Transylvania Today Premium Edition 2013-2014 UK by TransylvaniaToday

U.K. Edition 2013

Transylvania today

Photo: Radu Neag

Cluj-Napoca, The Youth Capital of Europe 2015

This issue is dedicated to the twin town of Rotherham, UK-the honorary guest at the Cluj Days 2013

I n du s tri a l pa rk s

Romania Cluj County C o u n ci l

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Editorial

Charles of Transylvania by Claudiu Pădurean

he heir to the throne of the United Kingdom – Prince Charles is very much admired in Romania. So admired that many Romanians wish that his Royal Highness would become King of Romania one day! The idea wouldn’t be as crazy as it seems, as His Royal Highness King Mihai 1st of Romania is the nephew of the British Queen Mary who herself was the niece of Queen Victoria. Furthermore, Prince Charles is, as the Romanian press describes him, a descendent of Countess Claudia Rhedey of Transylvania. Romania has been a republic since 1947, but more and more people are starting to like the idea of a monarchy, and Prince Charles is much more admired than the majority of Romania’s top politicians. Even if he would probably never accede to Romania’s throne, his royal highness will remain ‘The Prince’ in the hearts of Romanians for his never ending passion to promote the beauty of Transylvania and for his involvement in restoring the traditional Transylvanian architecture. The popularity Prince Charles enjoys here is reflected upon the members of the royal family as well and upon British people in general. Romanians see them as old trustworthy friends despite all the hysteria perceived in the British tabloids. British qualities such as their calm, humour and their sense of honour are very much valued in Transylvania.

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Overview

luj is the most important city of Transylvania and also the community that best combines the Romanian, Hungarian and German traditions. Cluj is the traditional capital of Transylvania and Romania's second city after the capital, Bucharest. Some historians say that the importance of Cluj for Transylvania's history can be compared to that of Prague for the Czech history or of Krakow for the history of Poland. The city's history can be traced back to the ancient time.

Dacian or Roman City? Historians of Cluj argue about the founding of the city. Some of them claim that the city of Cluj-Napoca, which was known in antiquity as Napoca or Napuca, was founded by the Dacians. There are no documents to strengthen these claims, but there are a number of artifacts of Dacian origin that were discovered on the territory of Cluj. Their opponents, who argue that Cluj was founded by the Romans, say that these artifacts were not found within the urban settlement, but that of some villages near the Roman city. It's a sure thing that the Kingdom of Dacia, turned into a Roman province, became one of the most

prosperous provinces of the Roman Empire, because of the gold and silver mines in the Carpathian Mountains, but also because of the salt mines in Transylvania. The prosperity of this province has made her to be appointed by the Roman Dacia Felix, that is the Happy Dacia. Some of the Dacians under the Roman rule enrolled in the conquering army. Archaeologists and historians have found that some of the military units formed out of Dacians arrived till Britannia. In this thriving Roman province, the Napoca city was one of the richest. The city has a civil settlement, inhabited by rich merchants of salt. The gold, silver and salt extracted from Dacia reached, transported on rafts, on Mures, Valley or Somes, Valley, in the Roman provinces Pannonia, Noricum, Raetia, and from there to Italy, Gaul or Britannia. Archaeological research has shown that in the era of extreme prosperity Napoca houses had large windows facing south and east, with covered terraces because Dacia had more rainy climate than Italy, the home of wealthy Roman merchant. The city was crossed by parallel streets which intersect at right angles. At each intersection there was at least one tavern or a brothel, and the city had amphitheater and thermae, the famous public baths of the Romans. But the town's prosperity

ended after the year 274, when the Roman Emperor Aurelian decided to withdraw the Roman army and administration from the province of Dacia.

The barbarian era and the re-establishment of the city Cluj continued to be inhabited after the withdrawal of the Roman army. But the number of residents was significantly lower. The age of barbarian migrations brought much destruction. The Gepids and Attila's Huns were some of the migrating peoples which passed through the area. But the city experienced a new era of prosperity in the Middle Ages. Hungarian kings have settled in Transylvania the Saxons, a Germanic people coming from the territory of Luxembourg. Saxons founded seven cities from which it came the German name of Transylvania, Siebenburgen, which literally means the seven cities. Cluj, under the name of Klausenburg, was one of them. The German Roman Emperor Sigismund of Luxembourg strengthened the city's defense system and contributing to the expansion of St. Michael Catholic Church, an example of Gothic architecture in Eastern Europe. The greatest king of Hungary, Mat-

Cluj-Napoca: History & Legacy thias Corvinus, son of John Hunyadi, a Romanian prince, the one who ordered the last crusade against the Ottomans, was born in Cluj. In the Middle Ages, Cluj became one of the most important economic centers in the region. After the Ottoman conquest of Hungary, Cluj became the most important city for Hungarians and also for Germans and Romanians in Transylvania. In 1581, the first university was founded in Cluj: the Jesuit college founded by Stephen Bathory, prince of Transylvania, who became king of Poland. But at the end of the eighteenth century, like the rest of Transylvania, Cluj came under Austrian rule.

Massive development The period of the Austrian Empire and then the Austro-Hungarian Empire meant a massive development for the city. During the Revolution of 1848, Cluj became one of the main urban centers controlled by Hungarian rebels and the population of the city, consisting mainly of Hungarians at that time, supported the rebellion. As a result, in 1849 Cluj has lost its role of capital of Transylvania. Habsburgs moved the capital to Sibiu, a city inhabited mainly by Germans, who

have proven their loyalty to the House of Austria during the Revolution. But Cluj continued to develop. In 1867, when the Austro-Hungarian Empire was formed, Cluj was the largest city in the Kingdom of Hungary, after the capital Budapest.

The Romanian Age The end of World War I brought Transylvania to be part of Romania, and for Cluj started a new era of prosperity. The city was visited several times by the kings of Romania and Alexandru Vaida Voivod from Cluj became Prime Minister of Romania. During the Second World War, Cluj was occupied by Hungary and Hungarian fascists deported Jews from Cluj to Auschwitz, in German death camps. Their tragedy has inspired a film by Steven Spielberg, in which the main character was the Jew from Cluj Paneth Farkas, table tennis world champion who managed to survive the Holocaust. At the end of the war, Cluj returned to be part of Romania. But the following communist period profoundly changed the structure of the city. Communists built huge factories and brought tens of thousands of workers for them. They built new residential blocks for these

workers, and the representatives of the old elite were persecuted. The Greek Catholic Bishop of Cluj-Gherla, Iuliu Hossu, who was to become the first Romanian cardinal of the Catholic Church, was arrested and died in prison. Communists have done the same with all those who resisted Soviet or had pro-Western sympathies.

1989: The dawns of Freedom Cluj was one of the first cities to join the 1989 anti-communist revolution, started in Timisoara. After the Revolution, the , city has found its way to democracy and capitalism. The city is now a model of interethnic coexistence. Babes-Bolyai University, , for example, the largest university in Romania, offers studies in traditional Transylvanian languages, such as Romanian, Hungarian and German, but also in English and French. In Cluj there are a Orthodox Metropolitan, a Greek Catholic bishop, a Calvinist, a Unitarian and one Lutheran, a Roman Catholic vicariate, many evangelical denominations, and Hebrew synagogues or a mosque for the Muslim community. It is the most populous city in Romania after Bucharest and also the second economic center of the country after the capital.

Overview

Emil Boc: “ People Association, by setting an example of involvement for the youth of Cluj in the problems of people less fortunate, has created in all these years a group of young volunteers who, following the British model, can think anytime projects and support programs for the community. As you may also notice in the changes of strategy operated by the large corporations, the civic component represents a top priority, the social responsibility being underlined. In ClujNapoca, the local public administration has found reliable partners in the local British companies. There are several very important British people, like Prince Charles of Wales or the Marquise Tracy of Worchester, who often promote Transylvania. How can the people from Transylvania take advantage of this advertising?

Transylvania Today: What are the main things Cluj could learn from the British model? Emil Boc: I believe that the most important things Cluj could learn from the British model are those related to the community spirit, the involvement in the social life of the community, the promotion of charitable causes. The example given here in Cluj-Napoca by the British NGOs that carry out impressive activities in the social field represents a good model for our youth. It is important for them to see that there is also the possibility of developing a career based on criteria different from profit in

money or material gains of any kind. Mrs. Sally Lamont is giving us a priceless lesson every day, showing us that talent does not avoid disadvantaged people or with various forms of disabilities and teaches all of us to look for it and discover it in the least expected places. This representative of a British NGO, through her extraordinary effort, has made local heroes and even internationally recognized athletes from the disabled youth that she encouraged and helped. This way, we were able to proudly witness, at the Paralympics Games in London last year, a young person from Cluj-Napoca breaking his own records in the table tennis matches. Also, Little

This personal, deep, sincere and disinterested emotional attachment of some of the most important and loved people in the Great Britain is a priceless gift for the Transylvania Region and for Cluj- Napoca. No branding or international promotion of Cluj-Napoca or Transylvania – as a holiday destination or perfect place for spending leisure time – could have been so successful as the promotion made by these British personalities. Nonetheless, in addition to this wave of sympathy and interest that the foreign people who love our city show in their countries, we have the obligation to make investments that ease their access towards us: a proper tourism infrastructure and programs that promote local tourist attractions. Moreover, I believe that we are privileged by the fact that the entire community has embraced these long-term goals. Therefore, many factors that facilitated the ambitious project of increasing the international visibility of Cluj and consolidated, from our point of view, the title of “the heart of

c: “I am Proud to Be the Mayor of the European Capital of Youth”

Transylvania”. In the same time, given the fact that we were awarded the title of European Youth Capital, we are making continuous efforts in order to win the title of European Capital of Culture and to develop a dynamic space. Considering our multicultural identity and historical heritage, we have the ambition and dynamism to continue to develop in the 21st century. This city has something to offer to everyone. Which are the advantages that Cluj has as a European Youth Capital and a candidate for the title of European Capital of Culture? I think that being European Youth Capital in 2015 is an advantage for us as candidate city for the European Capital of Culture. This is an important general exercise we have the chance to make, during an entire year, by organizing under the umbrella of Youth Capital

events which have, most of them, a cultural component. Culture is today a communication means, which gathers the energies of all the members of a community, and the youth is the main engine that we count on for 2015. Thus, we will have the chance to evaluate what can be done better, more structured for the long-term objective we aim, becoming European Capital of Culture in 2021. The road to European Capital of Culture, whether we win or not this title, has many benefits in itself: correlating the strategy of the city with the desire to win this title, placing culture in the citizens’ and authorities’ spotlight, gathering the cultural operators around the idea of culture. Beyond the benefits brought along the way, our city will be on the elite map of European cities, which has significant advantages in the tourism field. How can Cluj-Napoca best use its status of IT national growth pole?

We speak more and more about a differentiation between the developing communities. The IT hub status that our city has won in the last 10-15 years by attracting a large number of outsourcing companies, mainly due to the existing human resources quality, represents for Cluj-Napoca an economic component that allows it to be distinguished from other cities with similar profiles in terms of number of inhabitants, size etc. Cluj IT Cluster brings a strategic process designed to avoid the risk of not being prepared for the next step in a field so dynamic as that of information technology. It aims to gather in one place and to best use the entire energies in what needs to be done before the human resources in the field – basic education, a combination of school disciplines that young people can study in order to become, in short time, more trained for the highly requested jobs on the labor market. For the future, it aims at getting us prepared for the new technologies and innovative directions.

International Affairs and Investment Department Assistance for Investors In order to support both local and foreign investors, the municipality of Cluj-Napoca created back in 2007 the International Affairs and Investment Department. The aim of this department is to provide assistance for the investors and to develop partnerships with the business community. Starting with November 2011, a new website, dedicated to investors is available – www.clujbusiness.ro. This website is a platform on which everyone can find relevant information and answers to the question “Why invest in Cluj-Napoca?”. A presentation movie, called Cluj-Napoca the Heart of Transylvania, is also available on the home page of www.clujbusiness.ro The International Affairs and Investment Department within the City Hall frequently organizes meetings with representatives of the business community in Cluj-Napoca. The municipality is committed to be a partner of the investors, as the success and prosperity of their businesses will reflect in better quality of life of the entire community.

www.clujbusiness.ro Contact Information 3 Moţilor Street, Phone: +4(0)264 -591.273, Fax: +4(0)264-599.329

Overview

Horea Uioreanu: “ ple portrayed by part of the British media as beggars and thieves. It was one of the opportunities to introduce ourselves as most of us really are: reliable, hardworking and good at what we do. This was the first step; a successful one and the contacts following the event will do the rest.

he president of Cluj County Council, Horia Uioreanu, says that traditional Romanian products opened the British people’s hearts. In this interview you can find out which are the local economy fields that can attract British investors. Transylvania Today: Lately British interest in Transylvania has been increasing. How can Cluj take advantage of this opportunity? Horea Uioreanu: Cluj has already taken advantage of this opportunity. A month ago a local delegation took part in

“The International Food & Drink Event” from London. The action was initiated by The County Council with the help of “Cluj Made Product Association”. The latter mandated to United Kingdom three of the largest local food companies producing meat and cold pressed oils, as well as ten of the most representative Romanian craftsmen. We wanted to present the visitors, the British ones especially, but to the other exhibitors as well, what we can do here in Cluj: regarding traditional food, but also concerning organic products industry, increasingly popular worldwide. We must completely change the general perception of Romanian peo-

What are the most important business fields of interest from Cluj which could attract British investments? I think that the main strong point in this respect is the IT field. As a matter of fact, our government acknowledged Cluj as an IT pole; there is also an open cluster of IT companies here. It is a known fact that we want to build a Sillicon Valley in Cluj, a town of 300 acres, with 20,000 inhabitants, and this cluster is the first step within the project. Some other opportunities, mainly in the field of tourism (whether it is for recreational, cultural, business or spa purposes) should not be overlooked. On the other hand there are also the traditional local industry fields of interest: footwear, glass manufacturing and metallurgy. The shutting down of factories left a great number highschool graduates unemployed so there is an important labour force although now, forced by circumstances, they work in different fields. Another strong point of the city known for attracting investors represents the universities. Every foreign investor I have talked to told me that they come here because they can find highly-qualified labour force in any field. There is already in Cluj a research center for Emerson and this example will be soon followed by Bosch. Moreover, lately, more and more companies and local communities have decided to build solar parks. So, maybe a solar panel factory in Cluj is a good idea. Cluj Made Product Organization has been involved in promoting Romanian products in Great

“The Romanians are Reliable and Good Professionals” Britain. Some companies from Cluj county have already signed business partnerships with British companies. What is they key to this kind of success? Hard work, reliability, consistency and ... endorsement. That is why we decided to promote ourselves in London, because you can not do that only at home. You can not just expect investors to come to you, they may not know you, they don’t know who you are and what you can offer, so you should take the initiative and go to them. And the quality of our products certainly made the difference, let’s not forget that organic food, expensive for most of us has more and more consumers around the world. We could say that we can easily produce them on request and offer for sale on other markets. What would be the main tourist attractions that might interest the British? What itineraries and landmarks do you recommend? Tough decision ... Outside Cluj-Napoca there is Bontida castle visited by Prince ,

Charles himself who is currently engaged in restoring it. I would highly recommend tourists to visit Turda Gorges, Octavian Goga Museum from Ciucea, Nicula Monastery, the salt mines from Turda and Ocna Dej. No tourist should miss the city’s cultural landmarks: The Art Museum, The History Museum and The Transylvanian Museum of Ethnography, and visit the central area of the city. It's true that you would need a guide who is in love with architecture and art history to talk about the nearly 20 palaces in the centre, with stories and legends, unknown even to most Cluj inhabitants. When visiting Cluj county one must go up to Iancu’s Cross! Belis, Fântânele resort is beautiful, the whole area is valuable because it is almost untouched by modern world. In fact, I would ask any tourist to take the time to visit the mountains around Cluj, to visit Bridal Veil Falls and Padis, area, because they will not regret it. The UK Royal House has consistently promoted Transylvania as a tourist and gourmet brand, and the effects of promotion are very promising.

How can County Council help this initiative? As I said, in return, we further promote what we have and we show that we truly appreciate the help given by the Royal Family! I really wish that during one of his visits to Transylvania His Royal Highness, Prince Charles, would take the time and visit other sites from Cluj County, besides Bontida. And I am confident , that our projects will stir up your interest, as well as the food cooked here ... We have already started improving the infrastructure, an essential step in attracting tourists, we are very good at culinary art so all we need is a little bit more promotion. And we are going to do it because this is one of the keys to success. What are the main County Council projects that can be promoted within the British business area? The airport, TETAROM, the infrastructure, The Regional Emergency Hospital and The Pediatrics Hospital, Transylvania highway, Clujana footwear factory, photovoltaic parks. The order is random, they all are of equal importance.

British Heritage

H. E. Martin Harris: British Investors Want Transparency, Dialogue and Predictability! T

he British ambassador in Bucharest says that, for British companies, Romania is the second most attractive market in the region, after Poland. Despite the financial crisis, the value of British investments in Romania has constantly increased. Up to now, companies from the United Kingdom have invested more than half a billion Euro in Romania and the rising tendency is maintaining. British tourists’ interest in Transylvania also increased significantly as the region is being promoted by the heir to the British throne, His Royal Highness, Charles Prince of Wales himself.

Photo: Otilia Muresan ,

Transylvania Today: Your Excellency, Romania managed to attract a series of extremely important British investments over the last 10 years. Which are the advantages that determine British businessmen to invest in our country?

H. E. Martin Harris: First of all, I would like to thank you for this invitation to discuss with the people in Cluj and for facilitating this discussion, it is my pleasure to describe the development of the bilateral relationships and to offer more details about the vision my colleagues and I have of what is to follow. After Romania joined the European Union, bilateral commercial relations indicated an apparent rising trend. In the last 5 years the local investments made by British companies surpassed half a billion Euro. I think there still is an appetite for your country, fact which has been proved by the decision of the largest home improvement retailer in Europe, the British company Kingfisher PLC, to take over the 15 Bricostore hypermarkets in Romania; this is an important transaction, estimated at 75 million Euro. I think that British investors turn their attention to Romania because here they find a well-qualified workforce, people with good English language skills and

The inauguration of the 1st “green” school in Romania, in the Transylvania College campus

a potential market of almost 20 million people, as well. Romania is, after Poland, the second most attractive market for the businesspeople in the U.K. What should Romanian authorities do in order to encourage British investors to continue to come to our country? Romania has one of the lowest tax rate in Europe – 16%. This is a significant advantage in the competition with other countries in the region. In general, when making a decision regarding an investment, British companies want to benefit from transparency in the decision making process, dialogue when legislation changes occur and predictability. I believe improvements have been made in the last years, but there are expectations for continuing these reforms, as far as both laws and economical policies are concerned. Transylvania received special attention from the British public after His Royal Highness, Charles Prince of Wales, heir to the British throne, bought property in this region. How could Transylvanians benefit from this interest? It’s a joy for me that Prince Charles is fascinated by the beauty of Transylvanian landscapes, reason for which he comes almost every year to Romania. I believe he is an excellent promoter of your country abroad, proof being the Wild Carpathia documentary broadcasted by Travel Channel. I think it would be important for locals to develop an infrastructure for rural tourism, possibly focusing on the areas visited by Prince Charles. It would also be recommended that small business owners promote themselves over the Internet, through websites or social media. Many are not aware of the touristic and business potential in the area and the Internet is an ex-

cellent catalyst for communication and promotion. How could Cluj profit of this interest, especially in the context of being European Youth Capital in 2015? Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m convinced that 2015 will be a hot year for you and a high point for promoting tourism and business. I think itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important to have a promotion strategy ready in due time, maybe learning from the experience of other cities, like Sibiu, and to see which are the strong points you want to be known to external partners. It would also be useful to create a city brand and include an interactive element in relation with potential visitors, be it businesspeople, tourists or central and local authorities from other European states. How can trade between Romania and the United Kingdom be further stimulated? An efficient method it to organise business groups at a local level, as the British Business Group that already exists in your city. It is difficult to do everything centrally, from Bucharest, so local initiatives are good for further developing commercial relations. Twinning projects between cities and areas from Romania and similar partners in Europe may also facilitate the exchange of business opportunity information.

133 Years of British Romanian Diplomatic Relations

Diplomatic relations between the United Kingdom and Romania have a rich history. They are 133 years old. These relations were established two years after the end of the Romanian Independence War in 1877-1878. The first British Consul-General to Romania was William Arthur White. The first Romanian envoy to Great Britain was Nicolae Callimachi-Catargiu, former Minister of Foreign Affairs.

British Heritage

is Excellency dr. Ion Jinga, the Romanian ambassador in London, welcomed the initiative of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Transylvania Todayâ&#x20AC;? magazine to promote RomanianBritish relations through dealing with a wide range of topics, starting with the town-twinning of Cluj-Napoca and the British city of Rotherham and continuing with culture, tourism and, of course, business and investment opportunities. Transylvania Today: Which are the reasons that motivate British businesspeople to choose to invest in Romania? Dr. Ion Jinga: The strategic dimension of our partnership derives not only from the common vision at governmental level but also from the compatibility between companies that develop business relations and contribute to extend the economic cooperation. Bilateral trade and investments are extremely important for the development of a strong and durable partnership and the numbers speak for themselves. By the end of 2012, trade between Romania and the United Kingdom reached the highest level in the history of Romanian-British relations, 3 billion Euro, out of which 1,62 billion Euro were Romanian exports to Britain, the balance of trade being in Romaniaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s favour. This ascending trend continued in the beginning of 2013 as well, so that in January trade between Romania and U.K. had an overall increase of 17,2% and Romanian exports increased by almost 24%, placing U.K. in second place among the EU member states that are commercial partners with Romania. As for British investments in Romania, they reached almost 700 million Euro by the end of February 2013, placing the United Kingdom on the 13th position among foreign investors in our country. The number of registered British companies is just as important, which at that time was more than 4650, representing 2% of foreign capital companies. British businessmen invested mostly in the petrochemistry, chemistry,

H. E. Dr. Ion Jinga: Cluj Offers Advantages that Would Attract any Foreign Investor oil exploration and exploitation, electronics and electrotechnology, aeronautics, IT and telecommunications, textile industry and agri-food industry. In my opinion, British businesspeople choose to invest in Romania because we are a member state of the European Union – thus we apply the rules and standards of the community, and because we have qualified and educated workforce, which us extremely attractive, many Romanians speak English and Romanian can be learned quite easily. Our culture and traditions are similar to those of Western European states, so one does not need years to understand them and adjust to them. Other strong points in Romania’s favour are lower company costs as compared to other states, and cheaper energy as well. The fact that British trade exchanges and investments in Romania are on a rising trend is an encouraging sign, because the British investors who are in Romania and make a profit are interested to continue here, thus becoming advocates of our country, and recommending Romania to other investors as well. The presence of British investors in Romania is also beneficial for Romanian economy, as it creates jobs, fosters sharing of good management practices, as the British are renowned for their management expertise, contributes to the increase of capital sources and creates positive engagement on both sides – Romanian and British. What should Romanian authorities do in order to stimulate this trend? Romania needs economic growth in order to reduce the development disparity that still exists in comparison with other EU member states, and foreign investments play an important role in this respect. I believe Romania has a remarkable potential in the long run and this will keep foreign investors interested. An argument for this is the current trend in Romanian-British economic relations, which indicate a growth in trade, significant investments and economic cooperation projects in progress.

How can we, as Romanian citizens, benefit from the very good image that Transylvania has in the United Kingdom? Transylvania, as a Romanian historical province is much appreciated by our British friends, especially due to publicity following Prince Charles’ visits. The British Press, which we find to be more interested in taking advantage of sensational subjects lately – especially regarding immigration – seems to be appreciative of the beautiful things that Romania can offer. Transylvania – “The land beyond the forest” – with rocky mountains, virgin forests and gothic castles, as a British journalist describes it in “The Guardian”, is one of the most beautiful tourist destinations in Romania, which is considered to be “one of the most fascinating countries in Europe”. The Romanian Embassy in London is one of the main promoters of Transylvania in the U.K. We would also wish for a proactive attitude from local authorities. This year only, the Embassy hosted two activities of the Mihai Eminescu Foundation, which, for 25 years, has been focusing on the preservation and the restoration of old villages in Transylvania and Maramures, – two of the best preserved regions in Europe, and the Foundation’s work, which combines heritage preservation with social integration and sustainable development, has established a model not only in Romania but in Europe as well. I would also like to mention an initiative which I personally support, the organising of a Transylvanian book festival that would bring together, in Romania, British and Romanian writers. We also support two projects of Romanians settled in the U.K., to organise special events there, dedicated to the culture, traditions, music, dancing and singing from the areas of Sibiu and Maramures. , In Cluj there are many British investments. Which is, in your opinion, the secret of this successful strategy? Cluj has advantages that would attract any foreign investor: strategic geographical

location for investments, a business environment that has developed over the years, highly qualified human resources, numerous universities, infrastructure, a multicultural and multiethnic society. The setting up of the IT cluster in Cluj last year attracted renowned British investors as well and I am certain that they will represent a model for other British companies that intend to do business in Romania. What does the near future of Romanian-British relations look like from your point of view? After having spent five years in London, I can say that the prospects are very good for the future of Romanian-British relations. As for trade, it will maintain the rising trend, thus having a positive effect over British investments in Romania, as well. As members of the European Union, we have common standpoints and interests regarding a series of important matters, our institutions collaborate efficiently and we are witnessing the diversification of bilateral dialogue over community issues. We highly appreciate British expertise in areas where Romania is still not at the same level as other EU member states and we wish to reinforce the sharing of good practices and the partnerships, as a basis for further use in related fields. I would like to mention our desire to further improve our collaboration at educational level, knowing how important the training of human resources is for a sustainable and efficient growth. In this respect, referring to Cluj-Napoca as well, I would like to see new partnership with the universities in the U.K., with which the Romanian Embassy has excellent relations, and which are known for their international outlook, multiculturalism, excellent teachers, scientific and practical training. I believe we can collaborate more at local authority level, in order to obtain European funds, to create and implement development strategies, to promote eco-tourism and business opportunities for rural communities.

British Heritage

British Council

Celebrating 75 Years in Romania

he British Council creates international opportunities for the people of the UK and other countries and builds trust between them worldwide. We call this work cultural relations. Our offices are located in six continents and over 100 countries bringing international opportunity to life, every day. Each year, we deliver expertise through our programmes in education, English language, arts, science and civil society. We have 75 years’ experience of doing this in Romania. Our offices in Romania are located in Bucharest, Iasi and Cluj-Napoca.

For children and teenagers we organise the BritTeen Club where they can develop a range of personal skills through English speaking games and various activities. The activities are adapted to different age groups and they are especially designed to help participants use their English language abilities in a practical context, while developing their presentation, argumentation and teamwork skills. In Cluj-Napoca we organise a large variety of British examinations for those who wish to enhance their opportunities for continuing studies or for a successful career. Each year, people from all over Transylvania obtain their Cambridge English or IELTS certificates or sit professional and university examinations with the help of the British Council.

Our popular library offers a collection of more than 7500 books, periodicals and DVDs in English. The library’s members are English language teachers, learners of English – many of whom are future exam candidates borrowing official preparation materials – parents visiting our special children’s corner or people who are simply looking for an entertaining book, magazine or film.

We promote and support continuous professional development, with a special focus on English language teaching. An updated offer of courses, seminars and workshops is available on our website. The British Council came to Romania as early as 1938. In fact, Romania was one of the first four countries in the world where the British Council set up an overseas office. We celebrate 75 years of cultural relations in Romania this year and we mark this through special events across the country – the International Conference “English for the 21 st century Professionals”, Gecko Theatre performance, British Council Collection Exhibition at the National Museum of Art, Costume Ball, music performances to celebrate the Britten Centenary, British Education Fair and many others. The Queen’s Birthday Party, dedicated to our anniversary this year, will be attended by Their Royal Highnesses The Prince Edward and The Countess of Wessex as part of their programme during their first official visit to Romania.

www.britishcouncil.ro/cluj

Fighting for the Disabled Rights in Romania T

he Lamont Centre was officially founded in as an NGO in November 2000 by Sally Wood-Lamont (photo) originally from Edinburgh, Scotland. Since its inception, the Lamont Centre has been at the forefront of the disabled rights movement in Romania. The Centre is not only dedicated to training people in job skills, but employs them and provides them with an opportunity to use their skills in a work environment. Since 2001, sport has become increasingly popular and has enriched not only the lives of the members of the Sports Team but also promoted paralympic sport in Romania. The Team has grown from competing in local competitions to participating worldwide including the first entry of three members in the Paralympics in London representing two sports: swimming for the visually impaired and table tennis. Nowadays it has over 50 members practicing 11 sports.

The Lamont Centre’s vision The Centre offers a variety of life skill programs, including sport for young physically disabled people aged 14+. Sport for the physically disabled in Romania is only now beginning to receive the attention it deserves. In Romania there are no rehabilitation programmes to assist people with disabilities to integrate into society. Sport is valued as one of the foremost tools for integration for disabled people and especially in Romania has proven to be one of the best and worthwhile methods of inclusion in society. It represents an aim, a challenge, motivation as well as improving health issues such as reflexes, body strength and concentration. Sport is educational, teaching confidence, fair play, active participation in the life of the community, pushing one’s own limits, teamwork and team spirit and increases willpower and ambition. It helps to change lives completely, especially after an accident or illness which leaves someone in a wheelchair.

www.lamont.ro

Eger – Hungarian Open 2013 – The Romanian paralympic table tennis team Medals won: 1 gold, 1 silver & 3 bronze

The mission is not impossible

The Lamont Centre strives to be part of the development of a more inclusive society which is presently underway in Romania. Specifically, with the disabled minority in mind it promotes paralympic sport in Romania and actively supporting the attendance of international paralympic events worldwide, forms partnerships with more evolved European paralympic teams. Also, The Lamont Centre is part of the world-wide disabled activist movement. Its mission is to increase consciousness-raising and to initiate programs which encourage the recognition of individual talents. It brings together members of the national and international community who share the same purpose and vision.

British Heritage

British Business Style in Cluj C

luj is a friendly environment for business. As the second largest hub for business in Romania after Bucharest, Cluj has a very large number of business clubs.

The British Business Group of Transylvania (BBGT) is one of these. BBGT promotes the development of British and Commonwealth trade throughout Transylvania, Romania, through networking opportunities for its members and close cooperation with various organisations including the British Embassy, British Chamber of Commerce, UK Trade & Investment and local business bodies. The driving force behind the newly formed BBGT, are the three cofounders. Shajjad Rizvi (photo), born and bred in the UK, travelled to Romania as a student in the spring of 1990 to deliver a shipment of humanitarian aid. “I was spellbound by Romania and especially the Transylvanian region, thankfully I returned in 1996 to set up the children’s charity «Little People» in Cluj-Napoca” said Shajjad. The Little People provide support services in the 7 main childhood cancer hospital sections across Romania, having the largest patient reach (over 90% coverage) in the country. Shajjad is currently setting up the Duke of Edinburgh Award program in Romania, the worlds leading youth development program. Suneel Sharma, as a highly experienced multicultural executive, has been providing business consulting and management services through his company “SKS IT Consulting” for the last 8 years, applying his extensive professional proj-

ect orientated background in developing companies in Transylvania, Romania. Sally Wood-Lamont, MBE, originally from Edinburgh, established the Lamont Centre and Sports Club, Cluj in 1999 which is the first dedicated Paralympic centre in Romania for performance sport. In 2012 three members of her club qualified for the London Paralympics in swimming and table tennis. “British and Romanian trade is extremely important and the BBGT’s aim is to nurture more trade relations between these two great nations. But we would also like to stress over the years the UK has freely invested countless man-hours and money to help the Romanian community. Vital services and projects via charitable organisations like the Little People, the Lamont , Center, the Ratiu Foundation, the Transylvania Trust, the British Council, and Patrir

have enriched the lives of so many people in Transylvania and with the recent formation of the Duke of Edinburgh Award program, every young person will have access to the worlds best youth development program. Great should not only be judged by profits, but by enriching a community – I’m extremely proud to state that «Britain» in Cluj have done a «Great» job serving the Cluj community!” said Shajjad Rizvi on behalf of the British Business Group Transylvania.

www.bbgt.ro

“little people” doing “little things” that make a big difference!

www.thelittle-people.org

CIWC: A Real Help for Expats in Cluj S

ome of the foreigners who moved to Cluj-Napoca, regardless of their country of origin, found a real help in adjusting to the new living conditions by means of the experience of those who came here before them. Cluj International Women's Club, briefly called CIWC, brings together members from Asia, America or Europe. The President of CIWC, Mary Ginter, says „I was born in America, but have spent most of my adult years (33 to be precise!) in Europe, with over half of that time in Romania. When my husband and I were considering moving here, the first thing we did was pull out a map to see where this country was! We had heard of Romania… but we weren’t exactly sure about anything!”. Now, Mary Ginter is one of the fans of Romania. „Since moving here in 1997, however,

we have come to love this country and its people! Initially, there were no schooling options for our then, nine and eleven year old children, which necessitated that I home school them. Now there are several international kindergartens as well as schools that provide quality education until one finishes high school. Cluj has two large shopping malls and numerous other food and clothing stores that make providing for one’s family relatively easy”

says Mary Ginter. CIWC is a group of expatriate and national women who meet regularly to help each other in the many transitions involved when moving to a new country and culture. „We do a variety of things, such as: monthly meetings to discuss different topics, fun activities, cultural events, dinners, luncheons or charity projects”, concludes the President of CIWC. www.ciwcro.com

Bridge Language Study House,

the Key to Successful Languages in Transylvania! Started back in 1998 as a project, Bridge Language Study House has developed into one of the leading language services providers in Transylvania. Bridge Language Study Houseoffers a wide range of language courses, international examinations, translation services as well as the only English Teacher (TEFL) training programme in the country. The 70-strong staff at Bridge’s three locations in Cluj-Napoca, Satu Mare and Oradea strive to promote language acquisition, academic advancement and intercultural communication. • • • • •

Romanian Language Courses Hungarian Language Courses In-Company Language Training Courses and Services General Language Courses (in 14 languages) Language Courses for Specific Purposes (business, financial, technical, legal, medical) • International LCCI and ECL Examinations (8 languages) • Intensive Summer Courses (14 languages) • Translations and Interpreting Services Feel free to contact us for more information. 400609 Cluj-Napoca, Calea Dorobantilor nr. 67; , Tel: +4(0)364-101.088; web: www.blsh.ro; info@blsh.ro

Projects

The Ideal Tech Habitat in the Heart of Transylvania

iberty Technology Park Cluj is the first technological park in Romania, a park for creative ideas built in a revolutionary place, designed to offer exceptional growth and quality environment for companies in the IT&C and R&D domains, all in one unique area both conceptually and architecturally.

Restating our industrial heritage Designed on the grounds of the former Libertatea furniture factory, Liberty Technology Park Cluj reinvents the factory's identity by restating the industrial heritage that came along with the land into an environment created to fulfil the needs of every IT&C and R&D company. Architecturally, the central principle of Champan Taylor's design was to restore the existing spaces in a technology park that would reflect the energy of the tech companies fuelled by Cluj-Napoca's human resources potential. Following this vision Liberty Technology Park Cluj will

be a parkland setting for sleek and efficient office pavilions, contained and framed by the restored historic buildings that celebrate the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s industrial heritage. The English examples that Chapman Taylor chose to use as reference projects in their first stage submission, Chiswick Park, Stockley Park and the Cambridge University Business Park, are relevant for the quality of their environments as well as for their buildings.

the local landscape in the most profound way, offering a place where several companies from the IT&C and R&D domains can develop, connect, engage and foster inspiring people and creative ideas in a perpetual flux of innovative development. Liberty Technology Park Cluj is intended to function as a dynamic ecosystem for local and international companies driven by that particular vision that makes ideas come to life and businesses thrive.

To these they also added the refurbishment and landscaping of the steelworks at Sandviken, the birthplace of the steel industry in Sweden, where some historic artefacts have been used as sculptural elements in restoring the parkland around the industrial buildings, a strategy that could also be effective at Liberty Technology Park Cluj.

This dynamic ecosystem will also foster the most complex business accelerator in Romania: Spherik. Spherik will be the first Romanian platform of its kind meant to help, to grow and to create thriving businesses, a platform designed for developing and implementing business both nationally and internationally.

A dynamic ecosystem Situated in Cluj-Napoca, the most important city in Transylvania, Liberty Technology Park Cluj wants to change

The most important goal of Liberty Technology Park Cluj is to create a sound and valuable environment for all the employees in the IT&C and R&D companies, an environment that concentrates from the very beginning on innovation

and creativity, on finding the most efficient solutions and capitalize the existing human resources potential. In order to succeed Liberty Technology Park Cluj offers several types of spaces designed to create the ideal working place. Starting with the office spaces and continuing with the time spent outside the office, this habitat meets the needs of every company, offering a wide range of services and premium facilities. The park also includes an event area, conference rooms, wide green garden like areas, leisure area with a restaurant and a coffee shop, multifunctional sport grounds and a retail and medical area all designed to complete the ideal tech habitat. Developed by Fribourg Development, Liberty Technology Park Cluj is a project that seeks to intensify connections and communication between companies that activate in similar domains in order to generate innovation and progress by creating a revolutionary space.

Business

An Open Gate to Wild Carpathia A

s part of a dynamic development region, Cluj-Napoca International Airport can be described as an important air traffic hub, a driving force for local and regional development and an attractive place for investments. With all this brought together, the main airport of the historical region of Transylvania is the ideal place to connect people, companies and businesses. Cluj-Napoca International Airport offers the biggest air passengers’ potential market in Romania as shown by previous historical air traffic data and our forecasts. The airport is easily accessible being located near Cluj-Napoca, the largest urban center of Transylvania (over 300,000 inhabitants) and placed geographically, economically, historically and culturally in the heart of this historic region with 7 million inhabitants. It is also conveniently located at about 10 miles from Cluj’s industrial parks (TETAROM) and even closer to some other international businesses local branches from Cluj-Napoca thus making the airport a perfect flight path for the corporate traveler. The destinations offered by Cluj- Napoca International Airport to its passengers are varied, given the fact that there are up to 17 scheduled flights for domestic and international destinations.

Therefore, from Cluj-Napoca you can currently fly to Bucharest, Munich, Vienna, Barcelona, Bologna, Dortmund, London (Luton), Madrid, Milan (Bergamo), Paris (Beauvais), Rome (Ciampino), Venice (Treviso), Valencia, Zaragoza, Eindhoven, Bari, and Brussels South (Charleroi). During the summer season, the airport offers 7-8 other holiday destinations, operated through charter flights to countries such as Spain, Turkey, Greece, Tunisia or Egypt.

Our connection with the UK With a number of about 70 UK business investments only in Cluj-Napoca region, the airport makes sure that people have a reliable connection with the UK, offering a direct connection flight operated by Wizz Air, with a frequency of 7 flights / week.

An airport for the future The entire activity of Cluj-Napoca International Airport has a very important impact on the economic development of the county, increasing the attractiveness of the region in terms of foreign investments attracted. Regarding the airport’s current and future projects there are a couple that are worth mentioning: the construction of a

new 11482 feet runway and the launch of studies for an intermodal transport project, co-financed by the European Union and Cluj County Council. The new runway construction works began on September 8th, 2011. The works for building the first 6889 feet of runway represent the first stage of investment, whose objective is the building of a new runway of 11482 feet. It is estimated that the brand new 6889 feet runway will be completed in July 2013. The entire project will be completed in two phases, as follows: phase I – 6889 feet and the movement surfaces – completion of construction works in 2013 phase II – extension to 11482 feet – engineering design and construction program development The European Commission approved on November 22nd, 2012 the decision on granting Union financial assistance to a project of common interest entitled "Studies for the development of intermodal transport infrastructure for passenger and cargo at Cluj-Napoca International Airport". It is the first project of such kind managed by an airport in Romania and its main objective is the development of the studies necessary to design an intermodal infrastructure at Cluj-Napoca International Airport.

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry: a Business Support C

luj Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) is an institution with a long tradition and outstanding results which is defining for the organization and functioning of business environment. The Chamber achieves its mission and carries out its prerogatives on the territory of Cluj County. â&#x20AC;&#x153;To better meet its mission and satisfy the requirements and expectations of over 59,000 dealers in the county to a greater extent, by means of its College and its departments, the Chamber undertakes multiple actions to better define priority areas, to increase the capacity in order to analyze the issues relating to the consolidation and further development of the private sector. As a proof of the consistency with which the relations within the institution have been placed in the area of dialogue and collaboration, we would like to mention the presence in the Chamber of some personalities such as: the Ambassadors of the United Kingdom, Russia, South Africa, Switzerland and Ukraine, economic and commercial counsellors of the embassies of Poland,

European comissioner Laszlo Andor visiting Chamber of Commerce and Industry â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Cluj, april 2013

Austria, United States, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Ukraine, Germany, Hollandâ&#x20AC;&#x153;, say the representatives of the management of this institution. They also say that CCI Cluj is a laboratory of ideas for local development, participating, for example, when developing annual and long-term development programmes. But the Chamber is also a power of representation as it defends and supports the interests of the business community, provid-

ing the enterprises with practical and information tools. Thirdly, CCI is a training power through the courses organized under its supervision with the participation of associated experts from the academic environment. CCI organizes trade missions abroad, but it also ensures the presence of its representatives in the structure of local councils and management boards of hospitals, schools etc.

Business

Meet the Business Ladies of Cluj-Napoca T

he Business Women Association (AFA) Cluj was founded in 2004 on the initiative of Mrs. Mihaela Rus, General Manager of Vitrina Advertising Agency. It immediately became a member with the Business Women Associations’ Coalition (CAFA). The Association is created by women who either own their private business, hold managing positions with different companies or work as doctors, teachers, psychologists, attorneys and other liberal professions. The ladies in AFA Cluj are strong women who hold self respect at high value; their careers and businesses are powerful models in the community. AFA Cluj is a non-governmental, apolitical and non-profit association. AFA Cluj intends to become a regional and national leader in the economic, entrepreneurial field, a catalyst and cohesive factor within the local community and a reliable influence in lobby and advocacy.

Business and social projects In May 2011, AFA Cluj initiated “A City for a Garden!” campaign, in order to sustain the Botanical Garden “Alexandru Borza”. The campaign had a photography contest with the theme “Snapshoot the Botanical Garden!” The purpose of this contest was to increase the number of visitors and to support artistic creativity. AFA Cluj Soiree organized in June

was an opportunity to appeal for the local community’s help in the restoration of the Garden. In May 2012 AFA launched “Cluj has attitude” project, aimed at offering the citizens of Cluj-Napoca the possibility to evaluate the efficiency and professionalism of the public institutions with which they come into contact. The project consisted of an online vote and a research, conducted in partnership with the Center for the Study of Democracy. “Through this project we are trying to mobilize the citizens of Cluj-Napoca and to awaken their civic attitude. At the same time, we are initiating an evaluation of the satisfaction degree, regarding the efficiency of the institutions with which they have contact”, said Mihaela Rus, President of AFA Cluj. For “A City for a Garden!” campaign and “Cluj has attitude” project, AFA was nominated for the CSR Award. Last year, in December, AFA Cluj offered the Grand Prize worth of 2000 RON to the best business plan presented during the 3rd edition of the Entrepreneur Factory. Throughout this project, the students who had a business idea and wanted to implement it had the chance to show it to representatives of the business sector from Cluj. 13 students entered last year’s competition with ideas and business plans.

Also, in November 2012, more than 240 business and political personalities from Cluj joined AFA at the Crystal Ball, a charity event. The guests made donations worth 50.000 RON, to support a part of the projects of the association. In this way AFA will continue the campaign “Wonders for the homes in need” through which the business women of Cluj help orphans, lonely old people, bring a financial contribution to the surgical intervention of Yanis, a child diagnosed with bone tumor, sustain the after-school program of the High School for the visually impaired in Cluj-Napoca and award the inventive students of the project The Factory of Entrepreneurs. Another AFA project was “Mini- libraries for health”. Citizens of Cluj donated books for the hospitals. The books were chosen so they will have a positive and optimist content, and those for children to have cheerful and attractive images for diverting sad thoughts or the concerns of the patients. In this way the treatment received will be supported by a good energy given to the patients due to the reading. These are just a few of the social and business projects that AFA involved in. More information about the organization and its actions can be found on www.afacj.ro.

Pioneering the Regionalization of Water Utillities in Romania S

More than 340 Million € were investOMES, Water Company – first estabed – with the support of the local authorlished in 1892 – is today one of the largest water supply & waste water collecities, mainly Cluj County Council – since tion and treatment regional operators in 1997 for the modernization, rehabilitaRomania, servicing about three quarter tion and expansion of the infrastructure of Million people spread over more than serviced by SOMES, Water Company, 3668 square miles in two neighboring through four major European Union Counties in North-West Romania. The co-funded programs, in order to improve service area comprises eight municipaliservice quality and to achieve compliance ties ranging from small and medium with the water and environment requiretowns to large cities like Cluj-Napoca ments stipulated by the European Union with 320,000 inhabitants – the location of Directives. the Company headquarters, and more SOMES, Water Company is today than 141 rural settlements, new localities also a Green Company, active on the being taken over for operation each day. green certificate Exchange, producer of The Company’s shareholders are green energy through three main sources: the local public authorities in the two water, solar light and biogas from Waste Counties and the eight municipalities in Water Treatment Plants sludges. It is the the service area, Cluj County Council besole Company of it’s kind in Romania to ing the majority shareholder. SOMES, have a micro hydroelectric power plant Water is also one of the few water&sewwith 10,000 MWh/year at Tarnita , raw age public utilities certified according the water source reservoir (photo 1), biogas integrated quality system for manageconversion equipment into electrical and ment – environment – labour health & thermal energy at the Waste Water safety systems SR EN ISO 9001: 2001, Treatment Plants, and solar panels inSR EN ISO 14001: 2005 and SR stalled on most of the water storage tanks OHSAS18001/2008. in the rural area used to power up the Another singular feature is the Waremote data transmission to the central ter Museum established in 1992, with the Dispatch. Other green energy producing occasion of the centennial anniversary of facilities are planned to be established in the Company, the only one of its kind in the near future. Romania and among few other similar in According the Company's Master the world. It displays old tools, machines Plan - the Coordinating long-term Investand equipment used in the water supply ment Program for 2008-2026, further and sewage since the Roman Empire. major investments are planned to be Today the Water Museum is also the tapped beyond 2013 in order to achieve Headquarter for the Company’s educafull compliance with EU Directives in tional program for children and adults terms of water&environment quality. alike. You are welcome to visit this Museum in Floresti , – location of many exhibit pieces donated by domestic and foreign visitors, private persons or companies and institutions. The water & sewage, infrastructure managed by SOMES, Water Company comprises more than 1553 miles of water supply mains and networks, and more than 546 miles of sewage mains and networks, nine water treatment plants (WTP) and 13 waste water treatment plants SOMES (WWTP). Water Company www.casomes.ro - first established

in 1892 - is today one of the largest water supply& waste water collection and treatment regional operators in Romania, servicing about three quarter of Million people spread over more than 9,500 square kilometers in two neighboring Counties in North-West Romania. The service area comprises eight municipalities ranging from small and medium towns to large cities like Cluj-Napoca with 320,000 inhabitants – the location of the Company

Business

Business Support for Foreign Investors W

ith 20 years of experience, the group of companies MDM FINANCIAL GROUP and MDM AUDIT INTERNATIONAL is offering a complete services package of financial-accounting consultancy, financial audit, accounting, payroll and human resources and back-office services, being one of the most important group of companies in Transylvania region in these fields. MDM GROUP is a member of the Chamber of Financial Auditors of Romania and the Body of Expert and Licensed Accountants of Romania. MDM GROUP has successfully implemented in 2009 the ISO 9001:2008 quality management standard and applies it effectivey in its daily activity. The sustained training of the MDM GROUP team maintains the level of exigency in the daily activity keeping a high professional standard for the employees. MDM GROUP wants to adapt its services to the customer’s requirements and needs. The services provided offer a high level of accounting confidentiality, appreciated by our clients. The value of MDM GROUP’S team results from the high professionalism, quality, trust and the promptitude of services offered to its clients: “the trust offered to its clients, the good management and discipline of documents”, being the basic principles of its activity. Our deep understanding of business, legislative and fiscal environment, with their influences upon the area and national economic system, confers us a high quality level of business consulting services provided to our clients. We coordinate, monitor and manage the business of our clients, insuring a total protection of property, an efficient distribution of responsibility and a high level of information provision. AUDIT CONSULTANCY ACCOUNTING

Certified by DEKRA ISO 9001:2008

Business Consultancy The experience gained by MDM Group’s team allowed us to develop this new service demanded on the business market. The relations we have with the Austrian, German, Spanish, Hungarian, Italian, Belgian and US companies allowed us to offer our clients complete solutions to the business they wanted to develop on the Romanian territory or abroad, for the Romanian clients. Within this service we also offer our clients international fiscal consultancy and consultancy regarding the double taxation prevention treaty.

Financial Audit The financial audit provided by MDM Group is in conformity with the National Standards of Audit and the International Standards of Audit. Upon our client’s request, the financial audit reports are drawn up in Romania and in any other language desired by our client (English, Spanish, German, Italian, Hungarian and French).

Accounting Expertise

The experience and professionalism that MDM Group has achieved is reflected in the elaborate analysis of the expertise objects. The objectivity proven in MDM Group’s expertise activity is a highly appreciated quality.

Back Office Services Externalized back-office services (headquarters’ location, office documents management, archiving, bookkeeping, company representation on certain levels, services offer, HR – employment, payroll services, bank payments, client bank accounts, keeping the mandatory registers, representation for financial-accounting and fiscal controls of the state organs and labor inspection).

Payroll, Tax and Human Resources Drawing up the payroll statements bared on the time sheet or other documents offered by the beneficiary and the monthly payments orders. Drawing up and register the monthly reports for the Labor Office and the Health Insurance Company.

Accounting The accounting processing system that we offer to our clients is adapted to the specificity of their activity. We adapt the accounting to the client’s activity and not the client’s activity to accounting. The entire activity of accounting processing, from document receiving up to report handing in is comprised into a set of procedures according with ISO 9001: 2008 quality management system. Our activity is permanently complying with the Romanian fiscal legislation, national and international accounting norms.

Iron and Steel Foundry

in the Heart of Transylvania T

urn toria Metalul (Steel Foundry) has been established at Cluj-Napoca the year 1954. In 1992 the company’s ownership turned from public (state owned) to private, and took this brand name. The company opperates today with 24 employees and develops a capacity covering 400 tons of cast products per year. The production profile consists of: cast products up to 500 Kgs./pcs. made by grey cast iron and steel (carbon, low alloyed and stainless) with various applications: agriculture machines, mechinetools, mining, metallurgy, heating equipment, infrastructure construction. The parts and moulded by squeezing machines (up to 500/500/200 mm rough dimension) or by hand (low series or parts exceeding the capacity on machines). Today most of the production is sold in France (parts of agriculture machines); the export sales (France and Italy) represents over 63% of total production.

Mr. Petrisor , , TÂRLEA – Managing Director

Offices: Romania, 400228 Cluj-Napoca, 167 Corneliu Coposu St. www.turnatoriametalul.ro turnatoriam@cluj.astral.ro tel/fax : +4(0)264-435.062

Top Brands

Romanian Success: the Profile of a Historic Example G

iven its over 120 years of ceaseless existence, Farmec is one of the longest lasting Romanian companies in our country’s modern history. What started as a small manufacturing shop became today the most important local cosmetics producer and one of the most important companies in its industry that are active in Romania. Based in Cluj-Napoca, Farmec remained faithful to its inheritance of the cosmetics company of all Romanians and build tremendously to its innovative portfolio and business, in order to become a true challenger on both the local and international market.

Innovative products, well-established brands While being the first company trusted by the famous Romanian gerontologist Ana Aslan to produce Gerovital H3, one of the first anti-wrinkle cosmetic products in the world and the most efficient and wellknown one in its time, Farmec further developed its portfolio of skin and body care products to reach a wide target of women of all ages and all skin characteristics. While today Gerovital is still one of the most appreciated brands in Romania, a true leader of its segment on the local market and also one of the most visible Romanian brands, soon its family was joined by other impressive brands, such as AslaVital or Farmec. Many of the products under these latter brands

are also segment leaders locally. Currently the company portfolio comprises of over 400 products, encompassing innovative, even revolutionary formulations that include hyaluronic acid, collagen, 100% natural clay, as well as organic extracts of edelweiss, pomegranate or goji, whose efficiency has been tested and proven by some of the most renowned laboratories in Europe.

Business results: leadership In 2012 Farmec had a very good evolution, while increasing its turnover by 10% compared to the previous year and thus confirming a strong development and growth trend based on solid sales and smart investments in product research and development, as well as in modernizing the production process and facilities. The trend is confirmed by the recently announced results for the first quarter of fiscal year 2013, results that indicate an increase of approximately 10% compared to the same period of 2012. The company’s level of growth surpassed by far level of development of the local market, which was of only one digit in 2012, thus showing a strong financial and commercial performance and reliability. Moreover, considerable investments are planned to develop Farmec’s international distribution and to support the expansion of its main brand, Gerovital, in terms of global awareness.

Business strategy: exports The certified quality of Farmec products is well-known internationally level, the company being a traditional exporter for many years. Gerovital products, as well as other brands are sold in over 40 countries worldwide, from Europe to Asia to North American countries. Farmec is committed to increase its presence abroad even more, by both expanding the distribution partnerships and intensifying its visibility enhancing activities in the markets. Aware by the high level of quality and efficiency of its products, the company is dedicating a lot of ambition and efforts to becoming leaders not only in Romania, its mother land, but also in the countries it is present, with a strong emphasis on Europe. Farmec is a great example of how well-prized history and passion for innovation and quality have been put to work in order to ensure the company’s development across various economic periods and to help its team prevail over difficult times without losing the fidelity of its consumers. Moreover, it won a wide array of new generations of consumers, both locally and internationally, and proved to the world that a very good product stands the test of time and successfully crosses borders at global level.

www.farmec.ro

Three Times E: EXIMTUR, Excellence, Evolution EXIMTUR achieved a turnover of 35.3 million € last year, with 16% more than the previous year. In 2012, the company achieved a turnover of over 157 million ron (35.3 million €), up 16% from the previous year. "Income earned last year was even higher than in 2008, which is considered a reference year for tourism in Romania", said Lucia Morariu, president and CEO of EXIMTUR. Business travel and the activity of booking/ selling airline tickets represented 53% of total turnover for last year. In 2012, approximately 95,000 people, who traveled for business, chose EXIMTUR packages. Lucia Morariu has been leading EXIMTUR for 20 years.

ounded in 1993, in the heart of Transylvania, in Cluj-Napoca, as a family business, EXIMTUR travel agency experienced a continuous development. Currently, the company is the largest tourism player in the country which was founded using 100% Romanian capital. The EXIMTUR story began 20 years ago, on the ground floor of hotel Melody Central in Cluj. Today, EXIMTUR holds a national network of 26 owned and franchised agencies and an online agency – www.fly.ro. In two decades of activity, more than 2,500 companies and over two million tourists chose EXIMTUR services.

EXIMTUR team

Top Services for companies EXIMTUR travel company offers prefferential fares and conditions for corporate clients for the entire range of specific travel services (ticketing, business travel, leisure, event management services for personal travel, rent-a-car, train tickets, travel insurance etc.), both for companies and their employees. "EXIMTUR has the ability to negotiate with the airline representatives in favour of the corporations who work with us, given our position in the ticketing market", said Morariu. EXIMTUR’s travel management software allows us to supply companies with reports and periodic analysis of traffic and costs. Along with basic services, such as ticketing, hotel reservations and business events management (business meetings, team buildings, conferences, congresses),

EXIMTUR FIGURES 35,294,444 – T urnover in €, achieved in 2012 2,500 – N umber of corporate clients in 20 years 135 – Total number of employees 26 – T otal number of agencies 1993 – The year of establishment 1st prize for www.eximtur.ro (best travel agency site) in 2013

EXIMTUR provides corporations with a wide range of related services including: protocol/VIP services in all airports in the country, visa and health certificates if requested, rent-a-car at destination, rental of other means of transportation (bus).

Non-stop Call-center EXIMTUR currently has 135 employees, of which 31 are IATA accredited agents, is the market leader in domestic tourism and the main partner of major European tour operators, such as World of TUI, Neckermann, Thomas Cook, Dertour, Meier’s ADAC, ITS. The company also has a non-stop call center (phone * 9977 – normal fares apply, or 0364.803.888) for sales/booking flights and holidays abroad. "Our objective is to develop the most extensive and efficient network of agencies in Romania, able to provide standardized services that meet the most demanding requirements in terms of safety and comfort for business or leisure travel", Morariu concluded.

www.eximtur.ro

Top Brands

The Deloitte Cluj-Napoca Office 5 Years on the Local Market

The professional services firm has been active for 20 years in Romania.

luj-Napoca was the first choice for Deloitte Romania when it decided to expand nationwide, in 2008. The move was in line with the Firm’s strategy to get closer to clients and better explore local opportunities. Moreover, the Cluj County had already gained a reputation of having an extremely interesting and lucrative investment potential. This impressive growth, expected to continue, had been equally matched by increased demand for professional services.

“When I took the helm of the Cluj office, in 2011, I knew it would be a great challenge for my career,” said Adriana Lobda (photo), Audit Partner. “As a leader, you have to grow a business, and you also have to develop a team. I took over an already established business with talented people that I am now developing further. The rest is our business partners’ doing.” The 15 local professionals currently provide audit services to private companies and public institutions in Transylvania. Most clients are active in manufacturing and the services industries. Deloitte has always made intense efforts to contribute to the local community, both by supporting its business partners and the business environment in general,

but also by being actively involved in the society and the educational environment. “I wonder what the next years will bring, however we are committed to the promises we have made to our partners and to the local community. We are equally oriented towards local businesses – a strong, vibrant community, with great potential - but also multinationals currently investing or expected to invest in the future. In recent years, the city has gained in reputation and its development will definitely continue, as more and more investors turn opportunities into businesses.” Deloitte provides local clients with solutions to business challenges they might have, as the team successfully combines its international reach with talent recruited locally. So far, the Firm has focused efforts on strengthening the audit and tax team, but in the near future it will develop other local competencies in financial and management advisory. As part of an international network, Deloitte is also an incubator of young talented people aspiring to develop a consultant career with international reach. As an important university center, Cluj-Napoca provides a large pool of graduates from top universities. Deloitte professionals have graduated from these

universities, but came from all neighboring counties: Mures, Oradea, Baia Marea, Zalau, and also Ploiesti and Bucharest. They are ambitious and benefit from the support of a multinational company with experience in all areas of professional consulting services. “We are a young and enthusiast team, and we benefit from the support of our headquarters office, and also from our network experience, as Deloitte is one of the largest professional services firms in the world, with 200,000 people and active presence in 150 countries,” Adriana Lobda added. Deloitte Romania has a total of 13 Partners based in Romania serving clients in different industries with Audit & Risk Services, Tax & Legal, Financial Advisory and Management Consulting. The Firm is currently one of the leading professional services organizations in the country, employing over 400 professional and support staff. Services are provided by Deloitte Audit SRL, Deloitte Tax SRL, Deloitte Consultanta SRL and Reff & Associates SCA, jointly referred to as Deloitte Romania. Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee, and its network of member firms, each of which is a legally separate and independent entity. Please see www.deloitte.com/ro/ about for a detailed description of the legal structure of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited and its member firms.

Deloitte Cluj Silver Business Center 48 Dorobantilor Road, 4th Floor , 400117, Cluj-Napoca, Romania

iQuest â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Keeping IT Simple Having over 15 years of software development experience, iQuest holds a significant spot in Cluj-Napocaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s IT landscape. iQuest is an independent IT services group delivering an extensive portfolio of professional services and customised software solutions across Europe, MEA and the US. With a successful combination of technical expertise and service excellence, iQuest drives longterm business value for leading companies in Life Sciences, Telecom, Financial Services, Transportation and Energy. Based in Cluj-Napoca, with local teams in Germany, Switzerland, Sweden and the US, we combine both local and nearshore services. Founded in 1998 as a privately owned company, iQuest is still run by the co-founder and CEO, Cornelius Brody. iQuest has rapidly grown from a small local player into a European group becoming a professional consultancy, product and business solutions company. Based on our entrepreneurial mindset, high flexibility, customer closeness and excellent services we have many clients that have been with us for more than 10 years. Quality is our benchmark and expertise drives our work. We set foot on the British market by working closely with Virgin Atlantic and Financial Times, two of the UKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading actors in their fields of expertise. Having established a close collaboration, iQuest supported these companies in their effort to enhance their performance on the fast evolving global market. Our highly specialised service offering includes end to end software and product engineering, application lifecycle services, business information management, business process management, e-commerce, M&S and software quality assurance and testing. iQuest focuses on providing best-inclass solutions that are cost-effective and help our clients maintain a competitive advantage through technology. Focusing on new trends like cloud, machine to machine, big data and mobility, we are confidently looking ahead towards the upcoming business and technological challenges.

iQuest designed a solid and flexible e-commerce platform, preserving Virgin Atlantic on a top market position through a sound online presence. We delivered a complex solution which employs authentication and security protocols of online payment, with options for online check-in and online boarding-pass submission. iQuest took the implementation of specific functionalities to further grounds, continuously endeavoring to improve the system architecture, and design in order to build in flexibility and sturdiness for future changes.

www.iquestgroup.com

democracy

Ratiu Center for Democracy, , 9 Years of Involvement in Romania

he Ratiu , Center for Democracy (CRD) is a Romanian registered NGO dedicated to promoting democracy as a way of life by encouraging research, promoting learning, informing others and practically applying democratic values and behaviours locally, nationally and internationally, so that as many as possible may benefit. Launched in July 2004, CRD has been operating some 20 not-for-profit programs in Romania and abroad. Active for almost 10 years in the NGO sector in Romania, CRDâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s main

areas of intervention are governance and transparency, with a focus on promoting active citizenship, accountability and multicultural policies, human rights - especially fighting trafficking in human beings and assisting trafficked survivors, and promoting grass roots participation. CRD is now supporting the opening of a Youth Center in Turda that aims to engage the young population in activities that could enrich their skills or support them in spending their free time in an active way. Many of them volunteer for CRD but many more could be involved in various activities that could develop their soft skills and their civic sense. The Youth Center will house CRDâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Volunteer Center, Theater Workshop and Debating Club and will act as a hub for youth dedicated projects within the local Turda community where CRD is based. Ratiu , Center for Democracy furthers the ideas of Ion Ratiu, , campaigner for democracy and one of the most consistent and outspoken voices against the oppressive communist regime of Nicolae Ceausescu. CRD is primarily supported by Ratiu , Family Charitable Foundation, the UK registered organisation Ion Ratiu , and his wife, Elisabeth Pilkington Ratiu, , established in 1979 to promote and sup, port projects which further education and research in the culture and history of

Romania. Ratiu , Family Charitable Foundation furthers the longstanding philanthropic engagement of the Ratiu , family and of the former Turda based Eforie Foundation founded in 1867 and generously offers grants that enable talented graduates and young professionals to gain skills, which they can adapt and apply in Romania and seed funding for innovative projects, principally in Romania, which foster Romanian civil society and democracy, heritage, arts, civilisation and environmental protection. Since 2006 CRD is partner with Woodrow Wilson Center, Washington DC in presenting the Ion Ratiu , Democracy Award, which is supported by Ratiu , Family Charitable Foundation and aims to bring international recognition to the ideas and accomplishments of individuals around the world who are working on behalf of democracy. Following its success in Washington, starting 2013, the Ion Ratiu , Democracy Lecture will also be hosted annually at the Sunday Times Oxford Literary Festival. To learn more about CRD, its programs and activities, meet the team, volunteer or offer support please visit www.ratiudemocracycenter.org, like us on / RatiuCenter forDemocracy or follow CRD on / RatiuCenter and Linked in/Ratiu-foundation-for-democracy.

Education

Clusters City R

omania’s line up to the European Union together with the global economic crisis has brought a new success model to Cluj-Napoca: the clusters. The city is trying to become an important competitor within the global economy with the help of an organisation model that is rather new for the Romanian economy: clusters. These clusters are organisations which gather companies that work in the same field together with universities and public authorities. A first cluster of this kind has already been developed in the field of IT Services, and other three are developing in

the furniture industry, agriculture and life sciences.

2.000 job opportunities in IT The city of Cluj-Napoca has become an important national growth pole in the IT sector and the Cluj IT cluster is the catalyst of the economic booming in this field. The development of new projects has had a major impact on the specialists’ job market. According to the president of Cluj IT cluster, Alexandru Tulai, the companies from Cluj are now ready to employ a great number of young people. A good wages and the excellent standard of living

have brought to Cluj Napoca many young people from other parts of the country and the companies have started to employ professionals or managers even from the United Kingdom or Germany. As it is estimated, 2.000 new job opportunities will emerge in this IT sector in the near future. The 42 companies that form Cluj IT cluster already have 3.500 specialists. Also the Babes-Bolyai University and the , Technical University of Cluj-Napoca are in this cluster together with the local authorities. The most important project of the cluster is Innovation City a project that aims to build a city of creativity and innovation on a surface of 300 hectares to offer 30.000 new job opportunities and mainly to attract investments of de approximately 300 million €.

Ambitious projects

Another ambitious project is creating the Transylvanian Furniture cluster in order to capitalize the Transylvanian traditions within the furniture industry and the wood resources that the western Carpathians own. This cluster gathers approximately 20 companies from the furniture industry but also organisations such as the Association of Entrepreneurs and Professionals, Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Cluj-Napoca, the Technical University of Cluj, the Cluj County Council, the Regional Institute for Research, Education and Technologic Transfer and the North-West Regional Development Agency. The third cluster in the Cluj county is Agro-Food-Ind, started at the initiative of Ioan Oleleu – the vice– president of Cluj County Council. This one will make the most of the Transylvanian agriculture and the local food industry potential. Furthermore the local counselor Ioana Borza has also initiated a cluster on the life sciences that will capitalize the research potential of the universities from Cluj and the resources of the companies from the industry of medicine, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, biotechnology, biology, chemistry, physics and the environmental sciences in order to sustain new types of medicine or cosmetic products.

UN Day @ Transylvania College

Complete Educational Track in English

he city offers multiple possibilities of receiving education in English starting from pre-school up to doctoral studies in English. Whole English education, both for native English speakers and other foreigners, is part of the old Cluj traditions. Ever since the communist period, the English language has been largely loved and studied by the people from Transylvania. Currently, there are all level schooling options in Shakespeare’s language. Most nursery schools from Cluj-Napoca offer pre-school education in English. While in the majority of nursery schools from under Local Council supervision, the main lessons are in Romanian and English is studied as a foreign language, there are also nursery schools providing whole English education. It is most often the case of nurseries from the private sector. Among them we can mention T, nd ric , Helen or Gina, yet, the most, renowned nursery functions at Transylvania College. At primary and secondary level, the oldest and most prestigious school is Gheorghe Sincai

High School, a bilingual school with almost 1,000 students. The private Tran, sylvania College also provides bilingual studies, in Romanian and English. Transylvania College is the only Cambridge school in Romania that offers a complete educational track, from nursery through high school. At the end of February 2013 Transylvania College successfully passed a BSO inspection, becoming one of only 42 schools in the world that functions as a British School Overseas (BSO). The school is affiliated to the United Kingdom’s Department for Education, following the National Curriculum of England and Wales in primary and secondary school and the Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) curriculum in high school. Families from 25 countries, from around the world, have chosen Transylvania College for the education it provides at international standards. In 2013 Transylvania College is celebrating 20 Years of Excellence in Education. Furthermore, there is a large variety of English studies within the universities from Cluj. The city is a renowned university centre which has trained specialists

greatly appreciated by worldwide companies. Moreover, alumni of Cluj universities have come to hold high rank positions in administration. The European Commissionaire for Agriculture, Dacian Ciolos, graduated from the University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, whereas the former prime minister of Romania, Emil , Boc, is both an alumnus and a professor of the Babes-Bolyai University. Other examples of alumni and professors of prestigious universities from Cluj-Napoca: Ionel Haiduc, president of the Roma, nian Academy, as well as Andrei Marga, president of the Romanian Cultural Institute. The first university to have provided studies in English was the Faculty of Letters, from Babes-Bolyai University, which founded an Applied Modern Languages section. This line of study has prepared high standard, translators and interpreters now working within international bodies and organizations such as the European Commission, NATO and UN. Read more about Cluj universities’ offer in the next pages.

Education

Babeş-Bolyai University of Cluj-Napoca

abes-Bolyai University (UBB) is a public higher education in, stitution, organised on three lines of study, where several cultures, languages and denominations intertwine; it ensures the equal education of students in Romanian, Hungarian and German, taking as mission to promote and support the development of specific components in the local, regional, national and international community. UBB has 21 faculties: Mathematics and Informatics; Physics; Chemistry and Chemical Engineering; Biology and Geology; Geography; Letters; Law; History and Philosophy; Psychology and Education Sciences; Economics and Business Administration; European Studies; Business; Political, Administrative and Communication Sciences; Physical Education and Sports; Orthodox Theology; Greek-Catholic Theology; Roman-Catholic Theology; Reformed Theology; Sociology and Social Work; Environmental Science and Engineering; Theatre and Television; comprising 91 departments, 12 university extensions and over 50 research institutes and centres. The university’s educational offer includes study programmes in the following great learning domains: mathematics and natural sciences, bio- and bio-medical sciences, engineering, social sciences, humanities and arts. The structure of the study programmes (bachelor’s and master’s) is as follows: 309 in Romanian, 110 in Hungarian, 22 in German, 42 in English and 11 in French, being coordinated by over 1,400 teaching staff. In its programmes, UBB has enrolled approximately 42,000 students at bachelor’s and master’s degree level in the Romanian, Hungarian, German, English and in the French line of study. Furthermore, given the post-university and post-doctoral programmes, as well as the professional and lifelong learning programmes, UBB ensures the instruction and perfection of a large number of students. Babes-Bolyai University offers doctoral study programmes , through 25 doctoral schools, covering 29 research domains.

Bachelor's Degree programmes in English Faculty Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Faculty of Economics and Business Administration Faculty of European Studies Faculty of Business Faculty of Political, Administrative and Communication Sciences

Programme of study Computer Science Chemistry Science and Engineering of Oxidic Materials and Nanomaterials Accounting and Management Information Systems Finance and Banking Management International Relations and European Studies American Studies Business Administration Journalism Political Sciences

Masters Specializations in English Faculty

Programme of study Software Engineering Formal Methods in Programming

Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science

Modeling and Simulation Component- Based Programming Intelligent Systems Mathematics Applied Mathematics Biomaterials

Faculty of Physics

Computational Physics Solid State Physics The Science and Technology of Advanced Materials

Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering

Molecular Chemistry and Biochemistry Modeling Organic and Biochemical Processes Engineering Advanced Chemical Process Engineering Current orientations in linguistics (English, French)

Faculty of Letters

British Cultural Studies Irish Studies

Faculty of Economics and Business Administration

International Business Management Corporate Financial Management (in Hungarian, English) Entrepreneurship and Business Management Transatlantic Studies

Faculty of European Studies

Cultural Diplomacy and International Relations Cultural Diplomacy and Global Economy

Faculty of Business

Business Administration Public Administration Crisis and Conflict Management

Address: 1, Mihail Kog lniceanu Street, Cluj-Napoca Phone: +4.0264-405.300, Fax: +4.0264-591.906 www.ubbcluj.ro /UnivBabesBolyai

Faculty of Political, Administrative and Communication Sciences

Management of Public and Non-profit Organisations Media Communication Advertising and Public Relations (in German and English) International Development Research Design and Data Analysis in Social Sciences

MINISTERUL EDUCA IEI NA IONALE

www.utcluj.ro

Technical Education for the Future T

he Technical University of Cluj- Napoca, the only technical university in Transylvania, is one of the top twelve Romanian universities, established as “universities of advanced research and education”. The university has nine faculties in Cluj-Napoca, four in the North University Centre of Baia Mare and four academic extensions in important cities of Transylvania; more than 900 academic staff and more than 22,000 students at the Bachelor, Master and PhD level. For the main location, in Cluj-Napoca, the courses are in the technical field, ranging from Electrical, Telecommunications, Electronics, Computers and Control Engineering to Mechanical, Manufacturing and Materials Engineering or to Architecture and Civil Engineering. In the North Centre of Baia Mare, together with Engineering topics, courses in Arts, Humanities and Science are offered. The specific equipment for teaching and research, the training and research laboratories, the modern computer networks and libraries constitute the support of the educational and scientific activities. The Technical University of Cluj- Napoca offers, in accordance with the Bologna Declaration, 4 year programmes for

Bachelor’s Degrees in Engineering, 3 year programmes for Bachelor’s Degree in Arts, Humanities or Sciences, as well as 2 year programmes for Master’s Degrees and 3 year PhD Programmes. The Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture is awarded through a 6 year programme. Courses are offered in Romanian for all subjects and some are offered also in English, German or French. The programmes offered in English are: Automation and Applied Informatics (Bachelor); Computer Science (Bachelor); Civil, Industrial and Agricultural Buildings (Bachelor); Electronics and Telecommunications Engineering/Applied Electronics (Bachelor); Electronics and Telecommunications Engineering/Telecommunications Technologies and Systems (Bachelor); Robotics (Bachelor); Robotics (Master). The Machines Building Technology Bachelor programme is offered in German also, in cooperation with Stuttgart University and the Master programme Processing of Signals and Images is offered in French, in cooperation with Bordeaux 1 University and Nice Sophia Antipolis University. Foreign students can enrol on the basis of an application proving their academic

achievements, both for undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate courses of Engineering and Sciences. If programmes chosen are in English, a language test is required unless a certificate of a passed TOEFL or Cambridge test is forwarded. If the programmes chosen are in Romanian, a preparatory year for the intensive study of Romanian language is offered by the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca. The research fields of interest cover engineering and technical topics, together with inter/multidisciplinary ones. In The Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, high quality applied research, performed jointly with industry or serving the needs of the community, is a major task and is carried out by academic/research staff, PhD students and undergraduates/graduates in the modern laboratories of the more than 70 research structures registered in the university. Being constantly involved in European programmes or in cooperation with various international, regional or local partners, The Technical University of Cluj-Napoca attracts the interest of academic community and of companies that are based in or plan to open facilities in the Transylvanian area.

Education

University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Romania, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, 3-5 Mănăștur St. Fax. +4(0)264-593.792, Tel. +4(0)264-596.384 International relations office: iro@usamvcluj.ro

www.usamvcluj.ro ü Ranks five in the top of the Romanian Universities of Advanced Research and Education – competition 2011 ü High Confidence Level – Romanian Agency for Quality Assurance in Higher Education ü ISO 9001:2008 (TÜV Austria) ü International Student Mobility Programmes

Faculty of Veterinary Medicine www.fmv.usamvcluj.ro

secretariat.medicinaveterinara@usamvcluj.ro Member of the European Association of Establishments for Veterinary Education (EAEVE) European certified study programme (EAEVE/FVE) Graduates with high employability in all Europe Veterinary Medicine undergraduates studies Six years full-time education Three study lines: Romanian, English, French Title awarded: veterinary surgeon Diploma acknowledged in all Europe PhD in Veterinary Medicine – four years Postdoctoral study programmes – two years Internship – various veterinary specialities - one year Lifelong specialization and training

Top Medical Education in Three Languages

uliu Hatieganu University of Medicine , and Pharmacy (UMF) is the oldest institution of medical education in Transylvania. From the beginning, it is knows as a center of excellence in education, training of specialists, research, healthcare and pharmaceuticals. Also, it is a responsible institution, which provides quality training for future doctors and pharmacists, through a student-centered education. Nevertheless, UMF is an active and dynamic factor in the socio-cultural life of Cluj-Napoca. UMF educates specialists in all areas of health in its three faculties: Medicine, Dental Medicine and Pharmacy. It has three study lines: Romanian, French and English.

Scientific and research activity More than half of UMF’s financial support is assured through research grants or contracts. The University has several research and excellence centers, accredited

by the National Council of Scientific Research in Higher Education, in various domains from oncology to pediatrics, immunology or rheumatologic diseases. Also, the university is renown for publication of books to foreign publishers and the country (recognized by National Council of Scientific Research in Higher Education), publishing articles in professional journals in the country and abroad (ISI indexed, BDI, recognized by the National Council of Scientific Research in Higher Education), participation in/organization of international and national conferences and symposia, patents, scientific research contracts.

www.umfcluj.ro Educational offer

• Bachelor Degrees • Masters Degrees • PhD Studies • Residency programs • Postgraduate training courses – Continuous Medical Education (CME) • Granting complementary competencies

The objectives of the university include

• Promoting integrity and academic performance • Training of highly qualified medical specialists • Providing postgraduate training courses • Development of scientific research • Strengthening relations with medical universities and research institutes in the country and abroad • Integration into the European Higher Education Area by achieving quality standards • Promoting deontology and bioethics

Library “Valeriu Bologa” • a heritage of over 300,000 volumes, books and magazines • fully computerized - with its own electronic network access to database • subscriptions to Romanian and foreign publications and to international data bases online access

Medical Tourism

Medical Tourism Flourishes in Cluj M

any foreigners come to Cluj-Napoca for treatments in areas such as dentistry, ophthalmology or to seek for plastic surgery services. The quality of medical services is western but the prices are much lower.

In the last five years, one of the most dynamic areas in Cluj-Napoca became medical tourism. Thousands of tourists from abroad come here for the services provided by clinics or private clinics in the city. The reason why they choose to seek medical treatment in Cluj-Napoca is the excellent quality/price ratio. The biggest advantage is that the quality of medical services is just like in the best clinics of Europe. Many Cluj doctors have graduated from prestigious universities in the European Union or the United States. In parallel, the quality of medical education in Cluj increased significantly. The University of Medicine and Pharmacy has developed courses of study in English and French, and the Faculty of Medicine has 2,000 foreign students. There is a real "brain hunting" in the medical field, and countries such as Britain, France, Germany or Belgium are competing in their efforts to recruit as many Romanian doctors as possible. Moreover, the clinics in Cluj are equipped with the latest devices and the managers of some of them have invested million euros and they continue to make further investments to get efficient services. However, the prices charged by the doctors in Cluj are several times lower than those in other European Countries. We would like to name some of the most sought medical specialties in Cluj-足 Napoca: ophthalmology and eye surgery but also dentistry or plastic surgery.

Very low costs Clinic owners in Cluj and agency representatives who specialized in medical tourism say that for many foreigners it is cheaper to fly to Cluj, to pay for accommodations and boarding, to seek medical treatment, but also to entertain between two sessions at the doctor, than to use the same quality services in countries such as Britain, Italy, Germany and Israel. Some doctors in Cluj say that there are patients who confessed that it was cheaper to come to Cluj by plane and stay at the hotel before and after an ordinary medical treatment, such as removing thread after a surgical operation than to seek for the services of an Italian doctor, for instance.

A New Way of Seeing Health

he reputation of our clinics and doctors brought to Cluj thousands of foreigners in search of high-quality treatments. One of the most famous eye clinic in Cluj is Optilens, founded by doctors Teodor Tomi and Dorin Nicula. “We can talk about a significant rise of the medical tourism phenomena. In the last five years we had approximately 3000 foreign patients. At this moment, 15% of the patients treated at the Optilens Clinic are of another nationality than Romanian. Until now we had many patients from Italy, the United Kingdom, France or Germany”, noted Natalia Tomi, manager of the Optilens Clinic in Cluj. The main way in which this clinic made it’s services known abroad, was the degree of satisfaction of the patients who benefited from the services of our doctors and who shared they experience with others. “Foreigners received recommendations from other foreigners who were treated at our clinic or from Romanians living in other countries. What also matters a lot is the fact that there are no differential fees for Romanians and foreigners, everyone is treated the same, at

the highest standards”, added Natalia Tomi. The most demanded procedures are laser corrections, the treatment of keratoconus, cataract treatment and other high-precision surgery treatments. The 15 highly-trained Optilens specialists gained patients’ trust also because they speak English, French, Hungarian, Russian, Italian or German.

Major investments in high-performance equipment The Optilens Surgery department has an ultra-modern operating block, with three surgery rooms equipped with last-generation operating microscopes, video monitoring and best quality instruments, most of which are of single-use, and two comfortable pre and post-op rooms. Major investments have been made in equipment. A single high-performance Excimer laser cost 500.000 €. “Surgery with Laser Excimer is usually demanded by those who want to get rid of glasses. The chances to solve refractive errors through such an intervention are very high. Surgery is ambulatory and lasts for about fifteen minutes. After the procedure, the pacient is monitored for

another 30 minutes. If everything’s allright, he may go home, with no band-aid, with therapeutic lenses”, says doctor Teodor Tomi, founder of the clinic.The eye care specialist also declares that 80% of the patients operated with Laser Excimer are relieved of eyeglasses dependency. The clinic in Cluj is so well equipped that it has two of these devices, an unusual thing even for renowned Occidental clinics.

Complete medical services Apart from medical services, the Optilens team can provide, at request, transport from the airport and can help finding accommodations. Also, patients can make in Cluj certain medical tests that they need. For further details regarding Optilens services and prices acces www.optilens.ro.

Medical Tourism

Smile for Dental Tourism, Please! H

ow do medical tourists choose their destination and how do they get to Romania for treatment? It’s all about being well-informed.

“Most of the patients who came from abroad were brought here by Romanians who work, temporarily or indefinitely, in other countries. Afterwards, satisfied patients recommended our clinic to other persons interested by certain dental procedures and treatments. Approximately 10% of our patients come from abroad”, says Renata Diudea, stomatologist and co-owner of the Dentimage clinic in Cluj-Napoca. The clinic opened in 1999 and, over the years, treated patients from

all around the world, for example from Italy, Spain, Ireland, the United Kingdom, the United States of America and Australia. “The most popular dental procedures are prosthetics and implants”, explains doctor Romulus Diudea, co-owner of the clinic. With a team of 10 professionals, Dentimage offers a full range of dental services, from cosmetic dentistry, prophylaxis, orthodontology, and prosthetics to surgery, implants or periodontology, in a clinic equipped with the latest dental technology (2012), acquired with the help of European funds. The dental clinic Dentimage Cluj-Napoca has 3 treatment rooms and a radio diagnosis room.

Medicine and tourism The Dentimage team can facilitate, at patient’s request and with no additional fees, the finding of suitable lodging, either in B&Bs or apartments situated near the clinic or at hotels that the patients prefer. Furthermore, patients can benefit from transfer from and to the local airport. “We had patients who combined dental treatment with sight-seeing in Transylvania. We helped them with the car rental” declared dr. Romulus Diudea.

Why Romania? Highly trained medical staff, certified and experienced stomatologists who provide high-quality dental services are some of the criteria for choosing Romanian dental services. Among the reasons for choosing Romanian dental services are „Our clinic offers a guarantee for its procedures” said dr. Renata Diudea. Aside from the quality of its services, patients are also attracted by the prices, which are significantly lower, for the same quality of materials and services. „Our prices are less than half of those in the United Kingdom for example”, added dr. Romulus Diudea. Potential patients are asked to send to our doctors a orthopantomography. After analizing it, our specialists can suggest a treatment plan and give an estimate of the costs and the duration of the treatment.

Who? Where? When? How? For further information about our dental services access www.dent-image.ro or contact us at office@dent-image.ro.

www.dent-image.ro

400039 Cluj-Napoca, 7/7 Closca St. , +4(0)264-448.745

The Beauty Behind the Mirror

lastic surgery, cosmetics and anti- aging medicine are three of the most demanded services by patients around the world who believe that medical tourism is a reliable solution for a beautiful body, at an affordable price. Cluj has the advantage of being a large academic centre, where the medical care services are not only varied, but also of a good quality. “The most popular medical services are those of plastic surgery, especially facelifts, breast implants, liposuction together with abdominoplasty, rhinoplasty, and injections of botulinum toxin or hyaluronic acid. In terms of aesthetics, there’s also a high demand on the permanent hair removal by laser or the skin Oxygen therapy “, said dr. Anca Ciceo, dermatologist at the Novia Clinic in Cluj.

The founder of aesthetic surgery The aesthetic surgery interventions are performed in Novia Clinic by a team of specialists led by Professor Alexandru Georgescu, the founder of plastic surgery in Cluj-Napoca, internationally renowned doctor, chairman of numerous committees of plastic surgery and forming of aesthetic surgery specialists. Also, the experience of the plastic surgeon Mircea Ciceo recommends this private clinic. Novia Clinic in Cluj provides a whole range of plastic surgery interventions, from breast enlargement, breast reduction or their reconstruction, facelift interventions, blepharoplasty, rhinoplasty, otoplasty, abdominoplasty, liposuction, brahioplastia, calf implants, arms, corrections of scars etc..

European Patients Novia Clinic from Cluj also became famous abroad, due to the clinic’s patient satisfaction with the outcome of their interventions. “Most foreigners who have addressed our clinic were recommended

by Romanians established abroad who, themselves, benefited from our medical and aesthetic services. So far, we have had patients from Spain, Italy, England and Germany”, said the dermatologist dr. Anca Ciceo.

Madonna’s beauty device Not only plastic surgery can help to improve the looks but also minimal or non-invasive procedures. With at least 7 years experience in the use of lasers in cosmetic interventions, Novia Clinic also offers other cosmetic medical services, non-invasive, made with new generation sophisticated devices that patients can also find in the top clinics from U.S. or elsewhere in Europe. An example is the Intraceuticals machine that manages to rejuvenate facial skin by means of Oxygen therapy combined with the use of special serums. It is known that Madonna owns such a device at home and those interested must know the machine can also be found in Cluj. Novia offers extra

body shaping treatments with a unique device in Cluj, Velashape2, added dr. Anca Ciceo. In fact, Novia Clinic has a global point of view regarding aesthetic medicine, which is why their offer also includes services of psychology, nutrition and endocrinology. All these in order to make personal beauty visible on the outside too! Therefore, Novia is also called “Harmony Cosmetic Clinic”.

www.novia-estetica.ro 400431 Cluj-Napoca, Pascaly St. 5

+4(0)264-414.145, +4(0)758-117.601 office@novia-estetica.ro

Visit Transylvania

Thermal Tourism:

Health at Low Prices O

ne of the branches of tourism that currently experiences a special development is represented by the balneary tourism, which uses thermal waters from the Transylvania region. Some of them are known since the Time of Roman Empire.

Thermal water springs have generated a type of tourism that comes first on the preference list before the walks in the mountains or the Romanian seaside resort holidays. There are more than 10 such thermal water resorts only in Transylvania and amongst the best known are B ile Felix, 1 Mai and Marghita from Bihor county or Geoagiu B i from Hunedoara. The whole spa tourism succeeds in raising millions of visitors every year, but this number could increase four times in the next five years. The number of foreign tourists who choose such resorts is of approximately 100,000.

The “pearl” of the Bihor county The best known spa resort in Romania is B ile Felix (photo 2), 6 miles away from Oradea and 14 miles from the Romanian-

Hungarian border. It also holds the title of the largest Romanian Resort. Moreover, regarding the accommodation capacity, the resort is ranked second in Romania, after the Black Sea sea side. Tourists come here for the relaxation offered by the thermal waters that have, no matter the season, 3234 degrees Celsius but also for the treatment of the rheumatologic, neurological or gynaecological diseases. The medical centres from B ile Felix are also equipped with installation for different treatment methods such as: electrotherapy, aerosol, massage, oil packaging or other different spa resort services. Tourists who come to this resort can choose one of the six thermal water pools from the „Felix Pools”. Two of them are exclusively meant for children. There are three water slides and the ones who prefer another type of entertainment can choose the synthetic mini football field or for the beach volley. A few hundred yards further there is another resort 1 Mai. This resort is well known for its geothermal lake with flora specific to the Tertiary Period including species of lotuses such as Nimphaea Lotus originated from the old valley of Egypt and growing here in a unique variety. The „Ve-

nus swimming pool” is the star of the resort and holds 14 pools from which the first 8 are built in the shape of a flower. The Olympic pool is the deepest of them all; it can reach in specific places a depth of four yards and it is used for Trampoline jumps. In the same county of Bihor there is also Marghita, the newest resort. The mineral and thermal recourses have practically generated the tourist potential of the town that bears the same name and the thermal pool is made of two water pools. Thermal waters are recommended for the treatment of the locomotor system as well for the posttraumatic treatment.

Roman traces Another resort with a long tradition is Geoagiu B i. It lies between the Hunedoara and Alba county. That is also one of the reasons the resort is visited by tourists coming from both counties. In 1885, for instance, it recorded a number of 900 visitors. The interesting fact is that on the place holding the current resort in Roman times was the „Thermae Germisara” and the shape of the resort now is almost identical with

the one in Roman times. There are three thermal water pools available for tourists with depth between 1.6 to 3 yards and the temperature never drops below 30 0C degrees. In the same time, thermal treatments can be performed here but what is equally impressive is that the resort is surrounded by a mountain area and it is situated at 380 yards altitude. That is also the reason why Geoagiu B i offers a lot of attractions to tourists looking for mountain hikes. The star of the resort is however, a waterfall in the middle of the Geoagiu town that also has thermal waters.

B ile Herculane: a reborn resort Another important tourist resort is B ile Herculane (photo 3), from Banat, a region situated at the southern end of Transylvania. B ile Herculane has been used in Roman times and a legend attributes to the Roman emperor Nerva Traian the discovery of the thermal waters here. The Roman emperor spent his time in the area between 105-106 DC during the campaign against the Dacian king Decebal. The palace of the Roman emperor was built at Berzovia, a small community nearby and Traian is supposed to have ordered the building of the B ile Herculane resort for the relaxation of the soldiers from the Roman legions. During the Middle Ages B ile Herculane were defended by the lords of Transylvania and later became a place of relaxation for the Turkish leaders after Timisoara had , been conquered by the Turkish army. Starting with the 18th century, after the Banat region had been freed from the Austrian rule, many Austrian noblemen came to Herculane for treatment and amongst them there was Sisi, the mad queen of Austria. Between the two world wars, Herculane was one of the most beautiful resorts in Romania but soon after the fall of communism many of the hotels have been deserted. Nowadays however, the resort is coming to life from its own ashes and is one of the best places for tourism investors. Many Europeans and Americans are attracted by the renowned name of the resort and the cruises organized on the Danube River which separates Romania and Serbia.

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An Inside View o E

ver since ancient times, salt was regarded as white gold and has brought prosperity throughout the region. Now, it could become a tourist attraction. Since Roman times, Transylvania was well known for the salt extracted from the depths of its earth. Some historians have named it the "white gold". The millenniums of salt exploitation have profoundly changed the landscape of some of Transylvaniaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s areas and thus, huge caverns appeared in the heart of the hills, where salt was mined underground, and also salt lakes, nowadays transformed into swimming sites. Doctors have noted that both the salt mines and the water and mud of these salt lakes have important medicinal properties. Authorities intend, starting next year, to promote all these attractions under the name of salt road, offering tourists city-breaks or a week or two weeks tours.

The most beautiful salt mine in Europe The Balneology Association of Romania has made several studies on the effects the air from the salt mines plays in the treatment of respiratory diseases. They concluded that Salina Turda is the best in Europe in this matter. Also, Salina Turda (Turda salt mine â&#x20AC;&#x201C; photo 1) has been declared by many tourism journals as the most beautiful on the continent after being rehabilitated with European funds. Here, in this salt mine were filmed scenes from the last Batman film series, and some videos of pop artists. On an underground lake which has in the middle an island of salt, the authorities built a pier where small boats can be rented in order to navigate the salt water. Also, an amphitheater used for concerts, theater and film was equipped with heated seats, but also a huge carousel, a panoramic lift or bowling and miniature golf fields. Mining was stopped in the Turda Salt Mine in the interwar period. But still there are other mines that can be visited, even if salt mining nowadays continues. One of them is the mine Praid (photo 2) in the Harghita county. Inside the salt mine was set an ecumenical church, con-

w on the Salt Intinerary secrated in 1993, where religious Orthodox, Catholic or Protestant services are held. There are also playgrounds, and small sports fields. Another salt mine, still in operation is Ocna Dej. It also has a chapel carved in salt, where the lights hidden behind stained glass give the impression that this place of worship is illuminated by sunlight. This salt mine also has football, handball or tennis fields, hosting various competitions between teams of miners.

Bath and mineral water B ile Lipova (Lipova Baths) resort, located 19 miles away from Arad, is also known for its mineral water in the area, that was discovered by shepherds in the early nineteenth century. Then, in the interwar period, including the Royal House of Romania chose to drink mineral water from Lipova. The resort itself has existed for over 100 years and was built right near mineral springs that could be used in medical treatments. A plus to other resorts it is, however, the lake where those who love fishing can catch catfish, carp and crucian carp.

Sovata, the most beautiful natural resort Sovata (photo 3), located in Mures, county, is known for its famous highly salt lakes and, for this reason, it is recommended for gynecological, degenerative, inflammatory and rheumatic diseases. Meanwhile, a dip in the saltwaters of Sovata can solve problems of the peripheral nervous system, endocrine disorders, and also cardiovascular diseases. Sovata resort is recognized at European level since 1850, and its star is Lacul Ursu (Bear Lake), the only saltwater lake in the area that is open to the public. Yet, this happens only for two months a year, in July and August, due to its unique feature. The highly salty water of the lake is protected by a layer of fresh water available on the surface and is formed by streams flowing into it, as well as precipitation. The fresh water layer does not mix with the salt water, but remains on the surface and acts as a thermal insulator. Thus, the

temperature of the pond in the two summer months it is open varies between 10 and 20 degrees to the surface, up to 40 degrees to a depth of one meter and even up to 60 degrees about the depth of 1.5 m where the salt quantity is very high. In the resort there are hotels that have their own swimming pools, which can be used in winter. But there are also cozy boarding houses, with low prices, ideal for families with children. One of those is Sovata Gasthaus located in the most quiet area of the resort, the neighborhood StĂ˘na de Vale.

The newest resort in Transylvania In Bistrita-N s ud County, the most , famous resort is located two miles away from the city Beclean and is called B ile Figa (Figa Baths). It was opened only in 2010, and since then more than 10000 tourists cross the threshold resort every hot summer weekend. Figa Baths offer consists of a salt water pool, an indoor pool with freshwater, special pools with mud treatment, and a children's playground, sandy beach or football and tennis courts.

Salt lakes from Cluj Two other resorts in Cluj, those of Cojocna and Dej have been recently re-

furbished. The Baths from Cojocna are on the site of former salt mines existing there since Roman times. Above the abandoned salt-pits of the salt mines were formed more salt lakes and their water gained therapeutic properties. With the modernization of Cojocna Baths, Toroc Park, located in Dej, has also become very popular. It has a spa pavilion, a salt lake, a freshwater pool and jacuzzi, a terrace, and a number of sports terrains. The Salt Baths in Turda are another way of cooling on hot summer days and recovering from health problems. The area also has medical staff and health-care environment, and the most frequented place of entertainment is the swimming pool, which every summer attracts large numbers of tourists.

The old mines of MaramureĹ&#x; To the north, in the county of Maramures, a resort fa, there is Ocna Sugatag, , mous for the salt lake in the area that was formed after the collapse of some old mines of salt exploitation. Also, due to the mineral springs of chlorine, the little village in Maramures, received the title of resort. The baths that can be done here are either hot or cold, and one can also benefit from hydrotherapy or aeroheliotherapy.

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The Festivals Fortress of Romania

luj hosts two of the most important film festivals in Romania: the Transylvania International Film Festival (TIFF) and Comedy Cluj. Starting this year Cluj has become the host for some of the most important music festivals as well. Tiff is the best known film festival in Eastern Europe, and it has entered the first league of European film festivals. The Cluj festival is practically the younger sibling of the Cannes, Venice and Berlin film festivals. This year’s TIFF, bringing together hundreds of films, will start on May 31st and will last for ten days. The organizers have already prepared important events involving international movie stars, but also film-makers from the Romanian New Wave, such as the internationally known Cristi Puiu and Tudor Giurgiu. Ji í Menzel, the famous Czech cinematographer, will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 12th edition of TIFF. A film and theatre director, actor and screenwriter, author of films that have received various awards at Berlin, Locarno, Venice and Karlovy Vary, as well as Oscars, Ji í Menzel will be celebrated on the 8th of June, at the TIFF Closing Gala. “A master of human comedy”, as the influential American critic Roger Ebert called him, Ji í Menzel was born in Prague, in 1938, and graduated from the famous FAMU film school in 1962. Of the same generation as Miloš Forman and V ra Chytilová, Menzel is one of the New Wave representatives in Czechoslovakian cinematography.

The Autumn of Comedy “Comedy Cluj”, the largest theme festival dedicated to comedy film in Europe, will reach its fifth edition this year, to take place in Cluj-Napoca, between 11th and 20th of October 2013. So far, “Comedy Cluj” has brought its public over 450 comedy films. Moreover, its special events have involved directors, actors, festival directors, producers, distributors, critics, etc., who have added value to the cinema screenings. The 5th edition of the “Comedy Cluj” International Film Festival aims at bringing a whole range of comedy films produced all around the world to the silver screens in Cluj-Napoca.

Good quality music Starting this year, Cluj-Napoca will be the host of the most important music festival of Transylvania – the Penninsula. The festival was founded 10 years ago in Târgu-Mures, , but now the organisers have decided to move it to Cluj-Napoca. The first edition held in Cluj will bring important performers such as Emir Kusturica and Dragonforce. The festival will take place in Valea Gârb ului area between 18th and 21st June where also the Delahoya electronic music festival will be held a month earlier. Another electronic music festival of this kind will be hosted by the Banffy Castle in Bontida, near Cluj-Napoca. The Electric Cas, tle Festival will bring big names to the public such as Morcheeba. The fans of rock and reggae haven’t been forgotten as between 7 th–8 th June Deep Purple (photo) and UB 40 will be performing within Cluj Arena Music Festival on the newly built stadium of the city.

Underground Treasures

estern Carpathians area is full of limestone mountains whose entrails are broken down by cool mountain water which, over millennia, has carved huge caverns, full of stalactites and stalagmites of ice or who are housing very interesting vestiges. One of the most interesting caves in the Western Carpathians is the Cave of Bears (photo), in Bihor County, near the border with Hungary. This cave shelters one of the most important deposits of an extinct breed of bears Ursus spaeleus that is the bear of caves. The cave is full of limestone stalagmites and stalactites. It is divided into three galleries opened for visitors and arranged in such a way as to allow the access of adults and children and it is an area that was declared a scientific reservation. In the Gallery of Bones thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s is a large number of bear bones. Palaeontologists believe that the cave

harbours a large number of such animals, contemporary with human ancestors. But at some point, a landslide blocked the entrance to the cave. The bears caught in the cave began to fight each other and disturbing scenes of cannibalism occurred. Last bear starved to death. The entrance to the cave was discovered in 1975 when a new landslide moved the boulders that blocked the cave. The cave has a constant temperature of 10 degrees Celsius all year round.

The Glacier hidden in the depths of the Apuseni Sc risoara Cave, in the Valley of Aries,, , in Alba County, is totally different. The main attraction of the cave is the glacier that remained in the depths of the earth during the last ice age. The cave is located 20 miles from the town of CĂ˘mpeni. In the past, the

ice block of 100000 cubic yards, 4,000 years old, was used by the locals as a natural refrigerator. Ice stalagmites occurred in the area. The room of the cave has a length of 2300 feet.

The first modern European humans lived in Cioclovina One of the most important caves in the world is in Banat, in southern Transylvania. It is Cioclovina Cave, whose scientific importance is enormous. In an expedition funded by National Geographic Society, Oana Moldovan, a Cluj biologist, discovered a number of human remains. The analyses carried out in Britain and the U.S. have shown that those are the oldest modern human remains in Europe. In other words, the first European Homo sapiens sapiens lived in this cave in Romania.

Photo: www.mecanturist.ro

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On the Trails of Dracula

The mythical vampire count was, in reality, a historical figure, considered by many Romanians a national hero.

he most famous Transylvanian is a mythical character. It is about the vampire count Dracula who became legendary as a result of Bram Stoker's novel, which generated a lot of screenings. But, in reality, he is a historical figure, known in Romania as Vlad Tepes. in Transylvania. He was the son of the Wal, He was born in the city of Sighisoara , lachian prince Vlad Dracul and the Romanians named him Dracula. The nicknames Dracul (The Devil) and Dr culea come from the fact that the two princes of Wallachia became the knights of the Order of the Dragon, founded by the German Emperor Sigismund of Luxemburg, to reward the bravest fighters against the Turks. Vlad the Impaler was determined to scare his Turkish opponents by acts of cruelty. He used most often impalement penalty which he learnt from the Turks themselves, during his teens, when he was taken prisoner by the Ottomans. Those who want to discover Dracula's trail must start from Sighisoara, , the oldest medieval city continuously inhabited in Europe. The house Vlad Dracul in Sighisoara is the birthplace of Dracula, , and now it has been converted into a restaurant. Sighisoara Citadel is worth visiting leisurely as it is one of the best preserved , fortifications in Europe. The tour continues with the Bran Castle (photo), located in the south of the city of Brasov, the old border between Transylvania and Wallachia. This castle belonged to Dracula's grandfather, the Prince Mircea the Elder and Vlad Tepes, conquered it after a fight with the Germans in Brasov, , who joined one of its rivals. The castle belonged then to the kings of Hungary or to the Germans in Brasov was given to Queen Maria of Romania, the granddaughter of Queen , , and in 1920, the city of Brasov Victoria of Great Britain. During the communist period, the former royal residence became a museum.

Photo: arhivafoto.ro

The castle can be visited by tourists; it is located about 19 miles from Brasov. , Dracula Hotel was built for tourists in the north-eastern Transylvania, in Tihuta , Pass. It is a modern building which offers many entertainment opportunities for those who are fond of horror movies or classic vampire movies. This hotel is located near the town of Bistrita, , described in the novel by Bram Stoker.

The Noble Castles of Transylvania

Photo: Vali Turean

www.valiturean.ro

Some of these castles are linked to the ancestral history of the Royal House of Britain

Transylvania is one of the regions with a fabulous density of castles. A simple statistics show that, for example, on the river Mureş, there is a comparable number of castles to the one existing on the Loire River Valley in France. Unfortunately, the state of the castles in Transylvania is pitiful. Many of them were intentionally destroyed or they were let to decay over decades of communism.

Prince Charles’ money for the Versailles of Transylvania One of the most famous castles is located about 15 miles away from Cluj-Napoca. The Bánffy Castle from Bontida, once , known as the Versailles of Transylvania was built in several stages. The nucleus is in the Renaissance style, to which were added baroque edifices, followed by Romanesque and Gothic buildings. The construction of the castle began in 1437, and over the centuries it has become one of the most beautiful aristocratic residences in this part of Europe. But the castle was occupied by Nazi troops in 1944, which transformed it into a hospital for the wounded soldiers. At their withdrawal, the Nazis burned down the castle. The surviving parts were first converted into CAP headquarters, a Romanian kolkhoz, by the communists, and they were again burned intentionally during

the filming of a movie about the First World War. After the fall of communism, Transylvania Trust began the restoration of the castle, and among those who finance the reconstruction works is Prince Charles of Great Britain, the descendant of the most beautiful countess of Transylvania, Claudia Rhedey.

The castle of the last crusader Another famous castle is the one from Hunedoara. It was raised by the last crusade commander, the Romanian Gen. Iancu de Hunedoara (John Hunyadi), prince of Transylvania and governor of Hungary. The castle is built in the Gothic style. It preserves intact the gallery and the dungeon, the tower Capistrano, named after the famous Franciscan friar John of Capistrano, who lived there, and the Diet Hall or Knight's Hall. The castle was one of the strongest fortifications of Hunyadi's

son, King Matia Corvin, the sovereign of Hungary, Czech Republic, Croatia, Slavonia, Slovakia and Transylvania.

The castle of love Another famous castle is the one from Apuseni Mountains, from Ciucea. It is known as the castle of love. It was built in the nineteenth century, by the parents of Berta Boncza, the wife of the most famous Hungarian poet, Ady Endre. At the end of World War I, Berta Boncza sold the castle to the famous Romanian poet Octavian Goga, who would become Prime Minister of Romania. The wife of Octavian Goga, Veturia Goga, was Adolf Hitler’s favorite soprano who used to hear her concerts, held in Bayreuth. Veturia Goga served as translator in the secret meetings between Hitler and Ion Antonescu, the Romanian dictator of the Second World War.

Transylvaniaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Unknown Delta I

n the middle of Transylvania there is a real paradise of birds and fishermen. The area shelters the natural reservation of the Lake of Pikes and the marshes of Sic at tens of miles away from Cluj.

"The Basin of Fizes, shelters the Reed Reservations of Sic, the Pike Lake and the Forest of Ciuasu , stretching out on an area of 11000 acres. Recently, these areas have been included in the Natura 2000 ecological network. The Basin holds more than a fifth of the Romanian flora with over 600 species of plants. Moreover, 28 percent of European bird species are nesting in the area, and many other species of mammals, amphibians and invertebrates", said the naturalist Luminita , Holban. The core element of the ecosystem is the Pike Lake of S c laia. It is an interesting lake, which according to the geolo-

gists, was formed by water filling of a former surface mines of the Roman Empire, from which locals were extracting salt. It seems that the Roman mine was invaded by water coming from some springs in the area, and then followed a landslide that formed a natural dam. More water collected there, and thus, for two millennia, the Pike Lake has been born, which has a higher salinity than the ponds in central Transylvania. This lake is the deepest in Transylvania and has a depth of about 33 feet. It is also the only one in Transylvania where the â&#x20AC;&#x153;plaurâ&#x20AC;? phenomenon is formed, namely those floating reed islands that also appear in the Danube Delta. The lake is surrounded by reeds. Sport fishing is allowed on the lake and many fans of this sport come here both for the beauty of the place and for the legends that say that huge pikes would

Photo: www.modernism.ro

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live on the bottom of the lake. The area also shelters the reeds of Sic, which is the largest thatched area in Romania, besides the Danube Delta. Moreover, the area also covers one of the most interesting forests of pubescent oak glade, the Forest of Ciuasu, , with the largest colony of herons in Transylvania. "The reservation is very vulnerable, because if these colonies of grey herons and night herons are disturbed, they would move elsewhere", said the biologist Cosmin Ioan Moga. Another threatened element in this area is the swamp of the Leghiilor Valley. Due to the destruction caused after 1990, there are only a few pools of water left, because the locals have tried draining the land. But now, many landowners would be pleased to support wetland restoration, which could become one of the most beautiful tourist spots in Transylvania.

The Liquid Gold from the Wine Road

The southern region of Transylvania is one of the most renowned white wine vineyards in Europe.

ne of the most familiar founding legends of the Romanian people is linked to wine. The king of the Dacians (who together with the Romans and Slavs are the Romanians’ ancestors), Burebista ordered his troupes to cut all the vineyards from his kingdom. The explanation was that because of the good wine the Dacians were spending all of their time celebrating instead of fighting. Despite the legend the vineyards have survived for hundreds of years and Transylvania is one if the best known wine regions in Europe.

Photo: www.modernism.ro

Liquid gold

The best known vineyards are the ones from the highland bordered by the two rivers, Târnava Mare and Târnava Mica, as well as the ones lying on the Mures, Valley. The wine produced here has a golden colour which made Romanian, Hungarian and German poets to call it the liquid gold. A very interesting detail is that despite the phylloxera epidemic which destroyed most of the European vineyards the local varieties of grapes from the Transylvania vineyards survived until today. Among these ones we mention Feteasca Regal , Feteasca Alb , B beasca or Sârba as well as some red wines like Feteasca Neagr or C darca. As a matter of fact, the origins of the Feteasca Regala grapes, the most valuable variety of white wine, is genetically traced back to this high region called Podisul , Târnavelor. The biggest vineyard in the area is Jidvei, also the biggest winemaking business in Europe. The ranch holds 5.000 acres of vineyard managed by a single company and from this point of view it overtakes the ranches in Bordeaux area. A big part of the wine of Jidvei is shipped to Asia. Jidvei wines can be tasted in the Haller castle owned by the Jidvei Company in the Cetatea Alba village. The noble castle has been restored and it is an important tourist attraction, but reservations for groups of tourists must be made well in advance. Other important vineyards in the area are the ones from Blaj, Ciumbrud, C pâlna, or the ones ranging up the river Mures, , such as Culpiu, or down the river, like the vineyard from Minis, M d rat. Transylvania wines are acknowledged by connoisseurs for their high quality level despite not having been internationally promoted. Today these vineyards bear the brand name of “The Wine Road” and tourists can enjoy local tours which include lodging, traditional food and visits to historical sites such as the beautiful star-shaped fortress of Alba Iulia.

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The Secret of Transylvanian G

ame meat products from Eastern Carpathian Mountains are prepared based on the culinary traditions of Transylvania including the forgotten recipes of the Transylvanian Saxons dating back to the Middle Ages. HONOR stands for tradition, quality and the taste of aliments from the times of our ancestors. The Transylvanian gastronomy has been famous since the Middle Ages because it combines the Romanian, Hungarian and German traditions. Game meat products used to be served for kings and emperors of Europe. A businessman from the eastern part of Transylvania, Albert Andras, has managed to rediscover many of the forgotten recipes of the region and established the only game meat processing factory in Romania. Hence, game meat products from Transylvania reappeared on festive boards. A very important detail is that all of the products are certified according to EU laws and regulations and can be sold and order in any EU member states via an online shop (www.carnedevanat.ro)

Medieval recipes In Transylvania the most renown masters of preparing game meat were the Saxon butchers, who were colonized by the Hungarian kings in the time of crusades. Transylvanian Saxon butchers had combined the recipes from Germany or Luxemburg with local ingredients. For instance, from the Hungarian gastronomy paprika was brought in, from the Romanian aromatic herbage like Breckland thyme. Some of the products are smoked with wood chopped from age-long forest of the Carpathian mountains, which gives a special taste to the products. As a result the outcome is a fascinating gastronomy and the only brand which represents these recipes is Honor, belonging to the businessman Albert Andras from Odorheiu Secuiesc. He is considered a true visionary in the business world. ”We started out with the Transylvanian Saxons’ butchers’ recipes who were the best in preparing game meat. We import traditional seasoning from Hungary that we use ac-

cording to the old recipes” says the businessman. He also adds “we do not make bio or eco products. We make traditional ones.” In his factory at the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains gastronomic traditions of the Hungarians, Romanians and Germans are combined. These gastronomic products are of high quality, certified by chefs like Paul Bloomfield from the University of Oxford Brookes. Albert Andras has obtained all the necessary food safety certificates needed to sell the products on an international scale. The fact that the factory is located exactly in the same region where the mythological novel of Bram Stoker places the legendary castle of Dracula make the locals to joke: „If Dracula knew about the venison jerky from Izvoare he would not had become a vampire because it is hard to find anything better to eat than venison pastrami”, say those who had tasted this product and who do not have in mind becoming a vampire anymore and hunting the western tourist, who come in an increased number to Izvoare.

Tradition and future The game meat processing factory which was established by Albert Andras in Izvoare village in Harghita County is a state of the art unit in regards of technology and it fulfills the food hygiene standards set by the EU without losing sight of traditions. Other than the firm hygiene of a pharmacy, game meat processing is done exactly as it used to be prepared several hundred years ago. Passion, recipes and the taste of the products are as it used to be in the old times, when these products of game meat from Transylvania reached the tables of the royal courts of Wien and Prague. Products of game are the prerogatives of the elite. „Game meat products are not cheap, because we are talking about low scale production and outstanding quality. Nevertheless those who want to enjoy the flavor of these products are willing to pay a little more than for the regular meat products”, says Albert Andras, who himself is a gourmand and a passionate hunter. Among the delicatessens of the game meat products one can find venison pastrami or wild boar

Game Meat Products

www.carnedevanat.ro pastrami, venison Frankfurter, wild boar sausage and products that have mangalica meat or bacon as an ingredient. Mangalita , is a traditional breed that has become almost extinct from Transylvania during the communist era. Mangalita , pigs are raised semi-intensively and are known for having a meat and lard with a low cholesterol level and an outstanding taste. Albert Andras has found the perfect recipe to satisfy the hunters’ passion and at the same time to provision the game meat processing factory with raw material. He established two large hunting preserves, one is located in Izvoare while the other one is situated in Mereni. In fact, it is a wildlife park with a surface of more than 320 hectares. „In Izvoare we breed Carpathian red deer, muflon and fallow deer” – says the businessman Albert Andras – while in Mereni wild boars and Mangalica pigs are bred. In the Izvoare wildlife park more than 400 animals live, aprox. 300 Carpathian deer, more than 50 fallow deer and the rest muflons and roe deer. At the hunting preserve in Mereni, on a surface of 390

hectares, about 800 to 1000 wild boars live while in the Mangalita , farm about the same number of animals are kept.

Safari in the Carpathian Mountains At Izvoare the wildlife park serves a double purpose. On the one hand it can be explored by the tourist who arrive to this village via a guided visit on the other hand, hunters keep under control the wild animal population to avoid overpopulation of the park. Hence the meat of the animals from Izvoare is processed right here in the game meat factory where also wild boar and mangalica from Mereni hunting preserve is processed. Game products can be tasted in Honor Villa which is also located in Izvoare and it is one of the most elegant hunting style tourist destinations in Transylvania. In the village one can find the only riding hall with Icelandic horses in Romania. Icelandic horses are ideal for horseback riding lessons and to taken trail rides in the nearby mountains. The price or the game meat products or the accommodation are less

than in Great Britain or in Central European countries like Check Republic. Hunting events in th Eastern Carpathian have had a good reputation. In the times of the Austro-Hungarian Empire besides the noble Transylvanians a troop of archdukes, dukes, barons from Austria, Czech Republic and Croatia came to the game hunting events. Between the world wars the hunting events organized with the participation of King Carol the 2nd became famous, who sometimes brought his son, His Majesty King Mihai the 1st of Romania, to these events. During the communist times Ion Gheorghe Maurer, Nikita Hrusciov, the , leader of USSR or Todor Jivkov the head of the communists in Bulgary along with Nicolae Ceausescu participated regulary at , the huntings organized in the Carpathians. After the fall of the comminist regime royal hunting events restarted. Among the monarchs who had hunted in the Eastern Carpathian Mountains one can find King of Spain Juan Calos, as well members of the British aristocracy.

Fork&Cork

Made in Cluj, Successful in London F

ood producers supported by Cluj Made Product Association enjoyed great success at the “International Food and Drink Event” in UK capital. One of the most efficient promoters of Transylvanian food products is Cluj Made Product Association, which initiated the Transylvania Made Product brand. It is an association supported by the Cluj County Council. Cluj Made Product Association was founded in 2010 by Cluj County Council, the County Center for Preservation and Promotion of Traditional Culture and “Transylvania Agro Centre” Cluj. The association strives to achieve sustainable development, and to promote values, tradition, culture and local tourism. At the same time, promoting excellence in the fields of agriculture, traditional crafts and rural development as well as representation of local producers both nationally and internationally are taken into consideration. “Although this organization is rather young, it has already started to prove its usefulness. Many small producers from Cluj told us that after they had promoted their merchandise at trade events their business got better, and their products have become more popular among consumers. And this means that one of our goals has been achieved. On the other hand, starting June this year we are expanding by organizing trade fairs in the neighbouring counties, and by participating in international events so step by step, more people will find about us. I hope that the success of our organization will stimulate our colleagues from other Transylvanian counties to join us in establishing Transylvanian Original Product Association in order to organize regional trading fairs and to participate to international events. It will be of great benefit to everyone from producers to consumers, because people will find out about us, about our traditions, crafts and products. I truly believe that we shouldn’t just wait for tourists and clients to come

and buy our products but we should go abroad and promote ourselves, so they may know who we are and what we really do”, says Horea Uioreanu, president of Cluj County Council.

At home, in UK The Ministry of Economy and Cluj County Council supported the Cluj Made Product Association attend the fair “International Food and Drink Event” in London, which took place from 17th to 20th March 2013. 50 Romanian companies joined in the event. Three of them were from Cluj: two companies that produce meat, CosmFan and Mariflor, and a cold pressed vegetable oils manufacturer, Luna Solai. “We intended to promote in London the good tastes from the heart of Transylvania in the cold-pressed oils made from sunflower, pumpkin, linseed and we think that we have succeeded. The most appreciated tastes were those of pumpkin and Transylvanian nut but also various sunflower flavours. Linseed oil is less known, but those who have use it, appreciate it“, said Luna Solai manager, Felicia Tulai. “The British public received extremely well the Romanian products. We had a booth of 4305 square feet in the national stands, but right next to the main meat products stand, which assured us maximum exposure”, says Cluj Made Product Association manager, Ramona Moldovan. The success from London, where Romanian food producers have managed to establish a series of useful contacts, and negotiate contracts, encourages Cluj Made Product Association members to go further. In this respect the association has organized in May a trade fair in Gherla and one in Dej. Moreover they are currently organizing a trade event in Zal u (in June) while this autumn, Cluj producers will participate in an exhibition of pictures and cuisine in Stuttgart.

CosmFan Sausages for Great Britain C

osmFan, one of the best ranges of sausages and meat products in Transilvania, will be exported to Great Britain Transilvanian foodstuffs are more and more appreciated in Great Britain. CosmFan, one of the most important companies that produce sausages in Cluj County, has begun its exports to the United Kingdom, within a partnership taken on by the manager of the company in Cluj, Cosmin Moldovan, and his business partner in London, George Petianu, , a businessman of Romanian origin. The first products to be marketed will be ostrich meat and beef burgers. “For this project, we have found another partner, with whom we are about to complete negotiations. We are practically considering the development, together, of a chain containing a food warehouse in the London area. Then, to start with, we will have two stores in London. In addition, there will be an online store. Customers will be able to order the desired

products. Delivery will be carried out by a taxi company, owned by our business partner”, Cosmin Moldovan says. He is counting both on British customers and on Eastern Europeans wishing to retrieve the tastes of home.

The secret strategy for the future: diversification At present, CosmFan exports traditional Romanian products on the German market. Halal type products are also sold in Dubai, on the United Arab Emirates market. At the moment, the value of exports represents approximately 10-15 percent of the overall turnover of the CosmFan company. This is a significant value, given that the turnover of the company managed by Cosmin Moldovan has reached 10 million €. The manager of the company in Sânicoar plans his future with great care. This year he is going to take part in a trade fair in Germany, but he wishes to also “tackle” the Russian

market; consequently, he is also going to participate in a fair organized in Moscow, the capital of the Russian Federation. At the moment CosmFan, which has reached a number of approximately 160 employees, is practically trying to diversify its income sources. The development and structuring of its exports show that its manager, Cosmin Moldovan, intends to keep its market share in Romania, or perhaps even increase it, while its exports are not aimed solely at the euro zone, that has been witnessing high turbulence. To him, earnings in pounds sterling and, arguably, roubles, are also important. The development of CosmFan, which began as a small family business, a modest butchery, is considered by economic analysts a conceivable case study on performance in unfavourable economic circumstances. All the more so, given that CosmFan has managed to double its turnover over the last few years, during a crisis that has led to the bankruptcy or insolvency of many key players.

www.cosmfan.ro

Fork&Cork

Transilvania Fest, Food and Culture with a Royal Touch T

ransilvania Fest, the food and culture festival addresses the local communities and all those interested in local traditions and products. Its strategy focuses on promoting traditions and customs from Transylvania while contributing to increase the number of tourists from Romania and abroad. Transilvania Fest is held under the patronage of Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Margareta of Romania and the international patronage of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales. Transilvania Fest has a long standing partnership with Oxford Brookes University, UK and works closely with British journalists to promote Romanian culture and food among a broader, international audience. In its sixth year, Transilvania Fest became a travelling festival. Previously known as Turda Fest and focused on the Ariesului Valley, especially the cities of , Câmpia Turzii, Turda and then Cluj, the festival was later rebranded as Transilvania Fest. The festival offers a program that combines support for popular tradition with more contemporary forms of community involvement. Transilvania Fest invites internationally recognized food professionals to organize a series of demonstrations and competitions of traditional cuisine for local community members. It organizes tastings of local products such as wine, cheese, honey, pastries, smoked meat, jam, and pickles. It also works directly with certified local producers aiming to increase their sense of pride. The festival encourages the preservation of local culture and aims to revitalize the traditions of Transylvanian craftsmen by organizing traditional craft demonstrations: spinning, embroidery, harness-making, pottery, wood carving, basket weaving, wood painting, and folk costume decoration. It promotes tradi-

tional cultures by showcasing folk dance groups from Transylvania. The exquisite and spectacular “Dinner in the Forest,” a five star event with a chef-designed menu based on local products, aims to raise awareness on various issues relevant to the community hosting the festival, as well as raise funds to address them. As a community oriented event, Transilvania Fest features a children’s area, where children are encouraged to take part in educational exercises, and entertains young adults with a wide range of activities designed to attract and challenge: open air cinema, tasting and cookery competitions, and weaving. In September 2013 the festival returns to Cluj and for three days aims to bring the whole atmosphere of Transylvania to the city centre. Equally involving all minority groups present in the Cluj area (Romanians, Hungarians, Saxons, Roma, and Armenians), Transilvania Fest plans to introduce the younger generation to the richness of the traditional culture and cuisine as well as presenting the foreigners living in Cluj with the local Transylvanian flavours. The festival is a true promoter of Transylvania, a highlighter of its traditional culture and cuisine and an advocator for its preservation among Romanians and foreigners alike. It offers a unique meeting place for renowned chefs, hospitality specialists, and international teams of volunteers, international media, and local communities. It ties together the up-most contemporary and traditional cultures. With a former audience of 10,000 visitors, Transilvania Fest is the newest festival in Cluj in 2013!

For more information please: www.transilvaniafest.com

/TransilvaniaFest

Mariflor – Tradition and Quality from Transylvania M

ARIFLOR SRL is a family company which opened up for business in 1994, first as a small butchery, producing a small range of meat products, specialy sliced meat and fresh products, such as minced meat and sausages. 15 years later the butchery would become a solid company, having a meat processing factory which was build according to European principles and a modern trade policy. The factory is equipped in accordance with European standards thanks to the European funds we have accesed through the SAPARD program and we have managed to implement the latest standards regarding management quality and food safety (ISO 22000:2005). Currently our company is in Top 5 of Romanian exporters. As far as the product range is concerned, we currently have a wide range of products, with over 100 items, covering the whole range of meat based products, namely: salami, sausages, hams, various raw-dried specialities and other such “HIGH-QUALITY PRODUCTS TRADITIONAL FROM TRANSYLVANIA AREA” and products that are based on the newest processing technologies. Our trade policy is structured on more levels, which has enabled a healthy business development, guiding us through the crisis without much loss, helping us achieve our goals. At the moment, SC MARIFLOR has its own chain of shops, as well as distribution network covering the NorthWest area (Transylvania) and the capital of the country - Bucharest. At a national level we are listed in Hipermarket network. Moreover, we are enjoying huge success distributing and selling our products while also having consistent weekly exports to oversees markets from Italy, Spain, France, Belgium, U.K., Ireland and Germany, where our products are widely enjoyed by the end consumers.

Don’t hesitate to widen your portfolio with MARIFLOR’s products

– QUALITY AND TRADITION FROM TRANSYLVANIA – products which are sure to bring more value to your business.

www.salam.ro

,9 Stefan cel Mare St. Romania, Cluj County, 405300 Gherla, mariflor.sales@gmail.com; office@salam.ro Tel.+4(0)729-071.080 / +4(0)264-241.937

youth@culture

Cluj-Napoca is the European Youth Capital in 2015 The Project Coordinator, András Farkas, shares a dynamic and innovative vision

luj won the title of European Youth Capital 2015. It is a title that places Cluj in a central place on the map of European youth events. On the one hand, the fact that the EU authorities have awarded this title to Cluj is a recognition that this is one of the most dynamic cities. The initiator that brought the title of European Youth Capital for Cluj, András Farkas (photo), from Pont Association, believes the city is exciting for young people worldwide. "This title shows that the city of Cluj-Napoca has a very clear vision of how youth can contribute to the development of the city. This is very important for tourism and in terms of urban development processes in which the youth can take part not only in the cultural field, which belongs to public space, but also in the field of research, economic or social development field. Youth is a part, a mirror of society in general, with a specific feature. That is that people are young and probably are endowed with extra dynamism but, in a way, they represent the society that will be the general society in 10, 20 or 30 years", said András Farkas.

A third of Cluj inhabitants are young The Project Coordinator who turned Cluj into a European capital, András Farkas says that this project will have long-term effects. "The European Youth Capital program aims to mobilize this very important resource as over a third of Cluj population who is actually living here or spends a lot of time here - we are talking here about students – is young and this resource, this comparative advantage of the city, should be used for the benefit of the community. The Capital itself is a first step in a longer process. The idea of sustainability of the European Youth Capital is the very thing that the implementation of youth capital program should bring about some processes by which youth becomes an integrated part, an even stronger part of city development. And thus, youth activities, their creativity, the power of innovation at community level should be helped to show, to integrate and generate social development and thus Cluj could develop into an even more dynamic way", said András Farkas. He also says that this title gives the city the opportunity to improve the brand significantly. "I think the European Youth Capital is a great opportunity for Cluj to improve its image, to capitalize in this area, to add a more youthful image and city brand and somehow to place itself into the mental map of the young European, hopefully permanently, so that young people will always remember that there’s a city of Cluj, a city from the easternmost part of Europe, which is very youth friendly, to know that it is the place where a young person is worth travelling, to spend here as long as possible, to experience", also said András Farkas.

How Cluj Proposes to Become the European Capital of Culture The city relies on substantial investments in the field of culture and creative industries, as well as on a significant increase in tourism

he city of Cluj-Napoca has entered a very tough competition, at the end of which it hopes to win the title of European Capital of Culture in the year 2021. The official announcement will be made in 2016. That year, the European authorities will establish two cultural capitals of the continent. They will choose from several Romanian and Greek cities. In Romania, the city of Sibiu was the European Capital of Culture in 2007. The Executive Director of the Cluj European Capital of Culture Association, Florin Morosanu (photo), says that this title is very important for the , entire community. “This is a title awarded by the European Union, by the European Parliament and by the Council of Ministers. It all began in 1985, at the initiative of the Greek and French Ministers for Culture, Melania Mercuri and Jack Lang, respectively. Since then, over 40 cities have been declared European capitals of culture. This is a recognition of the European and cultural dimension of a city within the continent. Basically, we are talking about those things that may incline towards cultural uniqueness or effervescence, and that you may not encounter in very many European cities. Therefore, it is a title that acknowledges the cultural dimension of your city”, declares Florin Morosanu. , However, Florin Morosanu claims that the title that , Cluj is competing for is not merely cultural, but also one that may profoundly change the community. “Beyond the acknowledgement of the cultural dimension, in recent years the project has become one that aims to solve social issues and to include an economic dimension. Sustainability is very much emphasized. The cities that win this title also take on the implementation of projects that may improve the living standards of that society, including tourism issues. The project has got a clear touristic dimension! Statistics of cultural capitals show that there is a rise of up to 15 percent of city visitors, during the respective year and long afterwards, because the city is placed on a well-defined cultural map of Europe. And then, what the economic dimension emphasizes is also very important. Statistics show that, for every euro invested by the organizers, the city gets back, on average, an eight euro benefit. And the main thing, beyond these economic and touristic dimensions, is what the community manages to achieve, namely solidarity, tolerance, things that are ignored for the most part, and this process – as it is a process in itself, the candidacy and then the application – generates these within the community”, added Florin Morosanu. There are , specialists involved in this project who claim that this title may represent the greatest chance that Cluj gets for the next 500 years.

Sports

Three Aces of Cluj Sport C

luj is one of the most important sports centres in this part of Europe. In addition to soccer teams, there are many sports that are performed by Cluj inhabitants.

is one of the most famous Romanian sportsmen from TranGhit, Muresan , sylvania. Nicknamed "Big Ghit, ", he is the only Romanian who played in the NBA, at Washington Bullets and New Jersey Nets. The basketball player, 7 feet and 7 inches high, became a Hollywood star after starring in the movie “My Giant”, along with Billy Crystal in 1998. Despite the fact that he is now living in the United States, Big Ghit, did not forgot the town where he learned to play basketball. Every summer, he organized Ghit, Muresan , Summer Camp in Cluj where he teaches young people to discover their passion for basketball and most talented children are helped to progress in their careers. Another ambassador of the sport of Cluj is Oana Ban. She is the most famous gymnast who performed in Cluj-Napoca. Oana Ban was the gold medallist at the Olympics in Athens in 2004. She also holds several medals won at the World Championships. Retired from competition activity, Oana Ban became a gymnastics coach in Cluj-Napoca. She is also involved in various charity projects Patrick Ciorcil (photo) is another very well known sportsman in Cluj. The 16 years old tennis player was included in the Romania’s team for Davis Cup of this year and joined the ATP circuit. Specialists in tennis say that in the future, Patrick Ciorcil will become one of the leading tennis players from Eastern Europe.

Cricket in Cluj! Cluj Cricket Club was established in 2009 and officially registered in 2010. We are also a founder member of the newly formed Romanian Cricket Federation, and we will be aiming to go on better in this year’s National Championships, after finishing 2nd for two years running. 2013 promises to be an exciting year; the Romanian Cricket Federation is working towards membership of the International Cricket Council (ICC); a task that acknowledges the efforts of the 8 current and 3 new clubs throughout Romania. This is a fantastic achievement given that cricket has only been “officially” played here since 2006. This year has also seen the inauguration of a new state of the art, dedicated cricket ground, MoaraVlasiei, in Bucharest. It will provide opportunities for cricket teams of all levels from all over the world to visit, as well as the development of Romanian players, umpires and coaches. Cricket is now a recognised sport by the Romanian Ministry of Education and Cluj Cricket Club hope to be involved in making it another competitive addition to football, athletics and swimming in Romanian school competitions. If you are interested in playing, coaching, watching, or just want some more information about the game, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

www.clujcricketclub.com

contactus@clujcricketclub.com

Photo: Cristi Vescan

Award Winning Cluj Arena Stadium

luj Arena is the newst and the biggest stadium of Transylvania. It has won popularity prize in the Archidizer Awards. The stadium situated in Central Park of Cluj-Napoca has been nominated in the category of sports and recreation Centers. The Arena was nominated by the Arhitizer online platform that centralizes, starting in 2009, information in the field of architecture. Cluj Arena has also been nominated for the award "building of the year 2012 in the world" by most visited site of global architecture, Arch Daily. The biggest stadium in Transylvania consists in two covered tribunes and two covered lawns, with maximum height of 399 square feet, and are hosting a number of 30.020 seats. The stadium has a running track with 8 lanes, accredited by the International Federation of athletics. Under Tribune 2 is a track of 263 feet in length, for training and competitions for children and youth.

The new arena is equipped with two high-tech electronic score tables of 645 square feet and four ad panels of 559 square feet. The basement of the arena has 303 underground parking places, annexes and technical spaces. Nearly 107639 square feet can be used as changing rooms, sports halls, training, recovery, medical offices and keep also other specific equipment. The total area of turf grass is 85153 square feet, yard area for tartan athleticshas 101148 square feet. Night football ground has four stages of enlightenment, one for training and three for competition, allowing the lighting up to the level of HD transmissions. The stadium is equipped with a digital video surveillance system with 102 surveillance cameras. All of these items support the classification of the arena to the Elite category.

The Cluj Arena Seating – 16 VIP seats (2nd floor) – 254 standard class seats VVIP (3rd floor) – 436 VIP seats (4th floor) – 32 special seats for persons with locomotors disabilities – 168 press seats – 114 seats destined for TV commentators – 29.000 seats for spectators – There are also 48 seats for players and for game officials, and 220 seats in the modern conference room, equipped with simultaneous translation room.

The estimated cost for a concert: • Electricity costs for a period of 7 days approximately 4,500 lei (approximately 1000 euros); • Natural gas costs for a period of 7 days, about 2,000 lei.(approximately 500 euros).

 Your Key Partener in the Local Business Environment 

Main Office: 52 Avram Iancu St. 400083 Cluj-Napoca ROMANIA  Phone/fax: +4(0)264-430.148  e-mail: apm@apm.ro  web: www.apm.ro  It is the most representative organisation of business owners in the Cluj County, with over 1200 members, associates and supporters, including micro, small and medium-sized businesses, as well as family businesses, individual business endeavours and independent contractors.

CNIPMMR

APM Cluj is the only representative, in all of Cluj County, of the National Council for Small and Medium Private Enterprises (CNIPMMR), being responsible with representing the business owners’ interests within the following structures:

 The Social Dialogue Committee of Cluj County   The Committee Issuing Certifications for Providers of Continuing Education and Training for Adults, Cluj   The Advisory Council for the Regional Employment Placement Agency, Cluj   The Tripartite Advisory Council for the County’s Retirement Funds’ Office, more specifically, the committee investigating work accidents and professional diseases 

Regional Centre for Adults’ Professional Development APM Cluj is am authorised provider of services for professional development, including training for managers and entrepreneurs, having over 30 ANC - CNFPA authorised courses for providing special qualifications and specialty training for adults.

Join us, so we can be stronger together!

 Organisation founded in 1871  62

www.clujbusiness.ro Cluj-Napoca, Romania

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Cluj-Napoca

the Heart of Transylvania

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