industry to space technologies. There is already interest in scientific cooperation and in some projects which we intend to develop in the future Tetapolis, the city of science and innovation that will be established in Cluj.

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Emil Hurezeanu: Romania Remains a Most Attractive Country for Investments In the context in which Romanian businessmen are increasingly interested in developing economic relations with entities from outside Romania, the Royal House of Romania has initiated and organised a series of economic missions to which Romanian businessmen were invited to attend. Following such an external

visit held in September 2016 in Dusseldorf, Germany, we talked to the Ambassador of Romania to Berlin, Mr. Emil Hurezeanu, about the business opportunities for both the Romanians and those who want to invest in Romania.

We have witnessed over the last years a strong dynamic of the Romanian-German economic relations. Why do the German businessmen continue to invest in Romania?

Emil Hurezeanu: Romania is one of the most attractive, dynamic and appealing markets in Eastern Europe, and this was very well understood by the German business environment, which has responded positively to the favourable macroeconomic developments which our country has experienced over the past years.

Romania has become, and this is no exaggeration, a genuine hub of German investment in Central and Eastern Europe, and it is nevertheless clear that German investors perceive their presence on the Romanian market, beyond purely negligible financial motivations, as a strategic advantage at regional level. Our country remains attractive to German investors as it has a skilled and inexpensive labour force compared to the Western one, an investment-friendly legislative framework, political stability, a key geographic position, and privileged connections with Germany (the German minority, the attractiveness of Transylvanian towns, etc.).

What are the areas in which German businessmen are interested?

In recent years, German investments in Romania have focused on sectors such as automotive components, renewable energy, IT, retail, agriculture, but it is vital that the Romanian authorities attract investments in

areas where our country has a special potential (organic agriculture, Bio-mass) or those with a development gap (road and rail transport infrastructure, waste recycling).

If we are talking about the areas of high interest for German investors, please allow me to raise the importance of the Romanian authorities increasing their efforts to redirect the potential German investments towards the south-east of Romania, in order to allow a balanced interregional development for the Romanian economy.

There are also Romanian companies that want to export to Germany. Do you have any advice for them?

The German market can and must become a natural destination for Romanian products, given that it is still the main European economy that it has a net upward dynamic of the domestic demand.

It should not be ignored, however, that the German market is noted both by an increasing capacity to absorb imported products and by its well-known attachment to strict production and marketing rules.

Romanian companies interested in penetrating the German market must consider the participation in the many international renowned fairs that Germany hosts every year and which can represent a unique opportunity to export to this country.

At the same time, in the efforts of the Romanian companies to penetrate the German market, one should not neglect the potential of the past privileged relationships between Romania and the Länder of the East of Germany.

What feedback do you have from the German companies that are present in Romania and under expansion?

The German companies present in Romania have achieved, despite some inherent difficulties encountered, constantly good results in recent years, being overall satisfied with the investment climate in our country, as confirmed by the constant strengthening of the German investment presence on the Romanian market.

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History & Legacy

Proclamation of Independence of Romania - 140 Years 2017 has a special significance: Romanians celebrate 140 years since Prince Carol I proclaimed the State independence of Romania. The recognition of independence was obtained on the battlefield with the help of the army under the personal command of the prince who became the first King of Romania.

Carol I of Romania Carol I had been enthroned Ruling Prince one May 10 th, 1866, and on May 10 th, 1881 he was crowned King as a sign of Romania’s new international status.

The independence was the result of diplomatic and military action in a cloudy international context. In 1877, the Ottoman Empire was still considered a Great Power, and according to the Ottoman government, Romania was only a privileged province of the Empire. But the Ottoman Empire faced the uprisings of its Christian subjects. In 1875, a revolt broke out in Herzegovina.

In April 1876, a large uprising broke out in Bulgaria. In June 1876, Serbia and Montenegro declared war on the Ottoman Empire. The Turks managed to defeat their opponents militarily, but their brutality outraged the European public opinion. In this context, Russia, which was posing as protector of the Orthodox Christians, threatened to declare war on the Ottoman Empire.

Romania was under the major risk of becoming the main battleground of two great powers. Prince Carol I of Romania asked the Ottoman Empire to recognise the independence of the country, but the Ottomans refused.

Instead, Russia proposed Prince Carol I to recognise the independence of Romania in exchange for military cooperation with the Romanian army against the Turks, as well as free pass for the Russian military units to the south of the Danube. After lengthy negotiations, Russia and Romania signed an agreement comprising these goals,

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and stating that Russia guaranteed Romania’s territorial integrity.

On the night of 11th to 12th of April 1877, the Russian armies crossed the border on the Prut and entered Romania. As such, the Ottoman Empire started bombing the Romanian bank of the Danube and seized several Romanian ships.

Consequently, on May 9 th, 1877, the Foreign Minister of Romania, Mihail Kogălniceanu, stated in the Parliament in Bucharest that Romania had become independent and the State independence was officially proclaimed on May 10 th, 1877 and Romania went to war with the Ottoman Empire.

Initially, the Romanian participation was limited to defending the Danube line, bombing the Turkish river bank and the protection provided by the Romanian fleet of warships to the Russian troops along the Danube. 260,000 Russian soldiers with 802 guns and 186,000 Ottoman soldiers with 210 guns were in combat. But the Ottomans had strong fortifications. In the first phase of the war, the Russian offensive was stopped and the victory seemed to belong to the Ottomans. In this context, the commander of the Russian troops, the Grand Duke Nicholas of Russia, asked Prince Carol I of Romania to intervene with the Romanian army. An operational body was mobilised north of the Danube with over 43,000 troops, and another unit consisting of over 11,000 soldiers who had the mission of guarding the borders, and the militias from Oltenia, aiming to defend Romania’s territory.

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In July, Carol I crossed the Danube leading 43,000 Romanian troops which joined the Russian troops at Plevna, the largest Ottoman fortification complex. After several failed sieges imposed by the vanity of the Russian generals, the strategic concept of the commander of the allied troops from Plevna, Prince Carol I of Romania, prevailed and became a siege warfare. This approach would pay off at the end of November 1877, when the Ottoman general Osman Pasha, together with the approximately 50,000 troops under his command, who had 70 cannons, surrendered to the Romanian colonel Mihail Cerchez. This victory of Carol I would change the course of the war.

The fall of Plevna opened the way to the capital of the Ottoman Empire. With one stone, one third of the Ottomans fighting force was annihilated. After the great victory at Plevna, the Russian troops started the offensive to the south of the Balkan Peninsula, and the Romanian army launched an offensive toward the east, whose aim was Vidin, defended by 17,000 Ottomans troops, who had 84 cannons. On February 12th, 1878, the Romanian army conquered Vidin. The Ottoman Empire asked for peace. But Russia betrayed Romania during the peace negotiations. Despite the promise to respect the territorial integrity, the Russians enforced the disposal of the three counties in Southern Bessarabia, which had been returned to the Romanians in 1856. In exchange, Romania received the two counties in Northern Dobrogea and the Snake Island. Russia received the three counties, huge war reparations and territories in the Caucasus.

The Peace Treaties of San Stefano and Berlin in 1878 recognised the independence of Romania, Serbia and Montenegro and the establishment of an autonomous Principality of Bulgaria under Ottoman suzerainty.

Symbolically, the steel of an Ottoman cannon captured at Pleven was used to create Romania's crown, the symbol of sovereignty and national independence.

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History & Legacy

90 Years since Michael I Became King of Romania King Michael I of Romania has a special place in Romania’s history. He is the only sovereign who survived 90 years of his own coronation which took place in 1927.

1992, Otopeni Airport, Bucharest

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He is also one of the Head of State of the Second World War period who spent the turn of the millennium with his people.

Furthermore, King Michael I will go down in history as the Romanian who has defied the dreadful dictators of the twentieth century: Adolf Hitler and Iosif Visarionovici Stalin.

Michael I was born on the 25th of October 1921, in Sinaia. His mother was Princess Helen, born Princess of Greece and Denmark. His father was the Crown Prince Carol of Romania. Through his paternal and maternal ascendants, Michael I is related to the kings of the Holy Roman – German Empire, the Austrian Empire and the German Empire, with the Tsars of Russia, with the kings and queens of Great Britain, Greece, Portugal, Denmark and a large number of families that have influenced the fate of the European continent.

Prince Michael of Romania had a tumultuous childhood. His father gave up the Crown, divorced his mother, and cut the ties with the Royal Family of Romania.

Thus, Michael was proclaimed Crown Prince by his grandfather, King Ferdinand I of Romania, who went to the Heavenly Father in 1927. Under these circumstances, although he was only six years old, Michael I became King of Romania. Since he could not exercise the prerogatives of a constitutional monarch due to his age, a Regency was formed in Romania, consisting of his uncle, Prince Nicholas of Romania, Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, His Holiness Miron Cristea, and the famous attorney-atlaw Gheorghe Buzdugan from the Court of Cassation.

These years of the Regency overlapped the beginning of the Great Economic Crisis between 1929 and 1933. As Romania faced great difficulties, in 1930 the King Michael's father returned to the country and was proclaimed King under the name of Carol II. Michael I received an ad-hoc title, the Great Voivode of Alba Iulia, and assumed again the functions of the Crown Prince. The return of Carol II to Romania unfortunately coincided with the exile of the Queen Mother of Romania, which meant that Michael I was deprived of the presence of the most beloved person, his mother.

Michael I received a fine education. His father created a special class, called the Palatine Class, where teachers were the most eminent scholars of Romania, and classmates of King Michael came from all regions of the country and from all social classes. In addition to the academic education, Michael I undertook military training, and at the age of 16 he became sub-lieutenant of the Romanian Royal Armed Forces. It was the first military rank for the only Marshal of the Romanian Army in 2017. The outbreak of the Second World War found Romania in a difficult situation. The Allies of Romania, first of all France, then Poland, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia and Greece were invaded by the Nazi Germany and its allied countries.

Under these conditions, King Carol II had to consent to painful territorial surrenders.

The USSR occupied Bessarabia, Bukovina and Herţa Land, Hungary occupied Northern Transylvania, and Bulgaria occupied Southern Dobruja (Dobrogea).

Under these circumstances, in September

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1940, Carol II was forced to leave his country and the Throne.

Michael I resumed his reign as King in a country transformed into a dictatorship led by General Ion Antonescu, allied with the fascists of the Legionary Movement for several months. King Michael I had a strictly decorative role.

Ion Antonescu decided to strengthen the relations with the Nazi Germany, the only power that offered to guarantee Romania's already crippled borders. Ion Antonescu feared that Romania was under the risk of being attacked by both the USSR and Hungary.

In 1941, Ion Antonescu decided to declare war on the Soviet Union and to fight alongside Germany to recover the Romanian territories occupied by the USSR, and King Michael I learned about it from the radio.

After four years of war, on the 23rd of August 1944, to prevent the invasion of Romania by the USSR, King Michael I ordered that dictator Ion Antonescu be arrested, and joined the United Nations. The King's actions shortened the war by six months and saved the lives of hundreds of thousands of people. Afterwards King Michael I reinstated the democratic Constitution from 1923 and opposed the establishment of communism.

For three years, he managed to oppose Stalin. But on the 30 th of December 1947, threatened with the execution of 1,000 students, he was forced to sign a null act of abdication and go into exile.

In 1948, King Michael I married Princess Anne of Bourbon-Parma, who became Queen Anne of Romania. The royal couple

had five daughters. During the exile, King Michael I became the legitimate leader of the Romanian democratic exile and continued to oppose communism.

King Michael and Queen Anne along with their five daughters

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fter 1989, the Royal Family of Romania managed to return to the country, except for King Michael I. The new authorities in Bucharest did not allow his Majesty to return until 1992, when the King of Romania was cheered in the streets by one million people who wanted to greet their legitimate leader. King Michael I was able to return definitively to the country only in 1997.

Although he was not reigning, he undertook the mission of promoting Romania's interests during the NATO and EU accession. The merits of King Michael I are indesputable. Now, in his twilight years, he is the personality that enjoys the greatest appreciation among the Romanians, and the prospect of restoring the monarchy is more and more present.

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History & Legacy

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Royal Edition

The Crown Custodian HRH Princess Margareta and HRH Prince Radu

The Royal Family of Romania Honours a 151-Year-Old Tradition For 151 years, the Royal Family of Romania has become the most important promoter of the country's interests. This tradition, founded

by King Carol I, was not interrupted even during the exile. At present, three of the members of the Royal Family of Romania live permanently in the country: Their Royal Highnesses Princess Margareta, Custodian of the Crown, Prince Radu and Princess Maria of Romania.

Princess Margareta of Romania is the eldest daughter of their Majesties King Michael I and Queen Anne. She was born on 26th of March 1949, in exile, in Lausanne, Switzerland. Her Royal Highness is the first in the succession line at the Crown of Romania and the 82nd in the succession line at the Crown of Great Britain.

The Romanian Crown Princess is related to the British Royal Family, both through Prince Philip and through her great-greatgrandmother, Queen Mary of Romania, who was the niece of the Queen Victoria of Great Britain. Moreover, Princess Margareta of Romania is a close relative to HM King Felipe VI of Spain, Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg, HM King Simeon II of Bulgaria, the Royal Family of Denmark, as well as the Royal Families of Greece and Serbia, the Imperial and Royal Families of

Austria and Hungary, and many other royal families or princes throughout Europe.

HRH Princess Margareta of Romania studied at schools in Italy, Switzerland and Great Britain. Princess Margareta of Romania graduated, in 1974 the University of Edinburgh, with a BA in Sociology, Political Science and Public International Law. For a while, Her Royal Highness worked in various British universities and the World Health Organization. In 1983 she moved to Rome, where she worked for the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and in 1986 she joined the International Fund for Agricultural Development. In the autumn of 1989, Princess Margareta of Romania moved to Geneva to work with her father, His Majesty King Michael I, in the benefit of the Romanians.

Immediately after the overthrow of the Communist regime, in December 1989, HRH Margareta sent three shipments of

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History & Legacy

In 1994, HRH Princess Margareta of Romania met a young actor who was involved in one of the first art therapy programs in an orphanage in Romania: Radu Duda. They fell in love and married on 21 September 1996. Subsequently, the husband of Princess Margareta of Romania received the title of Prince of Romania and the apellative of His Royal Highness. A year later, His Majesty King Michael I of Romania gave up the principle of the Salic law and established a new order of succession at the Crown of Romania. By this act, his first daughter, Margareta, was proclaimed Crown Princess.

10 years later, on the 30th of December 2007, His Majesty King Michael I decided to grant Crown Princess Margareta of Romania the title of Custodian of the Crown and ruled that his elder daughter would take on most of his public duties.

In the spring of 2016, due to his age and illness, His Majesty King Michael I gave up all his public duties, which have been met ever since by his successor. Furthermore, as of 1st of March 2016, the title of Crown Custodian takes precedence over that of the Crown Princess.

medicines, food and clothes, weighing 40 tons each, to the country. On the 18th of January 1990, their Royal Highnesses Princesses Margareta and Sofia of Romania arrived in Bucharest. It was for the first time after more than four decades when the representatives of the Royal Family of Romania returned to the country from where they had been expelled by the Communists. The meeting of Princess Margareta of Romania with the country of her ancestors changed her destiny. Her Royal Highness decided to dedicate her entire life to Romania. On 9 th of August 1990, at Versoix, she founded the Princess Margareta of Romania Foundation. Over the years, more than 200,000 people have benefited from the Foundation's support.

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HRH Prince Radu of Romania was born in IaĹ&#x;i in 1960. He graduated from one of the best high schools in the capital of Moldova, Costache Negruzzi. Then, in 1984, he graduated from the University of Theatre and Cinematography in Bucharest and began an artistic career that would take him to the stages of many countries around the world. At first, HRH Prince Radu of Romania played on the stage of the theatres in Suceava, in IaČ™i, and then returned to Bucharest. Between 1990 and 1994, he became an assistant professor at the higher education institution he had graduated from. However, since 1999, as a result of his increasing public engagements in the Royal Family and for the benefit of the Romanians, HRH Prince Radu of Romania had to give up his artistic career. Instead, he managed to continue writing, and he is currently one of the most appreciated Romanian authors of books in which he lucidly analyses the condition of Romania and its elites. In order to serve his country better, HRH Prince Radu of Romania continued to deepen his studies. In 2002, he graduated from the National Defence College. Then, in 2006, he obtained a Doctorate in Military Sciences at the National Military Academy, today the National Defence University King Carol I.

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HRH Princess Maria of Romania

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s a consequence of the deepening of his studies in this field, in 2005, HRH Prince Radu of Romania became Colonel placed on reserve status of the Romanian Army, the only marshal in life of which is His Majesty King Michael I. From 1999 to 2008, HRH Prince Radu of Romania devoted his energy to supporting Romania in two fundamental steps for his status in the world: accession to NATO and the European Union. Together with other members of the Royal Family of Romania, especially with their Majesties King Michael I and Queen Anne and His Royal Highness Crown Princess Margareta, Prince Radu of Romania participated in the Millennium Tour, one of the most innovative and most effective actions of royal diplomacy.

Between 2002 and 2008, His Royal Highness Prince Radu of Romania was High Representative of the Government for Integration, Cooperation and Sustainable Development. Following the success of Romania's accession to the European Union, HRH Prince Radu of Romania decided to renounce this capacity, but this did not mean that he put an end to his activity. Every year, the Royal Family of Romania promotes the country's interests in at least 12 official visits abroad and numerous public engagements in the country. Moreover, HRH Prince Radu of Romania assumed the support of the efforts of the Republic of Moldova's accession to the European Union.

Signs of gratitude to the work of members of the Royal Family of Romania are increasingly evident. In March 2015, their Royal Highnesses Crown Princess Margareta and Prince Radu of Romania became honorary citizens of Cluj County.

Subsequently, the Romanian Parliament decided that the Royal Day, 10 May, would become a national holiday. Another remedy was the restitution of the Royal Crown on the Romania's official coat of arms. At present, all important political forces in Romania have agreed to the recognition of the public status of the Royal House of Romania, which gives a new official dimension to the role played by the Royal Family of Romania and could be a decisive step towards the restoration of the monarchy.

The third member of the Royal Family of Romania who lives permanently in Romania is the youngest daughter of King Michael I, HRH Princess Maria of Romania. She was born in exile on the 13 th of July 1964, in Copenhagen. Her godmother was her Sister, Princess Margareta of Romania. Princess Maria of Romania lived and studied in Switzerland, then spent most of her life in the USA. Her Royal Highness attended studies in the field of childcare, then worked in the fields of childcare, public relations and private consultancy. Since 2015 she has permanently moved to Romania and takes on an increasing role in promoting Romanians' interests.

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History & Legacy

Photo credit: www.presidency.ro

Prince Charles of Wales, Charmed by Transylvania Over the recent years, the image of Romania in general and of Transylvania in particular have benefited enormously thanks to the support of one of the most illustrious figures of the European elite, His Royal Highness Prince Charles of Wales, heir to the Crown of the United Kingdom of Great Britain.

Prince Charles made his first visits to Romania in 1997. He was perhaps attracted to the passion with which his relatives in the Royal Family of Romania, especially his cousin, Her Royal Highness Princess Margareta of Romania, talked about the beauty of the country. He may have also heard the call of his ancestors since, as His Royal Highness Prince Charles confessed, the Royal Family of Great Britain relates to Vlad the Impaler, the medieval prince who inspired Dracula's myth. Also, one of the royal relatives of the Royal Family of Great Britain was one of the most beautiful ladies in Transylvania, Countess Claudia Rhedey. Moreover, according to some historians, the members of the Royal Family of the United Kingdom are also rela­ ted to the noble family of Racz / Ratiu, from which the current family Raţiu de Noşlac originates, from which the great statesmen Ioan and Ion Raţiu come from.

The interest of His Royal Highness Prince Charles of Wales for the cultural heritage

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of Romania was awakened in the 1980s, when the elites in Europe began to resist the madness of the communist dictator in Romania, Nicolae Ceaușescu, who wanted to destroy most of the villages in the country under the pretext of a so-called systematisation. Houses with an original architecture, churches dating from the Crusades and glorious noble residences were destroyed or had fallen into disrepair.

After the fall of communism, several civil social organizations restored this heritage.

It's an immense work, with little money.

His Royal Highness Prince Charles was one of those who supported such projects as the restoration of Banffy Castle in Bonţida, once called the Versailles of Transylvania, that hosts nowadays one of the most interesting musical festivals in Central and Eastern Europe, Electric Castle. Moreover, Prince Charles of Wales began to support education and entrepreneurship programs for villagers from small rural communities in Transylvania, who were stimulated to revive old crafts, such as handmade bricks and tile manufacture, or techniques for restoring historical monuments with the help of traditional materials.

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Photo credit: paginaeuropeana.ro

His Royal Highness Prince Charles of Wales came to Romania many times and invested in properties in Transylvania. At the advice of his friend, Count Tibor Kalnoky, Prince Charles bought some properties in the Zălan Valley, a picturesque village at the foot of the Oriental Carpathians, where Count Tibor Kalnoky managed to recover the former noble residence of his family. His Royal Highness and the Transylvanian Count proceeded with the restoration of the 200-year-old buildings that now belong to the heir of the United Kingdom Crown, as well as the noble manor of Kalnoky. They kept the original architecture of the buildings. They also used the work of local craftsmen. The materials used in the restoration process were local, bricks and tiles handmade in Băţani and ceramic tiles from Sighișoara. At present, Zălan Valley accommodates the private residence of His Royal Highness Prince Charles.

crafts helping them to work in the country.

The house barn has been turned into a conference room, and when His Royal Highness is not in Viscri, the five rooms of the house can be rented by tourists. The House of His Royal Highness functions as a boarding house and a room costs between 40 and 85 euro per night.

But the Prince of Wales has another property in the village of Viscri, a Saxon settlement in southern Transylvania. The old Saxon house was bought by His Royal Highness and restored with craftsmen and local materials, just like the property of Zalan Valley. The house of Prince Charles from Viscri was open to the public. It is also the headquarters of the Prince of Wales's Foundation, which organises the training of Transylvanian villagers in traditional

His Royal Highness also supported traditional food producers. One of them, Jim Turnbull, a Scotsman established in Saschiz, has started selling in Britain the syrups, jams, chutney and canned fruit and vegetables he prepares according to hundreds of years old recipes after Prince Charles of Wales allowed him to sell some Saschiz products in the Highgrove souvenir shop, one of his residences. Now, Saschiz products can be found in the UK's most important trade chains.

The presence of His Royal Highness in the Zalan Valley and Viscri has deeply transfor­ med the lives of the two communities. The two isolated villages were ignored 20 years ago by authorities and tourists. Now they have become tourist destinations in the true meaning of the word. They attract not only Romanians, but also foreigners. Besides the fame of Prince Charles and the beauty of land­scapes, they also have an extraordinary heritage. The Fortified Church of Viscri is UNESCO heritage.

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History & Legacy

Anne, Queen-Heroine of the Romanians The Queen of Romania was a remarkable figure through her heroism and modesty, and her life could always make the subject of a movie. The summer will commemorate one year since Queen Anne of Romania went to the Heavenly Father.

She was born on the 18th of September 1923 in Paris. Queen Anne of Romania was the daughter of Prince René of BourbonParma and Princess Margaret of Denmark.

He had three brothers and they all grew up in the capital of France. In 1939, amid the rise of Nazi Germany, Princess Anne of Bourbon-Parma was forced to go into exile, first in Spain, then in Portugal, and finally in the United States of America.

Established in New York between 1940 and 1943, Princess Anne of BourbonParma attended the classes of an art school and, at the same time, had to work in a universal shop. In 1943, when she was 19, she requested and obtained her mother's permission to join the Free French Forces, led by General Charles de Gaulle, who fought against Nazis. Her father and brothers had already joined the French army and fought for freedom on several continents. Princess Anne of Bourbon-Parma served in the French army as a nurse and ambulance driver. She participated in campaigns in North Africa, South and Western Europe, and served in Algeria, Morocco, Italy, Luxembourg and Germany. For her heroism, she received the French War Cross - Croix de Guerre.

After the war, in 1947, while present at a reception in London, Princess Anne of Bourbon-Parma met King Michael I of Romania, who was attending Princess Elizabeth's wedding, today Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain, with Philipp, the Duke of Edinburgh.

The two got engaged in November 1947 and were to get marry in Romania. But this was not possible anymore, because of the

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King Michael’s abdication act he was forced to sign.

In January 1948, King Michael I went to exile, joining his mother, Queen Helen of Romania. On the 10th of June 1948, King Michael I and Princess Anne got married in exile in Athens. The religious ceremony was only Orthodox because Pope Pius XII refused to grant a religious dispensation since King Michael I refused to promise that the future children of the royal couple would be raised in the Catholic confession. Several decades later, in the context of reconciliation between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church after the Second Vatican Council, a Catholic ceremony of marriage blessing took place. Queen Anne of Romania never ruled over her country, which she served from 1948 until death, although, as she confessed, she didn’t have much hope that the communist regime would collapse and Romania would be liberated.

Queen Anne of Romania worked herself to support her family during her exile in Switzerland and the UK. She raised chickens, worked as a carpenter and performed secretarial work when the Royal Family of Romania could not afford to pay a secretary. She was also the technical assistant of King Michael I while he was recording audio messages or Romanians, broadcast over the Iron Curtain by radio stations in the free world. Furthermore, Queen Anne of Romania was constantly concerned, including through the power of personal example, to offer the best education to the five royal couple daughters: Margareta, Elena, Irina, Sofia and Maria.

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Their Majesties King Michael and Queen Anne along with four of their five daughters

The burial ceremony at Curtea de ArgeĹ&#x;, August 2016 Queen Anne had a passion for jeeps ever since she had served in the French Army during the war. She confessed that while she was an ambulance driver, she was able to disassemble and then assemble a car again.

During the exile, Queen Anne of Romania helped enormously her compatriots. She did not talk about these things out of modesty, of which not even her daughters knew anything for a long period of time. For example, Queen Anne of Romania saved the Danish pathway, through which thousands of Romanians managed to flee to the West.

In the 1980s, they would cross the western border of Romania and reached communist Hungary. In Budapest, they would use every last dime to buy tickets to Copenhagen as Denmark did not ask for entry visas for citizens emerging from Communist countries. Once there, they would immediately ask for political asylum. But since the number of Romanians had grown heavily, the Danish authorities decided to refuse asylum applications, introduce visas and

expel the Romanians in the country lead by the dictator Nicolae CeauĹ&#x;escu. Many would had been sentenced to years of imprisonment. Queen Anne of Romania managed to convince Queen Margaret of Denmark to abandon these plans, and thus saved the Danish pathway, which continued to run until the collapse of the communist regime.

After 1989, Queen Anne of Romania visited almost all the major cities of Romania and many villages, including during the times when the new authorities in Bucharest refused to allow King Michael I to return to the country. Queen Anne of Romania died on the 1st of August 2016. Both Romania and the Republic of Moldova declared national mourning. The Queen's funeral, which brought together the Orthodox and Catholic Churches, was attended by representatives of the Romanian and Moldovan authorities as well as members of a large number of imperial, royal and princely families throughout Europe.

Transylvania Today | 17

History & Legacy

Curtea de Argeş, the Place where Members of the Royal Family Await Eternal Resurrection

One of the most beautiful monasteries in Eastern Europe became the necropolis of the Romanian Royal Family, and a site of pilgrimage. The monastic complex of Curtea de Argeș recovers the spiritual heritage of an ancient Orthodox denomination founded in the 14th century, in 1359. The current monastery dates from the 16th century, when the prince of Wallachia, Neagoe Basarab, a true prince of the Renaissance, founded a unique church, which his contemporaries, such as the writer Paul of Aleppo, considered as one of the wonders of the world. The building of Neagoe Basarab’s church began in 1514 and ended in 1517. Legend has it that it was one of the most expensive foundations, and the prince's wife had sold her personal jewellery to pay the builders. But the great ruler did not get to see it completed. The church mural was finished only during the reign of his son in law, prince Radu of Afumaţi in 1526.

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The painter was one of the most respected artists in the Balkans, master Dobromir, of Serbian or Macedonian origin. This painting is preserved in fragments at the National Museum of Art of Romania, who currently operates in the Royal Palace in Bucharest. Basically, the painting was removed from the church during the restoration work.

In the 19 th century, the church at Curtea de Argeş had fallen into disrepair, and King Carol I decided to restore it and turn it into a royal necropolis. The restoration works took place from 1875 to 1886. They were led by the French architect Andre Lecomte de Nouy. The new painting of the church, which can be admired today, was created in the 19 th century by Francois Nicolle, Charles Renaud and Nicolae Constantinescu.

The royal necropolis was arranged in the enlarged narthex, which merges organically with the rest of the church. The church plan is inspired by the Greek cross.

The main dome, the place assigned to Christ Pantocrator in the Byzantine art, is supported by 12 columns, which symbolise the 12 apostles. The dome supports a central tower. Above the altar there is another tower, and two smaller towers were erected near the entrance to the narthex.

The princely church facade is decorated with flat embossing and Caucasian and Islamic markings. In the vestibule adorned with marble, gilt bronze and onyx there are several graves: those of the founders, that of Prince Radu of Afumaţi but also the tombs of King Carol I, Queen Elizabeth, King Ferdinand I and Queen Maria.

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The Legend of the Monastery

Curtea de Argeș Monastery is the scene of one of the most beautiful Romanian legends. It says that prince Negru Vodă would have hired the best craftsmen in the world to build him the most beautiful church. But the place was cursed and the walls erected by the craftsmen during daytime would crumble by night. The curse could be broken only with a human sacrifice: the head of the builders, craftsman

Manole, walled up his pregnant wife, Ana, alive. The craftsmen managed to finish the construction, but Negru Vodă ordered they would be left to die on the church roof.

Manole buit himself wings, which he tried to fly with, like Icarus. He collapsed to the ground. A spring emerged on the site where Manole died that feeds a fountain in the courtyard of the monastery

The remains of King Carol II who died in exile in Portugal were brought at Curtea de Argeș in 2003. After having rested for half a century in the crypt of the Kings of Portugal, the remains returned to the country and were placed in a chapel as the princely church narthex became cramped. Thus, the idea of a new foundation was born, to serve as necropolis for the Royal Family of Romania. It is the new Archdiocesan and Royal Cathedral. The cornerstone was laid in 2009 in the presence of Their Royal Highnesses Crown Princess Margareta and Prince Radu of Romania. The project was entrusted to the renowned architect Augustin Ioan. He started with the plan of a Byzantine cross, that can be engraved in a circle. When completed, the new cathedral will accommodate the relics of Saint Filofteia, a Bulgarian martyr who lived in the 13th century south of the Danube.

Although the new cathedral hasn’t been consecrated yet, unfortunately, the new royal necropolis had to be used in 2016.

The remains of Queen Anne of Romania were brought on August 13th. The remains of King Carol II would be moved in the same location. It is the intention of the members of the Royal Family to bring the remains of other family members spread all over the world at Curtea de Argeș. It is the case of Queen Elena of Romania, who died and was buried in Switzerland, where she spent the last years of exile.

Transylvania Today | 19

History & Legacy

The Royal Palace in Bucharest, Two Centuries of History The history of the Royal Palace in Bucharest is bound inevitably with the history of the capital city over the last two centuries. The building of today’s National Museum of Art was the residence of rulers of Wallachia, then the rulers of the United Romanian Principalities and afterwards it became the Royal Palace. The building was confiscated by the communists and, eventually, became a museum. Since 2016, the Royal Palace has regained its old role, that of symbol of the Romanian monarchy.

Originally, the building was conceived as an aristocratic residence. It was built between 1812 and 1815 at the wish of boyar Dinicu Golescu. Golescu House in downtown Bucharest was an impressive building for its time. It had a ground floor, it was one storey high and it had and 25 rooms.

In 1837, the Golescu family decided to sell the imposing residence to the State of Wallachia. The building was restored and assigned for public purposes. It became the official seat of the prince of Wallachia, Alexandru Ghica Vodă. The princely palace was used by the last three princes of Wallachia: Alexandru Ghica, Barbu Ştirbey and Gheorghe Bibescu, but only for official meetings and ceremonies. The three princes owned sumptuous private residences in Bucharest and preferred to live in their old palaces.

The first prince who desired to live in the Palace was Alexandru Ioan I Cuza who in 1859 unified Moldavia and Wallachia, which were the foundations of a new State called the United Romanian Principalities, and subsequently Romania. Alexandru Ioan I Cuza, who had been a colonel and lived in Moldova's most important port on the Danube, Galaţi, moved to Bucharest in 1859 and lived in the former Golescu House until his overthrow in February 1866. Starting May 10 th, 1866, the Princely Palace or the Royal Palace became the official residence of the new Prince of Romania, Carol I, originating from the Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen dynasty, founder of the Romanian Royal dynasty.

The princely residence was no longer suitable to host the Prince of Romania, as the state apparatus and Romania's international status had evolved. Prince Carol I wanted since his first arrival in Bucharest to restore the old palace, but decided to postpone the repair works,

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C

as Romania's financial resources were directed towards other more pressing things.

Carol I managed to obtain, at the end of a victorious war in 1877 - 1878, Romania's independence, which, under his rule, became a prosperous country. In 1881, the Romanian parliament proclaimed the Kingdom and Prince Carol I accepted the title of King of Romania. That year, King Carol I decided to start the rehabilitation works at his official residence. He hired the architects Paul Gottereau and Gregory Cerkez, whom he asked that the new Royal Palace would also include the old Golescu House, a symbol of continuity of the Romanian State. The two architects decided to erect separate buildings

arol I managed to obtain, at the end of a victorious war in 1877 - 1878, Romania's independence, which, under his rule, became a prosperous country. for official ceremonies and receptions, as well as the guardhouse. The Royal Palace became a symbol of elegance. At the same time, it became the first electrically lit building in Bucharest. Furthermore, King Carol I had Cotroceni Palace built in Bucharest, where his nephew and heir, the future King Ferdinand I lived, and PeleČ™ Castle in Sinaia, which became the throne residence.

The Royal Palace was damaged by a serious fire during the reign of King Ferdinand I in 1926. The King of Romania urged the architects Karel Liman and Nicolae Nenciulescu to rebuild and modernise the old palace. But King Ferdinand I died

a year later and the reconstruction works of the Royal Palace were completed during the reign of his son, King Carol II. He was the supporter of a more austere and monumental style. The entire Palace Square, except for the buildings of Romanian Athenaeum and the Carol I Royal Foundation, was remade to match the new style of the Royal Palace. The main façade is embellished with columns and pilasters, and a loggia sets the place of the Throne Room. The building is U-shaped and the courtyard of honour was broader than the one before the refurbishment.

There were two official entries. The one on the left used by the King and his guests, opens in an octagonal hall, decorated in Byzantine style. From here there is a yellow Siena marble staircase leading to the first floor. The one on the right leads into a square vestibule with marble columns and yellow marble with black and white marble floor. From here, the guests would get into the Festival Hall or would climb on the Vaivode Staircase made of white Carrara marble on the first floor, to the Throne Room. It was in this room where King Carol II successor, His Majesty King Michael I, was sworn in September 1940.

The Royal Palace was bombed by Nazi Germany in 1944. It was then confiscated by the communists who turned it into a museum. The Palace regained its royal functions in 2016 when it hosted the funerals of Her Majesty Queen Anne of Romania and the reception given by the Romanian Royal Family for the members of Diplomatic Corps accredited in Bucharest.

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Economy

Romania's Economic Interests, Promoted by the Royal Family

HRH Prince Radu of Romania and His Excellency Emil Hurezeanu, the Romanian Ambassador in Berlin

Over the past years, one of the most effective actions carried out by the Royal Family of Romania for the benefit of the Romanians was the promotion of the economic interests of the Romanian companies. It is about the organisation of economic missions during the official visits undertaken by His Royal Highness Prince Radu of Romania. Initially, the idea of organising such missions was launched by his Royal Highness during a meeting with the Cluj business environment that took place in the spring of 2015.

In the summer of 2015, meetings between representatives of the Royal House of Romania and those of the Cluj business environment took place, creating the necessary mechanisms to ensure the success of these foreign visits. At that time, companies from Sălaj, Sibiu, Bucharest, Iași, Constanța and Chișinău joined the companies in Cluj. In addition to the Romanian companies, representatives of the academic environment, the Romanian Parliament, public authorities in Cluj County, civil society and the press also took part in these economic missions.

The first economic mission included in an official visit of His Royal Highness Prince Radu of Romania took place in Chișinău.

The visit agenda included meetings with the Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova, Octavian Calmîc, head of the Ministry of Economy and of Ministry

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The Romanian business and cultural group at Jagerhoff Castle

of Agriculture. Furthermore, the members of the Romanian delegation met Dorin Chirtoacă, Mayor of Chișinău, repre­ sentatives of the business environment of the capital city of Republic of Moldova, professors from the universities and high schools in Chișinău, the press and civil society from Moldova.

Visits in the northern capital of the Republic of Moldova, Bălți municipality were also carried out. The series of reunions continued with meetings with representatives of Alecu Russo University in the city, with those of the high clergy, the North Regional Development Agency from Bălți and with Romanian and Russian journalists in this city. The official visit of His Royal Highness Prince Radu of Romania continued with a visit to Regina Maria commune, where a statue of Queen Mary, who donated the construction materials for the restoration of this community in the interwar period, was inaugurated. The statue was offered by the representatives of Săvârşin commune in Arad County, the place where the castle where the members of the Royal Family of Romania usually spend the Winter Holidays is located. Moreover, the official visit of His Royal Highness included a trip to the Purcari vineyard, the first economic entity in the Republic of Moldova to have obtained Official Provider of the Royal Family of Romania label.

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The Romanian delegation at the North Regional Development Agency in Bălţi, Moldova, May 2016

Visit at Neuss Chamber of Commerce, Sept. 2016

The opening conference of the business event in Düsseldorf, Sept. 2016

Business meeting in Neuss, Sept. 2016

Following this visit, the first tangible outcomes have already emerged. A software company in Cluj has planned an investment in Bălți, while a group of companies in Cluj-Napoca operating in the field of infrastructure has opened a subsidiary in Chișinău. A telecommunications and IT company in Chișinău has planned to open an office in Cluj-Napoca, while food-producing companies in Transylvania have concluded supply contracts with Moldovan producers of raw materials.

An economic and cultural visit to Germany took place in the autumn of 2016, in Düsseldorf and Neuss. The visit of His Royal Highness Prince Radu of Romania included the participation of the Romanian Deputy Prime Minister of Economy, the Foreign Minister, three State Secretaries who headed the Invest Romania Agency, the Romanian Cultural Institute and the Centenary Department, the Romanian Ambassador to Germany, Emil Hurezeanu, and some public figures such as Deputy Adrian Oros, Deputy Presidents of Cluj County Council, Istvan Vakar and Marius Mînzat, representatives of Babeş-Bolyai University and of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine University from Cluj and Petre Andrei University from Iaşi, of some organisations such as the German Business Club North Transylvania,

the French Business Club in Cluj, the National Alliance for the Restoration of the Monarchy, the Cluj Today Association, the Transylvania Today Association, the Equine Veterinary Association in Romania, the clusters of agriculture and electronics in Cluj, the civil society and media.

In addition to the cultural program offered by representatives of the Romanian community in Germany, such as Ms. Lidia Medilanski, the members of the Romanian delegation visited the Jagerhoff Castle, the place where the emissaries of the Romanian Government persuaded Prince Carol I to accept the throne of Romania in 1866. The official programme included meetings with representatives of the Chambers of Commerce in Düsseldorf and Neuss, with representatives of the Düsseldorf Stock Exchange and the Düsseldorf City Hall.

Following this visit, German companies are evaluating the possibility of investing in chemical, energy and logistics industries, while several Romanian and Moldovan companies are evaluating the possibility of being listed on the Düsseldorf Stock Exchange. Reunions between entities in Romania, the Republic of Moldova and Germany will continue with trilateral meetings to be held in Cluj-Napoca in the presence of His Royal Highness Prince Radu of Romania.

Transylvania Today | 23

Economy

Romania's Economy Has the Fastest Paces of Growth in Europe Romania has become one of the best places to invest. The Romanian economy has managed to get through the shock caused by the global crisis, and now it has the fastest paces of growth in Europe.

These growth rates are comparable to those achieved by the “Asian tigers” economies, but Romania has the advantage of being a NATO and European Union state member, which means multiple benefits, including the absence of any customs duties on the movement of goods and capital.

Romania's economic growth is also about to produce the development of infrastructure and society. Three of the Transylvanian motorways are underway, and the authorities are making efforts to complete the sections of the Transylvania Highway between Gilău and Nădăşelu and between Câmpia Turzii and TârguMureş. The opening of the construction sites on the sections between TârguMureş and Braşov will be next. Moreover, the first sections of the Turda - Sebeş motorway would be opened for use this year or early next year. The works on the highway sections of the Pan-European Corridor IV are progressing rapidly, and the Romanian authorities want to start as soon as possible the works on the Olt Valley highway, the first Romanian highway to cross the Carpathian Mountains and link the southern part of the country to the Transylvanian area.

It’s not only the infrastructure which is advancing rapidly but also the industry.

Romania has attracted significant investments in the aerospace industry, such as the Eurocopter helicopter factory in Ghim-

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bav, Braşov County, or the Sonaca factory in Turda, Cluj County, where components for Airbus aircraft are manufactured.

The rapid development is the engine of spectacular economic growth. There are several estimates that belong to institutions such as the IMF, the European Commission, the Government of Romania and the National Bank of Romania, or publications such as The Economist.

The figures are different, but all have a common point: in 2017 also, Romania will have the highest economic growth in Europe after it ranked first in 2016.

The Economist expects that in 2017 Romania's economy will grow by 3.4 percent and the budget deficit will reach 3.2 percent. The inflation rate is estimated by the economic publication at 2.2 percent.

The Economist analysts say that Romania will have the economy with the highest growth and it will be followed by Turkey, with 3.3 percent growth, Bulgaria with a 3.2 percent increase, and Ireland with a 3 percent increase.

The International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) estimation is more generous. Fund’s specialists estimate that this year Romania will have an economic growth of 4.2 percent. They also say that the estimated unemployment rate will drop from 6.2 percent to 5.4 percent. All IMF experts estimate a budget deficit of 3.7 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). In fact, the only concern on the Romanian economy from the perspective of international

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institutions is that the Government in Bucharest could generate, through the economic measures adopted this year, the exceeding of the 3 percent threshold of GDP agreed by the Member States of the Union European.

The European Commission estimated an economic growth of 4.4 percent for Romania this year. The budget deficit projected by experts in Brussels is 3.6 percent.

Governor of the National Bank of Romania, Mugur Isărescu, estimated that this year, the growth of the Romanian economy will range between 4 and 5 percent, while the Romanian Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu believes that there will be an economic growth of 5.2 percent, and the budget deficit will be only 2.9 percent.

In 2016, Romania had the largest econo­ mic growth in Europe. This is 4.8 percent, given that the European Commission estimated an increase of 4.9 percent at the beginning of the year. IT & C was among the most dynamic sectors that influenced this growth, with a growth of 15.1 percent, followed by the services sector, with an increase of 7.8 percent.

This year, the resurgence of the real estate market could add a new engine to this economic growth. Moreover, the industrial sector, including car production, could contribute to the economic growth alongside foreign investment and the development of the energy sector.

foto: Cătălin Hladi

Transylvania Today | 25

Economy

Republic of Moldova, an Economy with Interesting Perspectives Republic of Moldova has become one of the most interesting destinations for foreign investors. The economy of the Republic of Moldova is predominantly oriented towards the European Union and especially towards Romania, but still maintains several strong ties with the states that were part of the former USSR. In this context, the economy of the Republic of Moldova can play the role of a turntable between the two economic spaces.

The main branch of the Moldovan economy is agriculture. The soil of the Republic of Moldova has a remarkable productivity, and the quality of agricultural - food products is particularly high. Agricultural lands amount to over 2,000,000 hectares.

Almost three quarters are arable land, and 12 percent are orchards and vineyards.

Some of them are famous. Purcari Wines, for example, in the south-eastern Republic of Moldova, have obtained more than 90 Parker points. The wine cellar of Cricova is also renowned throughout the world. The cellar from Mileștii Mici also enjoys a good reputation. The Republic of Moldova (also known as Bessarabia) is also famous for the juices and canned fruits that it exports all over the world. Moldovan tobacco is also of particular quality.

The development of agriculture has also brought the development of the food industry, including sugar production or

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milk processing. Over the recent years, light industry gained momentum, including the textile industry. Many factories working under toll manufacturing status were opened in Bessarabia due to good quality and cheap labour. Other industries that have been developed are the manufacture of leather and footwear.

There is a rapid development of production of software in the large university towns.

The quality of IT specialists in Chişinău and Balti has attracted many companies from the European Union who are outsourcing.

There is also great potential in the aerospace industry. Moldovan engineers were involved in major Soviet projects in this area, and after the collapse of the Soviet Union, they collaborated with the major Western companies to develop international projects.

Most of the IT and space technology projects come from the private sector.

For example, StarNet, the largest private provider of telecommunications services and services, wants to develop a real Silicon Village on the industrial platform of the former tractors factory in Chişinău, bringing together different companies to

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produce software and electronic devices, start-ups and research teams. StarNet has already invested some millions of euros in this project. Among others, StarNet opened the Academy+Plus Chişinău, a vocational school that can retrain graduates of technical faculties to IT specialists. This project is being developed in partnership with the Academy+Plus Cluj and the Ecole 42 in Paris.

The Republic of Moldova has a transport network with interesting developments.

A successful example is the Port of Giurgiulești. In 1999, the Republic of Moldova made a correction of the border with Ukraine, after which it acquired a 430-meter long strip of land through which it has an exit to the Danube. The construction of the Giurgiulești port was

started immediately, and was put into operation in 2006. The port includes a petroleum terminal, which was built with the help of a foreign investment of 35 million US dollars, a cargo port, a passenger port and an industrial area. The berth of the port can receive ships with draft up to 6.5 meters. The oil terminal has a storage capacity of 63,000 cubic meters of oil products. The maximum transhipment capacity is two million tonnes per year.

The passenger port has a capacity of 300 people / day. The cereal terminal was built with an investment of 12 million US dollars.

The port installations can provide 300 tons of grain per hour. The free economic area of Giurgiulești harbour is 120 hectares. In addition to the Danube port, the Republic of Moldova has ports on the Dniester and the Prut.

Moreover, the road infrastructure of the Republic of Moldova is well developed and several projects have been carried out in recent years, through which several roads have been refurbished, such as the one connecting Chișinău with Romanian borders to Albișa or the one between Chișinău and Soroca, situated on the bank of the Dniester. The Republic of Moldova has 1,200 kilometres of railways, most of which are with wide gauge. As for the airports, the most important one is in Chișinău. Bălți, Cahul and Mărculești airports also have a great potential.

Transylvania Today | 27

Business

Holding, the Leading Moldavian ICT Company

In today's hyper-connected world, the Internet access and digital connectivity are a basic need and it is StarNet’s belief that everyone should be a part of this digital world, bringing the high-speed Internet service, the latest technologies and the best solutions in every house and office in Moldova.

Alexandru Machedon, CEO

The Moldavian ICT company are aware that the customers’ needs are evolving, that they keep setting ever higher standards.

“It is our mission to satisfy these changing expectation, needs and preferences.

Moreover, we aim to inspire people with new ideas and services, to enrich their life and bring better value. So, we continue innovating in order to feel the joy of the professional fulfilment”, says Alexandru Machedon, the CEO of StarNet Group.

StarNet fiber network covers 15 cities, meaning that 80% of urban population of Moldova has access to good quality communications. The company has the greatest free Wi-Fi network in Moldova and a 100% fiber optic coverage in Chisinau. Also, StarNet is the first operator in Moldova who implemented in FTFB and i-TTH technologies. The company has upgraded the interconnection to the international channel DWDM up to 100 Gbit/s.

Digital City

www.starnet.md

facebook.com/StarNet.MD

twitter.com/myStarNet

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One of the most important projects of StarNet is the creation of an environment for ICT companies in the city center of the Moldavian capital, Chişinău, with world class buildings and facilities which will be the first dedicated ecosystem in the country encouraging cooperation, crossfertilization and mutual support.

The mixture of local, international and start-up companies and attractive work environment will help attract and retain

staff, and build a center of excellence for ICT exports from Moldova. Digital City will have, 25,600 m2 of office space in total, 2,800 m2 of lobby and conference spaces, 4,000 m2 for coworking, several executive floors (1,300 m2), 1,700 m2 of restaurants, a big green area of 10,400 m2, also a pool and SPA and fitness club of 2,000 m2, an Auditorium of 1,600 m2 and 950 spaces underground parking and 70 spaces in a ground parking.

StarLab StarNet is a holding consisting of 9 companies with almost 550 employees and 99% owned infrastructure. It also has 112,000 customers, from which over 5,200 are business clients. StarNet holding also includes the leading IT company StarLab. Established in 2012 in Chişinău, it has more than 30 qualified IT specialists. The targeted markets for StarLab are USA and Europe clients, as well as the local ones.

The IT products made by StarLab serve the telecom, media, finance, manufac­ turing, distribution, service, retail and hospitability industries.

Among StarLab projects, there is Epicor ERR Teleocom, that can provide real time data and processes integration throughout intergroup-companies. It has deep performance and financial visibility and a careful management of regulatory compliance risk. The company can deploy new operational and technological models.

Also, the Data Center can assure tier-

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Academy+Moldova has already trained hundreds of IT specialists

4 facility for Corporate Customers and tier-3 facility for mass market. It also has high density racks (up to 54U Et15kW per rack) and a connectivity of 100G. StarLab installed over1200 hotspots in Chisinau and over 200 hotspots in other 14 cities in Moldova.

The IT company can effectively manage end user services, including modifications of demand, monitoring, diagnostics, and troubleshooting, integration with business and operations systems components. StarLab is able to handle tens of thousands of requests per second, it can also integrate with existing software, Last but not least, starting from 2016, StarNet founded in ChiĹ&#x;inău Academy+ Moldova, an informal IT school that has online and offline courses. It is based on over 12 years of French experience in this field, through Ecole 42 from Paris. The main purpose of Academy+Moldova is to develop the community of high qualified specialists in IT ready for immediate employment. It has a 28 days selection phase and then a three year

such as CRIVI, provisioning, accounting and others. Among its services there is collection/processing of performance data from the network using OLTP/OLAP systems, real-time verifying and charging CDR from customers. StarLab can set up teams for development, testing and quality assurance. The team sizes are adjusted to accommodate changing requirements and other needs. The company provide experts with specialized skills as needed for particular tasks.

StarLab takes pride in the fact that all projects are completed, on time, every time, all the time.

program divided in 24 modules that in the end will compete 140 projects.

It is a revolutionary alternative and free way of learning, with no regular classes, no teachers, no fixed hours. It is open 24/7 and from its launch, over 300 of its students have already signed contracts with different IT companies. This project is also meant to make the link between the competences provided and the market need for well-trained specialists.

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Business

Leader in the Field of Civil and Industrial Installations, as Well as Road and Railway Infrastructure

One of Cluj most important Transylvanian companies in the field of railway and road infrastructure is Electro Energetica. Together with LS ELECTRO, Electro Energetica is one of the most performing groups of companies located in Cluj.

Electro Energetica was founded in 2006 as a family business in order to operate in areas related to the development of electricity and telecommunication infrastructure, recalls Ioan Lăcan, CEO. "Our strategy was simple and efficient.

We relied on a viable pricing policy and rates tailored to market requirements. At the same time, we provided high quality services to our clients " says Ioan Lăcan.

Moreover, according to the CEO of Electro Energetica, an advantage was the young and dynamic team. The Cluj company invested in modern technologies and facilities and developed a customeroriented organizational culture. The result was years of growth, which led to the consolidation of this company's position, aggregate market shares and an increasing presence internationally. "We decided to be present in the Republic of Moldova after attending the official visit of His electroenergetica.ro Royal Highness Prince Radu of Romania to 4/5 Piata 1 Mai 2nd floor, Chișinău, Bălți, Regina Maria and Purcari. It Cluj-Napoca, Romania was a very successful visit that brought us 88 Petricani St., Office 11, into contact with important stakeholders Chişinău, Moldova in the region from the Prut and Dniester Tel/Fax: +4 (0) 264 431 609 and we are glad that we could open E-mail: office@electroenergetica.ro a subsidiary there that has started to

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gain market share in the field", said Ioan Lăcan. The CEO of Electro Energetica is currently concerned with increasing staff efficiency and meeting the deadlines agreed with customers and would like that the international presence of the Cluj company become more accentuated.

"We already have a solid foundation, which is certified by several certifications.

For example, ISO 9001: 2008 Quality Management System or ISO 14001: 2004 Environmental Management (Environmental Protection) or OHSAS 18001: 2007 Occupational Health and Safety. We have homologations, attestations and certifications that allow us to have access to almost all sectors specific to our company's activities, as well as the necessary skills for the study, design and execution of civil and industrial works in the railway and road sectors", says Ioan Lăcan.

The Cluj company offers a wide range of services, such as site management and turnkey solutions, as well as pre-feasibility studies, feasibility studies, engineering designs in general and technical projects

transport inteligent (ITS) – pentru spaţii de îtreţinere şi coordonare servicii , reţea de autoastrăzi şi drumuri naţionale.

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Ionuţ Lăcan, CEO

specialised in the field of installations or infrastructure for telecommunication networks.

Electro Energetica also conducts market studies, auditing and energy balance, technical calculation of brightness and can develop surveillance measures in the field of energy quality. According to Ioan Lăcan, the Cluj company is also involved in the supply of equipment, electrical panels and automation.

The Cluj company manufactures aerial or underground electrical networks with voltages up to 110 kV. Another activity of Electro Energetica is the realisation and modernisation of electrical transformer stations and substations, it performs painting and maintenance works for electrical network support elements, power transformers up to 20 kV and executes grubbing works for overhead power line corridors. Company specialists execute transformer stations, indoor electrical installations, alarm and fire alarm systems and anti-burglary alarm systems, but also provide facilities for the production of electricity from renewable sources.

Electro Energetica has also modernised public and monument lighting systems by replacing classical light sources with those based on LED technology and some lighting systems for motorways and national roads. In this context, the Cluj company also implemented intelligent road traffic management systems, including fibberbased communications networks, VMS display systems, SOS systems, AID vehicle measurement and detection systems, highway video surveillance systems, LPR automatic systems license plate recognition, RADAR for automotive speed measurement systems, dynamic weighing systems, traffic weather phenomena measurement systems, and command and control systems.

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Furthermore, Electro Energetica develops ticketing and turnstile systems, access control systems for parking, highway and bridge payment systems, as well as electrical works for the installation, upgrading and maintenance of contact lines, installations and automation systems with for railways, underground railway crossing works, as well as consultancy services and studies for railway infrastructure.

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Business

The Maritime and River Shipping Company that Provides Custom Solutions for its Clients Romania has this unique feature of having the most diverse landforms and landscapes, from high mountains to rich fields and plains, from deltas full of wildlife to beautiful sand beaches at the Black Sea. Why is all this important to whomever wants to do business in Romania? Because it shows the countless possibilities and opportunities of the country that can be turned into business.

More and more airlines open new routes to and from Romania each year and at least three motorways are under construction. Romania also offers other means of transportation, often used by large industrial companies: sea and river transportation. One of the respected and reliable Romanian companies in this field is Iulius RL Ltd, a company based in Constanţa, the biggest port at the Black Sea, and among the first 10 European ports. Constanta Port is directlyconnected with the Pan-European Transport Corridor VII - Danube (inland waterway), Corridor IV (rail-road), linked with to North to South Corridor IX (rail-road), and is a node of the TRACECA corridor linking Asia, Caucasus and Europe.

River and Sea Shipping

www.iuliusgrup.ro 1, Incinta Port, ANR Building, 4th Floor Constanta, Romania Tel/Fax: +40 (241)510094 Tel: +40 0765214242 E-mail: liviu.rusu@iuliusgrup.ro

32 | Transylvania Today

Iulius RL Ltd owns a river self propelled vessel, M/S Chrome with a capacity of 732.728Mt, with extended capacity to move up to 1750Mt of cargo. The company manages an additional fleet of units to comply with the needs of its customers.

Sea going vessels are hired or booked based on the orders of the customers and the cargo requested to be transported on the Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea, North and Baltic Seas This Romanian company provides as Ship Agents 24hrs/7days assistance in Romanian

ports on the Danube and Black Sea, assistance in transiting the Danube-Black Sea and Sulina Canal, mooring, customs and immigration formalities, assis­tance for vessels, owners and crew, assistance in cargo operations and offers detailed daily reports of operations.

Also, Iulius R.L. can handle as Forwarding Agents the cargo carried onboard of a ship/barge, coordinating the loading/unloading equipment and labor, preparing and collecting the cargo documents, arranging surveyors or supervise the cargo activities. At exporter’s request, the company can provide cargo supervision from the time of loading in railcars/trucks/barges,

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Iulius RL Ltd Constanţa, Romania, is a private capital company established in 1994.

The company’s services are conducted in a healthy, safe and environmentally manner, under Lloyd’s Register ISO 9001:2015; 14001:2015 and SR OHSAS 18000:2008 certifications, being licensed by Lloyd’s Register and Romanian Authorities for underwater inspection, marine salvage, underwater works to ships and naval installations, also the Romanian authority’s certificates and authorization for waterways transportation, additional services to cargo transportation, port operations and logistics.

during transiting to the port, during storage in the port, until the cargo is loaded into the vessel, including assistance to securing the cargo by trimming/strapping/lashing. Iulius R.L. is able to perform NDT inspections for the equipments or out of gauge cargo lashed on board of the vessels and to give assistance in customs import/export formalities, including transit formalities. Also, Iulius R.L. can represent the cargo interests in relationship with port authorities, Customs, Stevedoring Companies and other organizations involved.

On the water and underwater Working in the port and having naval expe­ rience, another segment of the company has developed over the years. Thus, the company has years of experience in underwater and NDT inspections performed in the inland waterways and lakes of Romania, lower part of the Danube, Black Sea and Marmara region with imminent extension in the Spain Atlantic’s and Mediterranean regions. The team includes professionals in marine inspections, project building, ship agency, forwarding agency and logistics, and underwater survey and works

onshore and offshore in different sizes of scale.

Iulius R.L. is equipped to carry out many types of underwater and confined space inspections by using professional divers and ROV equipment, providing video and underwater stills photographs in their detailed reports.

“Our divers are skilled, trained and certified in the inspections techniques for shipping industry, evidence collection, damage reports, salvage reports, insurance reports, hull cleaning and propeller intakes and rudders.

Regarding underwater hull cleaning and repairs, our services includes before and after digital video and photography detailed reports in print and digital recordings on DVD”, says Liviu Rusu, the CEO of Iulius R.L.

Building and ship repair Iulius R.L is also subcontractor for mechanical and electrical repairs and for new shipbuilding of the Shipyard DMHI Mangalia. They perform repairs and make new constructions also for other European beneficiaries such as: NSB Germany, Hamburg South Germany, C.P. OFFEN Germany.

Transylvania Today | 33

ienna dictate the University of misoara (Faculty of Science) and s, Law and Medicine) Education I” University returns to Cluj d I University” becomes ”Victor

University of Cluj merges with ity. The new institution will be niversity”.

tional multicultural programmes in collaboration with 138 universities in Europe, 36 universities in North America and South America, universities in Africa, Asia, Australia and New Zealand.

Through its mobility programmes, over 400 UBB students have had the opportunity to get in touch with other cultures, every year, while 291 foreign students get in contact annualy with the Romanian culture through our University.

University, students can study n, German, English, French and programmes in the language rgraduate level there are: 153 manian, 75 specialisations in ations in German, 12 specialisaspecialisations in French.

CONTACT 1 Mihail Kogălniceanu street, Cluj-Napoca Tel: 0264-405.300, Fax: 0264-591.906 Website: http://ubbcluj.ro Facebook: Universitatea Babeş-Bolyai

Tradition and Excellence Tradition and excellence in multiculturalism in Multiculturalism Linguistic and cultural diversity are defining elements of UBB, representing a singularity not only Linguistic and cultural diversity are defining but also At level there are: 175 specialisations in in the Romanian academic environment, inmaster’s the European context.

The multiculturalism elements of UBB, representing a singularity not only in Romanian, 40 specialisations in Hungarian, 6 specialiproject promoted by Babeş-Bolyai University is considered to be a continental model. the Romanian academic environment, but also in the European context. The multiculturalism project promoted by Babeș-Bolyai University is considered to be a continental model. Historical guidelines:

sations in German, 38 specialisations in English and 6 specialisations in French.

17 cultural centres promote various cultures, languages and ways of life, constantly enriching the international perspective of our students: “Bernhard Go international!

Historical guidelines: Stillfried” Library, Northern Studies Library, 1581 - Stefan Báthory issued in Vilna Austrian the British Council, do differentiates Brasil” Cultural Centre, founding diploma of the Major Jesuit “Casa UBB itselfKorean within the national 1581- Stefan Báthory issued inCollege Vilna the founding Cultural Centre, German Cultural Centre, Italian Cultur- environment from Cluj and international academic diploma of the Major Jesuit College ClujNo. XIX adopted al Centre, Russianas Cultural Centre, Polish Centre for multicultural 1872 - byfrom Law by the a university with a strong 1872 - by Law No. XIX adopted by the Hungarian Language and Culture, Canadian Studies Centre, Hungarian Parliament and sanctioned profile and a distinctly expressed national Parliament and sanctioned by Emperor Franz Iosif the Belgian and French Language and Literary Studies

by Emperor Franz Iosif the University and international outlook.

University of Cluj is established with Hungarian as Centre, Confucius Institute, Romanian French Institute of Cluj is established with Hungarian TheMoshe university hosts for an important teaching language of Cluj-Napoca, “Dr. Carmilly” Institute asofteaching language ERASMUS framework, conducted all over 1919 - the Hungarian University Cluj becomes a Hebrew Studies and Jewish History, Institute of Turkish 1919 - the Hungarian University of Cluj Europe and 20 Romanian University and Asian-Central Studies, (500 Africanstudy Studiesagreements Centre becomes a Romanian University placement agreements) 1927- the University of Cluj adopted the name of King CESTAF, Camões Centre for Portuguese Language.and having more 1927 - the University of Cluj adopted the than 800 is students asinternabeneficiaries each Ferdinand I Babeş-Bolyai University involved in name King Ferdinand I 1940 - following the Vienna dictate theofUniversity of tional multiculturalyear. programmes in collaboration with Cluj takes refuge in Timisoara of Science) 138 universities 36 centres universities in Northvarious cultu­ 1940(Faculty - following theand Vienna dictate the in17Europe, cultural promote Sibiu (Faculty of Letters, Law andUniversity Medicine) of Cluj takesAmerica andinSouthres, America, universities Africa, of Asia, refuge languages andinways life, constantly 1945 - ”King Ferdinand I” University returns to Cluj Australia and Zealand.

Timisoara (Faculty of Science) andNew enriching the international perspective 1948 - ”King Ferdinand I University” ”Victor Through over 400 Sibiubecomes (Faculty of Letters, Law and itsofmobility our programmes, students: “Bernhard Stillfried” Babeș University” UBB students have had the opportunity to get Studies in Medicine) Austrian Library, Northern Library, 1959 - the Romanian University of Cluj merges with touch with other cultures, every year, while 291 1945 - ”King Ferdinand I” University British Council, “Casa do Brasil” Cultural the Hungarian University. The new institution will be foreign students get in contact annualy with the returns to Cluj Centre, Korean Cultural Centre, German called ”Babeș-Bolyai University”.

Romanian culture through our University.

1948 - ”King

Ferdinand

I

University”

Cultural Centre, Italian Cultural Centre,

English, French and they can attend study programmes in the language they choose. At undergraduate level there are: 153 specialisations in Romanian, 75 specialisations in Hungarian,10 specialisa­ tions in German, 12 specialisations in English and 3 specialisations in French.

At master’s level there are: 175 speciali­ sations in Romanian, 40 specialisations in Hungarian, 6 specialisations in German, 38 specialisations in English and 6 specialisations in French.

Institute of Turkish and Asian-Central Studies, African Studies Centre CESTAF, Camões Centre for Portuguese Language.

Babeş-Bolyai University is involved in international multicultural programmes in collaboration with 138 universities in Europe, 36 universities in North America and South America, universities in Africa, Asia, Australia and New Zealand.

Through its mobility programmes, over 400 UBB students have had the oppor­ tunity to get in touch with other cultures,

”Victor Russian Cultural Centre, Polish Centre for At Babeș-Bolyai University,becomes students can studyBabeş University” CONTACT 1959 - the Romanian University of Language and Culture, Canadian Studies in Romanian, Hungarian, German, English, French and Cluj inmerges with the Hungarian Centre, street, Belgian and French Language they can attend study programmes the language 1 Mihail Kogălniceanu Cluj-Napoca The153 new institutionTel: will and Literary Studies Centre, Confucius they choose. At undergraduateUniversity. level there are: 0264-405.300, Fax: 0264-591.906 be called ”Babeş-Bolyai University”. Website: Institute, Romanian French Institute of specialisations in Romanian, 75 specialisations in http://ubbcluj.ro Hungarian,10 specialisations in German, 12 specialisaUniversitatea Babeş-Bolyai At Babeş-Bolyai University, studentsFacebook: can Cluj-Napoca, “Dr. Moshe Carmilly” Institute tions in English and 3 specialisations in French. Hungarian, German, study in Romanian, for Hebrew Studies and Jewish History, www.ubbcluj.ro 1 Mihail Kogalniceanu Street, Cluj-Napoca Fax: Tel.:

+4 (0) 264 405 300 +4 (0) 264 591 906

facebook.com/Universitatea Babeş-Bolyai

34 | Transylvania Today

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150

Over Undergraduate programmes in Romanian

79

ndergraduate U programmes in Hungarian

every year, while 291 foreign students get in contact annualy with the Romanian culture through our University.

Location UBB is headquartered in Cluj-Napoca, in the heart of the historical province of Transylvania, addressing the educational needs of individuals from all across Romania, but also Central and Eastern Europe.

Programmes Bachelor’s Programmes taught in English - Computer Sciences - Chemistry - Science and Engineering of Oxide Materials and Nanomaterials - Management - Finance and Banking - Accounting and Business Data Processing - International Relations and European Studies - American Studies - Business Administration - Political Sciences - Journalism - Public Health Services and Policies

The main campus of UBB is located in the city of Cluj-Napoca, the fourth most populated city in Romania (pop. 400.000), business hub for the region and the seat of Cluj County.

It now comprises more than 120 university buildings that are spread across the city.

The university extensions under the aegis of UBB are located in 12 Transylvanian cities: Bistriţa, Gheorgheni, Târgu Secuiesc, Năsăud, Odorheiu Secuiesc, Satu Mare, Sfântu Gheorghe, Sibiu, Sighetu Marmaţiei, Târgu Mureş, Vatra Dornei and Zalău.

Bachelor’s Programmes taught in French - Chemistry - International Relations and European Studies - Accounting and Business Data Processing Bachelor’s Programmes taught in German - Chemistry - Chemistry and Engineering of Organic Compounds, Petrochemistry and Carbochemistry - Ecology and Environmental Protection - Geography - German Language and Literature - History - Philosophy - Business Economics - Economics and International Business - Public Administration - International Relations and European Studies - Communication and Public Relations - Journalism

Transylvania Today | 35

Education

USAMV, a University in the European Elite The best Romanian university in the field of agronomic sciences and veterinary medicine is in Cluj, as resulting from the international classifications. The University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine (USAMV) is ranked fifth in Romania in the top of the best institutions of higher education in the country and was declared an university of advanced scientific education and research.

The University of Cluj has three study lines, in Romanian, English and French, as well as five faculties: Agriculture, Horticulture, Zootechnic Science and Biotechnologies, Veterinary Medicine and Food Science and Technology. USAMV has an impressive network of scientific research institutes and centres, developed with European funds. Such as, for example, King Michael I the Life Sciences Institute, the Biodiversity Centre or the Advanced Horticultural Research Institute of Transylvania. The University of Cluj also has its own scientific research stations, as well as a special botanical garden.

www.usamvcluj.ro 3 - 5 Mănăştur St. Cluj-Napoca Fax: Tel.:

+4 (0) 264 593 792 +4 (0) 264 596 384

International relation office: iro@usamvcluj.ro

36 | Transylvania Today

knowledge through scientific research, development, innovation and academic professional training. The research activity of the university is based on the conception that knowledge values are universal, and the process of knowledge involves correct assessment and selfevaluation, constructive dialogue and mutual respect in expressing opinions. At present, the research activity is organised in two institutes", says the Rector of USAMV, Professor Cornel Cătoi PhD. The University ensures the academic training of highly qualified specialists in the fundamental fields of agricultural and forestry sciences, engineering sciences, veterinary medicine and natural sciences and by promoting bachelor, master, doctoral and postgraduate studies based on the development of knowledge, research and innovation.

The university library is very modern, with access to the best scientific databases and the campus brings out the tradition started in 1869 and the connection to modernity. The Cluj researchers and teachers are involved in international research projects, and sometimes their studies are among the best in the world.

The University advocates for continuous improvement of the content of the educational process by permanently adapting the offer of specialisations, by reviewing the curricula and study programs in accordance with the national and world development standards and perspectives in the fields concerned.

"The mission undertaken by the University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine in Cluj-Napoca is the advanced scientific research and education. In order to accomplish the mission undertaken, the university is involved in generating

Thanks to the master, doctorate, postdoctoral studies, specialisation through continuous training of specialists and qualification for farmers, by improving pre-university teaching staff and academic staff, the university is defined as an active

Royal Edition

Cornel Cătoi, USAMV rector

participant in the lifelong learning and professional reconversion of the workforce.

The university offers, through the recruitment, promotion and training policies of its own teaching and research staff, the human resources needed for university and postgraduate professional education, as well as role models of professional and civic conduct.

The university has become, through its academic community members, an active element in the development and implementation of education, research, technology transfer and employment policies and programs at national and international level.

"USAMV Cluj-Napoca is to develop in the context of the extension of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA). The new framework is a globalised market where prospects and programs are remodelled permanently, where geographical barriers blur, and information and communication techniques are put in the service of students beyond the conventional borders.

International relationships are a key component in the institutional work of

a modern university. The University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine from Cluj-Napoca has a long tradition in international cooperation, both didactic and scientific. Collaborations under the Erasmus, Erasmus Mudus, CEEPUS, COST, AUF programs have enabled a significant number of our university students to study abroad or to spend post-graduate academic training in Europe's top laboratories. The opening to the internationalisation of the University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine from Cluj-Napoca is an important objective in the medium and long-term development strategy", says Adrian Oros, Vice-Rector.

Transylvania Today | 37

Education

Cluj is Running for the Title of European Capital of Innovation Cluj is the first European city to announce its candidacy for the European Capital of Innovation. Most likely, the city's candidacy will be submitted for 2026. Until then, Cluj is trying to produce those transformations capable of propelling the city towards this European title. According to Carlos Moeda, the European Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation, "the title rewards the city that manages to create the best innovation ecosystem connecting citizens, public organisations, academic and business environment."

As far as citizens are concerned, the key words from the European Commission’s point of view are participation and collaboration. The city declared as the European Capital of Innovation receives EUR 1,000,000 from the European Commission, and the cities ranked second and third receive EUR 100,000 each to boost innovative projects.

Eligible for this title are the cities in the Member States of the European Union or those from countries which have joined the Union Innovation Policy and have at least 100,000 inhabitants. If there is no city with 100,000 inhabitants in one of the Member States, the largest city in that country is eligible.

Two European Capitals of Innovation have been declared so far: Barcelona and Amsterdam. Barcelona was rewarded with this title for its ability to use new technologies to bring public administration closer to its citizens and to support the economic growth and well-being of its inhabitants.

Amsterdam has won the European title for a start-up ecosystem and for supporting digital social innovation.

38 | Transylvania Today

Cluj meets the criteria set by the European Commission for obtaining this title. The city, which was the European Youth Capital in 2015 and reached the national finals of the European Capital of Culture competition in 2021, is mobilising its energies to become the European Capital of Innovation. The local community has many advantages. The universities from Cluj are among the best Romanian higher education institutions, according to international rankings. The city hosts the oldest Romanian university, BabeČ™-Bolyai, founded in 1581, which has nearly 50,000 students, master students and PhD students and is the largest university in the country. Moreover, the scientific research institutes in Cluj are among the best in the country. The projects developed in Cluj include, for example, the production of artificial blood, coordinated by Professor Radu Silaghi-Dumitrescu. Another asset of Cluj is that there are many clusters in the city in different fields of activity, including two such organisations in the IT industry.

Some of these clusters are already being evaluated by the European authorities

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Cluj-Napoca, aerial view and are among the best in this region of Europe.

Furthermore, one of the major projects of the local public administration is Cluj Innovation City, a city of science that would have 100,000 inhabitants and generate 30,000 new jobs in the creative industries.

Cluj Innovation City would be a satellite of Cluj. Another important project that would stimulate innovation is Tetapolis, which is supported by Tetarom, the company owned by Cluj County Council which manages the public industrial parks in the county and which are considered the most efficient in Romania.

According to international evaluations, Cluj is the best city in Romania for start-ups.

There are over 4,000 companies in this category operating in Cluj, and the growth rate of this number is very fast.

Similarly, the local administration has launched a series of projects that use new technologies to simplify bureaucracy. Thus, Cluj became the first city in the country where the City Hall issues electronically the documents related to town planning.

In addition, the city supports the development of applications for parking management. SMS can be used to pay the cost of parking or of public transport.

Another concern is the reduction of pollution. The local administration offers important discounts for local taxes and fees for owners of green buildings according certified to international systems. The City Hall will also buy 20 electric buses and offer free space to those who want to build power stations for electric car owners. These cars have also been given the right to drive on public road lanes used for public transportation.

Transylvania Today | 39

Business

An Application for Logistics, Developed in Cluj-Napoca, in the World Top 10 A transport and logistics planning and route optimization software application developed by a team of engineers at Cluj-Napoca, has entered the Top 10 global software products dedicated to this market. This application called Axiodis is the result of a strong collaboration between a French software editor and a Romanian software development company based in Cluj.

Axiodis is a TMS solution for planning and routes optimisation developed and created by Optilogistic, a French global leader in transport and logistics issues.

This TMS is distributed in Europe and also in South America, North America and Africa. The new version of Axiodis is the result of a strong collaboration between Optilogistic and the Romanian software development company named AXON Soft, based in Cluj. The TMS solution runs on the servers of companies that buy the software or with the option of running in an SAAS (Software As A Service) mode.

The application has also functions for mobile devices.

Three years of intense work

www.axonsoft.ro 126, 21 Decembrie 1989 Blvd Cluj-Napoca Tel : Fax : Email:

+40 264 487 026 +40 364 412 979 office@axonsoft.ro

40 | Transylvania Today

The application developed by the Romanian engineers is very complex. It includes data provided by cargo inventory management, billing data, resources (trucks, drivers, etc.), maps, routes and schedules. The team of engineers at AXON Soft began to work on developing this application in 2013 and made a team effort to finish it in 2016. “Because the application has been very effective, it has already been installed and used by some major companies across Europe: a Belgian company named Delhaize that owns a chain of supermarkets in Romania, the Mega Image chain, or one of the largest French producers of dairy products, Danone” says the founder of the software company AXON Soft, Anca Vescan.

“These companies have to carry certain types of materials or types of cargo

Anca Vescan, CEO AXON Soft from the logistics centers to stores.

We developed the application to help the collection and the loading process: stores networks, the amounts of the products carried, and the destination of the truck where it will be emptied. For retail, such assets can accumulate some fantastic costs, so it is very important to optimize the scheduling of these activities.

When the large operators optimize their transactions through a good planning, the profit increases.” This mechanism stands behind the application used by the Belgians for their chain of supermarkets, Mega Image, according to Anca Vescan.

Companies like Danone, share the same logistical challenges, which must take into account including the expiration dates of products.

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Conquer the market in South America The application developed in Cluj-Napoca and already used in Europe is also adapted to the needs of companies in South America. It will be distributed and installed locally by its international partners such as Optilogistic and Maplink.

The economic growth of Optilogistic involves the functional perimeter growth of Axiodis. “We need to be aligned with the customer needs of our customers.

So, Optilogistic relies on Axon Soft for the

development of Axiodis, specifications of which are made in France”, says the French company representative. “We have never had direct contact with the final customer.

Our customers are software editors and they are in charge of the process of installation and configuration for the final client and also for the specifications of the new functionalities. Our job is to design and develop the application. And because we aim to reach world top 3 in 2018, AXON Soft will have to double the team dedicated to this project”, added Anca Vescan.

About Maplink and Optilogistic Maplink is a global company, reference in cloud Logistics and Geolocation technology. With customers in more than 18 countries in the Americas, Europe and Africa, its headquarter stays in Sao Paulo and offices, in Latin America and Europe.

For more than 17 years, Maplink has been investing in innovation and offering solutions for more than 3,200 companies of different sizes and industries.

Maplink is the largest reseller of Google Maps in Latin America and one of the largest in the world. Since 2014 it has been part of Movile, a leading global company in development of

mobile content and commerce platforms, and in 2016 has acquired the French company Optilogistic, a world reference in Logistics.

Optilogistic develops a TMS solution for planning and transportation routes optimization since 1992. Optilogistic is a global leader in transport and logistics issues with its TMS AXIODIS for routes optimization. Optilogistic is positioned closer to the customers’ expectations in many industries.

Optilogistic has become Google premier Partner for the Google Maps APIs for France and Benelux in 2016.

Transylvania Today | 41

Business

KHAR & PARTNERS Research for Your Health

Those who Know How to Quench the Thirst of the World An initiative from Sibiu has won the national stage of one of the most important competitions in the world dedicated to innovation and social impact, Chivas The Venture. It is a particularly powerful water filtration and treatment system. The project will represent Romania at the world competition which will be held in Los Angeles in July this year. Prizes awarded by the company which owns the famous whiskey brand are worth one million dollars.

The first hydroponic farm

www.kharandpartners.com 24 A Litovoi Vodă Sibiu Tel: Fax:

+4 (0) 369 452 292 +4 (0) 369 452 294

/company/khar-&-partners

42 | Transylvania Today

The first project created in Transylvania by Khar and Partners was a hydroponic farm, founded in the village of Cristian, Sibiu County. “Such farms can be very good solutions for food production in areas not suitable for agriculture.

Romania is not the case, but we wanted to show here that such a project is viable”, says Khaled al Mezayen, the company founder. The economic data show that, indeed, hydroponics can produce the food of the future. The hydroponic farm from Cristian produces every day, on an area of only 160 square meters, a ton of forage grass, ideal for animal feed. Naturally, such a quantity of grass should be harvested daily over an area of 70,000 square meters.

The project of building hydroponic farms could be developed internationally in 2018.

The forage grass from the farm in Cristian is entirely organic. Hydroponic farms can be used not only to produce food for animals, but also to produce fruit and vegetables for human consumption.

While developing this project, Khaled al Mezayen’s team faced a challenge: finding a very efficient water filtering system used in hydroponics. The response was the creation of a stand-alone filtering system. And at that time, i.e. in 2013, Khaled al Mezayen decided to

invite his former boss, Pierre Huet, the to join him and become partner in Khar and Partners.

From farm filters to filters for entire communities The team led by Khaled al Mezayen has succeeded in developing one of the most advanced filtering systems in the world. This system was named SOWAT, acronym for System Open Water Advanced Technology. This system has four filtering stages which turn polluted or infected water into drinking water. In the first step, large particles, such as sand, for example, which are found in the water, are removed. In the second stage, the bacteria are removed by polarisation with a filter made of recycled glass.

The third filter is made of activated carbon, and the water already cleaned through successive steps passes through a fourth filter, developed in partnership with a company from France.

This filter is so powerful that it stops particles of diameter above 10 nanometres. At this stage, viruses are also removed, which have, as a rule, a maximum diameter of 20 nanometres. Thus, the filter manages to remove pollen, organic pollutants or mineral colloids. Minerals dissolved in water are the only ones that remain. “We do not use any chemicals. It's pure physics. We use the principles of mechanics to filter the water”,

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Khaled al Mezayen and his team made it possible to make drinkable water anywhere there is need for it

For now, the production capacity is 10 such machines per month, but Khaled al Mezayen wants to double the production capacity in early 2018. There is already a huge interest for such devices as filters are very heavy-duty and must be replaced only every 10 years and the costs are very low. Basically, it is a cost of 20 cents per month for the drinking water necessary for one person.

said Khaled al Mezayen. In designing the filtering system, the team led by Khaled al Mezayen heeded his desire that such systems be mobile and easy to carry, in order to be available for those who are forced to live in conflict areas or in refugee camps, where access to drinking water is a big problem. Thus, SOWAT ended up in weighing only 250 kg and be a plug-and-play system. That is, it must be connected to a source of electricity, the polluted water is extracted with a hose and then the system supplies drinking water. The consumption of electricity is equivalent to that produced by a 60 W bulb.

The filtration capacity ranges between 20 and 100 cubic meters of water a day, which means that it covers the drinking water requirement for communities between 500 and 5,000 people.

The price of such a system varies between EUR 17,000 and 25,000 depending on the filtering capacity. Currently, such systems are built on the Cluj company's platform Energom, and the Consul of France in ClujNapoca, Pascal Fesneau, is one of the board members.

This system was tested for the first time in Sibiu.

Khaled al Mezayen and his colleagues extracted water from the Cibin River, which they filtered and drank it. They offered samples for analysis to the representatives of the Public Health Department of Sibiu County. “They were amazed to see that water can be so clean without chlorination”, says the young entrepreneur.

The first SOWAT systems have already been installed in several small communities in Sibiu and Mureș Counties, but the company Khar and Partners has orders from countries like Morocco, Jordan and Madagascar. Khaled al Mezayen’s dream is that these filtration systems reach the Middle East in the refugee camps. He saw such camps in Syria. Moreover, his partner, Pierre Huet, worked for Doctors Without Borders in Cambodia.

Khaled al Mezayen says that water scarcity is a major problem in conflict areas. Refugee camps are usually supplied with water using tankers, and any delay of a tanker risks causing a genuine tragedy. An adult is in danger of death if deprived of water for three days, and things are even worse for children, because statistics show that diarrhoea caused by polluted water is the second cause of infant mortality. Therefore, SOWAT mobile system may be the best solution for water supply of these communities.

Transylvania Today | 43

Business

The Way in which the Transylvanian Cider Was Reinvented Sergiu Mureşan and Daniel Crişan founded the first cider mill in Transylvania, in the village of Zimbor, Salaj County. They are producing 6,000 bottles per month and wish to increase the production to 10,000 bottles a month.

Traditionally, Sălaj County is associated with plum brandy – “pălinca”. The locals say proudly that they produce the best plum brandy in Romania or the world, but this is disputed by their “competitors” from Bistrița, Satu Mare, Maramureș, Bihor and other parts of Transylvania.

While the Sălaj inhabitants’ supremacy with regard to plumb brandy may be challenged, however, no one can question the fact that they dominate the manufacture of cider in Transylvania. The first Transylvanian cider mill was opened by two young men in Zimbor village. And since the Romanians' appetite for this drink increases from year to year, the cider business grows rapidly.

www.transylvaniabrew.com office@transylvaniabrew.com Tel.:

+4 (0) 774 402 717

44 | Transylvania Today

Cider, a drink with quite a long history in Europe, especially in the West, is increasingly gaining ground in Romania, after decades of oblivion. While in the UK, Spain or France the different types of cider are very popular, they are just beginning to enter the Romanian market. In this economic context, two young men from Transylvania started a small business, but with great potential. Transylvania

Brew Company is the manufacturer of Harvester brand cider, a natural product which entered the Romanian market and is currently trying to test the markets in Austria, Poland, UK and Israel.

They have put the apple back in the cider Sergiu Mureşan and Daniel Crişan are two young entrepreneurs who, after studying and working in countries like France and Great Britain, decided to return to Romania and to open their own cider mill.

Basically, at the moment they are the only independent cider makers in Romania. But this does not discourage them, despite the more restrictive legislation in this field.

The product put on the market under the "Harvester" brand contains 100% fermented apple juice, while the main competitor product from this production niche contains a concentration of only 25% apple juice.

“Although cider is a new product on the market in Romania, from the very beginning we refused the idea of producing

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Daniel Crişan and Sergiu Mureşan something only acceptable as taste, with cheap ingredients for maximum profit, and instead we decided to return to the simplicity of the original product however using modern production methods. We avoid the use of any synthetic or artificial breeder, we do not use preservatives as the pasteurisation method used by our grandmothers to preserve jams is a sufficient and perfectly adapted method.

To quote some of our British friends who have tasted our product: «we have put the apple back in the cider»”, said Sergiu Mureşan.

Cider making requires the use of certain varieties of apples, which ensure the characteristic flavour and adequate acidity to the beverage. Unfortunately, these varieties are not widely grown in orchards in Romania, because the owners preferred sweeter varieties. Moreover, since Harvester cider is a new product, no Transylvanian grower was ready to invest in planting these new types of graft. Therefore, the two Transylvanian investors have to buy the raw material from the Polish neighbours, which are known as the largest apples growers in Europe.

The two partners are going to try to find the fruit they need in Moldova. “His Royal Highness Prince Radu of Romania gave us an idea in this regard. We had the honour to attend a meeting where His Royal Highness met with businessmen from Cluj and He advised us to try to buy apples from Bessarabia. These apples were also

appreciated by Marie of Romania. Of course, we want to go over the Prut river and buy fruit, because, after all, this would mean that we manufacture the drink of Romanian fruit.

It would be excellent if we found the suitable varieties there. In these circumstances, we announced the His Royal Highness Prince Radu of Romania that we would begin preparations to become the official supplier of the Royal House. In fact, Prince Radu of Romania encouraged us and gave us good ideas”, says Daniel Crişan.

Future plans The two young men who founded Transylvania Brew, the company that owns the Harvester cider brand, want to launch on the market three varieties of Harvester: apple, pear and strawberry cider. Apple Harvester cider was put on the market last year. It is distributed in the small store networks in Transylvania, and by large retailers, such as Auchan. Another plan concerns the production of cider on draught, which could stand as a serious competitor for beer. In the future, the two Transylvanian entrepreneurs seek to obtain unique varieties over their competitors by using local ingredients in different original combinations. In addition to cider production, Transylvania Brew also plans to develop a brand of natural carbonated soft drinks.

Transylvania Today | 45

Business

The Story of Cold Pressed Oil in Transylvania

Some of the best vegetable oils in Romania are produced in Luna, near Cluj, in the heart of Transylvania. "Luna Solai" cold pressed oils are produced exclusively from Romanian seeds and their high quality has been certified by the specialists of the International Taste & Quality Institute of Brussels (ITQi). It is a family business unique in its own way.

Three years ago, the company also received the title of Official Supplier of the Royal House of Romania, and this year, the cold pressed oil factory received the certification required to produce organic oils. The first organic oil put on the market by the Cluj company is the linseed oil. The plans of the Tulais familyes, who own and run this cold pressed oil factory, don’t stop here.

A hobby turned into a successful business

www.lunasolai.com 117A Luncani village, Cluj Tel :

+40 747 921 004

Email: office@lunasolai.com

46 | Transylvania Today

The story of Luna Solai cold pressed oils began in 1998, with the purchase of a 5,000-euro oil press that found its place in the parents' yard. After retirement, they started to produce cold-pressed sunflower oil from the seeds brought by villagers or farmers in the region.

What seemed like a hobby at first turned into a prosperous business, and the range of oils diversified. "I made the decision to create our own product back in 2011, when I realised that there is a growing demand for cold-pressed oils, which is not satisfied by the offer present on the market. My colleagues were asking for this product knowing that my parents were preparing it in their small manufacture from Luna", says Felicia Tulai, Luna Solai Brand Manager.

Being aware of the importance of mar­ keting and of a well-established brand thanks to her previous experience in the business environment, she set out on her way with the desire to create a premium

brand with the strengths of the Romanian area and soils. Nowadays she produces, besides sunflower oil, pumpkin seed oil, linseed oil, hemp seed oil, walnut oil, rape seed oil, and some of the oils are spiced with aromatic plants: "All the seeds we use come from the Transylvanian Plain. There are 100% Romanian oils", says Mihail Tulai.

International Recognition Since the best way to promote a product is to obtain international recognition, four of the cold pressed oils have been sent for evaluation by the International Taste & Quality Institute in Brussels. All four received scores considered by the experts to be the equivalent of Michelin stars that evaluate the performance of refined restaurants. "This is a blind evaluation.

The members of the jury do not know who the producer is or where it comes from", says Felicia Tulai. In 2017 the sunflower oil received 3 stars, and those of pumpkin, walnut and rape received two stars of maximum three stars.

Extension A new chapter began at the end of 2016, more precisely on the 7th of October, when the Luncani production unit (Luna, Cluj County) was inaugurated.

Located in a more generous space, the new unit is configured to meet the technological process required for processing larger quantities of seeds and for storing raw

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HRH Princess Maria and Felicia Tulai, after the visit of the Luncani factory

material and finished product in specially designed spaces.

The entire department abides by the standards imposed by the ISO 22000 quality management system with which LUNA SOLAI products are certified.

This way, the tremendous potential of the Transylvanian Plateau is valorised, an area rich in tradition, history and culinary habits. We also aimed to support the efforts of farmers in the area, the local agriculture and economy, much of the raw material used to obtain the oils is supplied by them.

The human potential present here and its capitalization in the new production facility was another factor that contributed to the decision to open the new unit in Luncani. The team ensuring the process of obtaining oils is currently small, but it will grow in the future, taking into account the development and diversification strategy of the range of oils.

The royal visit to Luncani "We were especially honoured to receive Her Royal Highness, Princess Maria, in the new production facility, 2 years after we became supplier of the Royal House of Romania", says Felicia Tulai.

"The 9 th of November 2016 is a special day in our soul calendar, as we were given the opportunity to enjoy the presence of Her Royal Highness, meet her in person and discover a wonderful character, a noble soul and an extraordinary modesty.

We spent beautiful moments together, we shared the tradition and culinary habits of the area and we enjoyed the moment offered by the Association of Voluntary Women in Luna. On departure, HRH Princess Maria wrote a message in the Luna Solai Book of Honour that is to be read by all those who will visit us", says Felicia Tulai.

But the story of "Luna Solai" cold pressed oils still unfolds...

Transylvania Today | 47

Business

Printing House, a Concept that Gives a New Dimension to the Print Quality in Romania Founded 22 years ago, the Studio Impress Design company had a good start, as expected from a family business poised to provide a service extremely necessary back then, which saw an increasing demand across the local market: complete prepress, print and finishing solutions.

Years of sustained efforts later, the emotions inherent in the beginning of the road turned slowly into certainties. Each success was yet another brick skillfully laid by Mihaela and Toni Miron at the foundation of the Studio Impress Design company.

Mihaela Miron, Commercial Manager

www.impress.ro 47 Tăietura Turcului C1 (Tetarom 1), Cluj-Napoca Tel.:

+4 (0) 264 592 468

Email:

office@impress.ro

48 | Transylvania Today

The desire to meet increasingly high quality standards lead to the realization that our company was in need of a capital infusion.

2015 came with a new investment: EUR 1.5 million for a state of the art offset printing machine which allowed our printing company to deliver much quicker, and cheaper, offset printings. This investment made our activity more efficient and helped us perform unique works.

The use of the Japanese “Komori Lithrone G40” printing machine has a positive impact on environment, being considered a G (Green) ecologic piece of machinery.

Its technology reduces electricity consumption and carbon dioxide emissions by up to 80% compared to the machines of the previous generations.

This investment was obtained based on an EU-funded project. It increased the quality of services and helped redefining the services relied on by customers, as the printing times reached new completion and delivery records. “The ability to deliver materials quickly relies on the best technology as well as on our excellent relationships with the raw materials

suppliers. We always take into account the needs of our customers, which is why we seek to identify new solutions that would offer them innovative materials”, says Mihaela Miron.

Connected to the latest trends and technologies on the relevant EU market In the context of swift technological advancements, the online outlets are the easiest tool available to the customers seeking to gather information about their prospective acquisitions. So Impress Printing Company launched its latest tool, web2print, which allows our customers to place their orders online, via a realtime monitoring custom made software and the deliveries are made directly to the customer’s headquarters. This tool benefits our customers as well as our company since it facilitates the provision of services and is time-saving.

A pertinent view on printing trends In early 2000 the Romanian Design Foundation (Fundația Română de Design) awarded us the Innovation Award for the first hexachrome print in Romania. In 2002 the Impress Printing Company became a founding member of Transylvanian Printing Companies Association (Asociația Tipografilor Transilvania) and an active presence in the industry conferences, business meetings or exhibitions within Europe.

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A professional conduct in a nice family environment where every member of the team is appreciated based on skills and qualities. A team of professionals providing customer advice The team grew bigger as the new projects developed, to a total of 35 employees trained to make the most of the technical benefits provided by the newly purchased machines. The pleasant environment and the good working conditions nurtured one of the most solid and well-trained teams in the printing industry of Romania.

Here you will find a family who fostered over the years warm business relations with the people who crossed their threshold. In addition to printing, the team provides technical advice as well as advice on the best solutions to ensure business success. “We are in constant touch with our partners and customers, irrespective of their status. We give equal attention to well-established companies and as well as smaller companies which begin to

build their image. We appreciate every customer who wants to work with us, irrespective of the complexity of their order. Printing is more than vocation, it is a beautiful art�, says Mihaela Miron in an interview. And this is why the company is now considered one of the best performing companies on the Romanian market.

A fast growing pioneer in printing investments and a household name for many companies in search of promotion.

Our portfolio comprises 1,500 customers, including numerous advertising agencies as well as companies, domestic or European, who wanted to be promoted with prints of the highest quality.

Impress Printing Company is a project which became reality, a challenge to meet the market requirements and a satisfying realization that 20 years’ worth of cumulated efforts created an enduring concept, much appreciated in Romanian printing environment.

Transylvania Today | 49

Business

King's Cup at Squash, the Initiative of a Sports Gear Company in Cluj A Cluj company has been selling since 2004 sports gear, sports pitches, gyms and swimming pools equipment, as well as playground equipment.

Sebastian Baciu, CEO of Le Simba Rom

www.vestsport.ro www.romanianopensquash.ro Tel.:

+4 (0) 736135 135

Email: lesimbarom@yahoo.ro sebastian@prosquash.ro

50 | Transylvania Today

Among the services and products supplied by the Cluj company there are also polyurethane or wooden floors, synthetic grass for various sports, the assembly of natural mobile skating rinks or skating rinks with dry artificial surface, of any size. But Le Simba Rom is involved in Cluj beyond the commercial level: the company is the initiator of the biggest squash competition in Romania. Learn about Le Simba Rom, and the competitions organised from the next interview.

Reporter: How was this company born?

Sebastian Baciu: From the experience in other companies dealing with sports projects involving the mounting of sports surfaces, the development of sports infrastructure in Romania, thus we gained the necessary experience to succeed in completing some large-scale projects. Le Simba Rom was born as a result of the diversification of the supply of sports equipment, gym equipment and gymnastics apparel, surfaces for sports grounds, indoor and outdoor surfaces, and facilities for gyms. Today we manage to have suppliers from both Europe and North America, private clients as well

as State institutions or clubs and sports schools.

What kind of clubs are part of your company's portfolio?

At the beginning of this year we had Viitorul School Sports Club, the Romanian Gymnastics Federation, the Sports High School from Botosani, Cluj-Napoca City, Fagaras Municipality, both in the field of sports equipment and clothing procurement, as well as in the field of playground equipment, synthetic outdoor lawns. The European Gymnastics Championships in Cluj must be mentioned here. This event has benefited from German gym equipment and apparels.

There is also another side of Le Simba Rom's activity: Romanian Open Squash. How many editions have you organised?

It has been perfectly combined since 2012 with our sporting activity carried out within the company. Then I started playing squash, so we thought about organising an annual or biannual event that would further promote this spectacular and new sport in Romania.

We started by organising the Transylvania Open Squash tournament, at that moment a regional tournament, the first regional one, and the first tournament organised

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Romanian Open Squash participants in 2016

Portfolio works - The Olympic ice rink in Brașov - Sports Arena in Sfântu Gheorghe - Athletics Track Snagov National Sports Complex - Gran Residencia underground parking in Otopeni - The facilities of the Multi-Purpose Hall in Onești - Maplewood floor for Olimpia Sports Club Bucharest - Polyurethane fields in Baloteşti on a glass ground. Subsequently, we continued with the Romanian Open Squash. Since then, the competition has reached its 5th edition and come this fall, 10-12 November, we shall organise it again, at a much higher scale, at the PSA (Professional Squash Association) level,

the world ranking, and we will have players from the International Top 50 in ClujNapoca.

What's next? I know you intend to organise a competition to celebrate the Royal Family.

Yes, indeed, at the end of last week we put together the National Team Championship in Cluj under the aegis of the Romanian Squash Federation and we want to organise the King's Cup in Cluj-Napoca starting with 2018, most likely in May, a month with many events dedicated to the Royal Family of Romania.

We want to use this competition to show the appreciation that the Royal House of Romania enjoys in Cluj-Napoca and Romania.

Transylvania Today | 51

Business

Your Home and Office in the Heart of Transylvania Following the fulminant development of the city, both in terms of business and opportunities, and from the point of view of culture and public events, Cluj has become one of the most desirable destinations.

Ovidiu Beschiu, manager of Cluj Central Apartments

52 | Transylvania Today

If someone comes to Cluj and stays for several days, they start searching for an accommodation suitable for their activity. One can choose a hotel room or accommodation in a guesthouse, but you can also rent an entire apartment just for yourself, at more convenient rates than a hotel accommodation.

One of the newest and best-suited options for renting an apartment in the city is Cluj Central Apartments. As suggested by its name, it enjoys the great advantage of having all 14 apartments in the portfolio located ultra-centrally. "The apartments are located in special places, being all in downtown, one can walk to any point of interest in Cluj. Most have parking spaces.

Many of them have terraces with gorgeous panoramic views of the city, therefore all those who come and stay in our rooms leave with a beautiful image in mind and with the desire to come back", says Ovidiu Beschiu, manager of Cluj Central Apartments.

"There is a huge demand for accommodation in Cluj, more and more people prefer private spaces instead of hotels, where they can feel at home, throw a small party, hang out on a terrace, but also where they can work. During UNTOLD festival, apart-

ments are occupied at maximum capacity.

But we expect visitors for the rest of the year too, downtown Cluj", added Ovidiu Beschiu.

Starting July, 14 such apartments are available, with areas ranging from 40 to 100 square meters. They are also for larger groups of 4-5 people or for those who come for business and travel alone and need a 40-meter apartment. The individual cost of such an apartment is less than half the cost of a hotel, say the owners of Cluj Central Apartments.

The grocery is waiting for you in the refrigerator The apartments have modern dĂŠcor and cut edge facilities, from a dishwasher, microwave, coffee maker or flat-screen TV. The housekeeping services are provided at the customer's request for an extra fee in addition to the standard cost per night.

To make you feel even more at home, although you are elsewhere, the owners of the apartments have also thought of a special service, groceries will be waiting in the apartment for the customer when he arrives. All he has to do is send ... the shopping list.

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Your away office For those who come to Cluj for business purposes, Cluj Central Apartments offer a range of special services including high speed internet connection.

In addition, the 70-meter and larger apartments have even a working room: "your office when you are away," say the owners of the apartments from downtown.

Where to find the perfect accommodation Reservations for Cluj Central Apartments can be booked at www.clujcentralapartments.ro, booking.com, airbnb.com and homeaway.com.

Further information can be obtained from the website www.clujcentralapartments.ro.

For direct reservations, you can contact Ovidiu Beschiu at + 40-722-405008 or at contact@clujcentralapartments.ro.

Transylvania Today | 53

Business

The Story behind the Cluj Hotel Preferred by the Royal Family of Romania One of the most widespread theories is that the State is always the worst manager.

But there are exceptions to the contrary. Such an exception is the Univers T Hotel from Cluj, owned

by Cluj County Council.

In recent years, this establishment has become the favourite hotel of the Royal Family of Romania, although it is only a three-star hotel. Perhaps the explanation for its success is that from the end of 2012, the hotel is run by a young manager who had his own company in the United States.

The apartment reserved full-time for Nicu Ceaușescu

www.universt.ro 53 - 55 Al. Vaida Voevod St. Cluj-Napoca Tel:

+4 (0) 264 414 161

54 | Transylvania Today

Univers T Hotel was built in the last decade of Communism and was inaugurated in 1985. This accommodation facility was designed primarily for young people.

An urban legend, which is confirmed by some elder employees of the hotel, says that the most luxurious apartment on the top floor was permanently reserved for the eldest son of the dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu. Nicu Ceaușescu was president of the Union of Communist Youth, and he visited Cluj several times from 1985 until 1989. He visited the hotel, but apparently never slept in that apartment. However, whenever the apartment had to be booked to accommodate an important personality, the hotel employees had to ask for special approvals from the Central

Committee of the Romanian Communist Party. After 1989, the hotel became the property of Cluj County Council.

Recognition of quality In 2015, Univers T was ranked first in the top of the companies made by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Romania. It managed to maintain its position in the top of the companies organised by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Romania in 2016, as well as in the similar ranking organised by the National Council of Small and Medium Sized Private Enterprises in Romania. “In 2012, we hoped, for good reason, that the economic crisis was coming to an end. But no one could be absolutely certain that things would go right at that moment. We managed to take advantage of the interest shown in Cluj by many important companies and to gain new customers in the corporate segment. Nowadays, these customers generate over half of the revenue from the accommodation, the rental of conference rooms and sale of food and drinks”, said Valentin Lungu, the hotel's manager. In order to diversify its range of clients, Univers T has become a partner of major cultural and sporting events.

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The hotel has a privileged location, by the lake, park and mall

This kind of partnerships has led to an increase in the number of people who used the hospitality industry services provided by the Cluj hotel during their stay in Cluj-Napoca to attend concerts, festivals or sports com­ pe­ titions. The social involvement of the Univers T team was recognised by a special prize that Valentin Lungu received at the Oamenii Timpului Gala from Iași, organised by the prestigious magazine Timpul under the High Patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Margareta, Custodian of the Crown of Romania.

The exceptional quality of the services offered by Univers T hotel has attracted exceptional guests. The Cluj Hotel became the favourite of the members of the Royal Family of Romania. Her Royal Highness Princess Margareta, Princess Radu and Princess Maria of Romania are among its guests. The hotel also accommodated Her Imperial and Royal Highness the Archduchess Maria Magdalena of Austria and Hungary, as well as her son, Baron Johannes von Holzhausen. The Archduchess Maria Magdalena is the daughter of Princess Ileana of Romania. “I am very happy that we had the opportunity to be the hosts of leading European elite members. And that's all the more so they preferred our hotel, given that they could have chosen five or four-star hotels”, said Valentin Lungu.

Future plans The Cluj hotel includes, besides the usual places of accommodation, an Executive floor with luxury suites, including those

used by the Royal Family members. It also has a restaurant, several conference rooms, and a terrace during summer time in the area between the hotel and the shore of Gheorgheni Lake. One advantage is that Iulius Park lies at the hotel steps, which in turn is right next to Iulius Mall, and ten minutes away from the historic centre and 12 minutes from the airport.

Near the hotel there is the Economica campus with the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration within BabeșBolyai University, the Faculty of Economic Sciences of the Dimitrie Cantemir Christian University, the Confucius Institute and several student hostels. There are also several business centres in the area. Under these circumstances, Univers T wants to strengthen its position as a conference centre. That's why the hotel amphitheatre will be renovated, and this space will complete the range of services. Moreover, the hotel's guest house, which is located in the Apuseni Mountains, in the commune of Călățele, has been refurbished and will be reopened, a tourist unit that will allow the organisation of private parties, teambuildings or holidays in a superb landscape.

Transylvania Today | 55

Business

Quality at its Best in Dental Services Cluj has become one of the most important centres in Central and Eastern Europe in the field of providing dental services. Thousands of patients from the European Union, Israel and North America come to be treated in the private clinics from Cluj. They choose the capital of Transylvania as they find the best price / quality ratio, rapidity of services at very high medical standards, characteristic of the European Union.

Generally, the price of dental services provided in Cluj is only half or even a third of the price of these services provided in the countries of Western Europe. The Cluj physicians trained in this specialty are among the best in this part of Europe, as testified by the international professional evaluations of "Iuliu HaĹŁieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy and the newer or older generations of the graduates of this university equally. At national level, the Cluj University is ranked 1st in Romania, according to the rankings performed by the Ministry of Education and Research in connection with the relevant universities.

The University from Cluj was declared a university of advanced education and

www.drprodan.ro 8 Memorandumului St. Cluj-Napoca Tel:

+4 (0) 264-542-446 +4 (0) 754 301 612

56 | Transylvania Today

research. This also means that Cluj doctors get the best professional education possible.

The high quality of the dental services provided in Cluj is reflected, on the one hand, by the spectacular increase in the number of foreign patients and on the other hand by the increase in the number of young people from all corners of the world who come to study in Cluj and do their internships in Cluj clinics.

A good example in this regard is the Prolident Clinic. Located right downtown, on 8 Memorandumului Street, opposite the architectural assembly that once housed the Transylvanian Diet, the Prolident Clinic combines a remarkable tradition in providing dental services with the latest technologies. The Prodan family are at core of the team of doctors.

At present, two generations of this family work in the Cluj Clinic. Patients can speak with the medical staff in Romanian, English, German and French. The Prolident Clinic benefits from the latest amenities.

The bone regeneration technique used in the Prolident Clinic reproduces the physiological processes of bone healing

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Prolident team is using the best equimpent for stomatology

and improves them with an additional contribution of growth factors that are specific to each patient.

Basically, each patient benefits from a personalised treatment: individual growth factors harvested from his / her own blood, factors that help increase healing efficiency, accelerate it, reduce the shortcomings of the surgery procedure (bruises and pain) and improve remarkably the postoperative prognosis. Recovery is faster, easier and safer. The technology used by Prolident team members is applicable to periodontal surgery, implantology surgery, sinus lift surgery, and extraction of the wisdom teeth.

The clinic has been actively operating for more than 20 years on the private dental services market, but some of the medical team members had gained considerable experience in the period before the clinic was set up, as the dental market of the communist and post-communist dentistry was dominated by providers of medical and dental services owned by the Romanian State.

The Prolident Clinic offers a special approach to the medical act. Patients benefit from a multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary approach. Some members of the team also have the status of primary care physician in general medicine, while other members of the Prolident team are trained in both dental and general medicine. The founder of the clinic, doctor Paul Prodan, holds a doctorate in bone regeneration and is one of the most famous Romanian specialists in the field.

Furthermore, Prolident team members participated in scientific research projects in the field of bone regeneration involving some of the most prestigious universities in Romania: BabeĹ&#x;-Bolyai University, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine from Cluj, "Iuliu HaĹŁieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy and "Raluca Ripan" Institute of Chemistry. These researches have resulted in the development of new approaches in the field of bone regeneration and the transfer of scientific results from research to medical practice.

Transylvania Today | 57

Business

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Georgiana Costin, CEO

58 | Transylvania Today

office@contafiscal.ro Cluj City Center, ​ 14-16 Doroban​ţ​ilor​St. O ​ ffice 209 tel: +40-364-100.488

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Weddings

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Photo covers Š: Daniel Angelescu / AngelsPhotography