Romanians’ Trust in EU Collapses
According to Valahia News, the Romanians’ trust in the European Union collapses. This is what the latest Eurobarometer says about the trust the Romanian people lost, especially during the last two years in the EU and the European institutions.
In particular, trust decreased by roughly 10% during the past two years. Only 46% of Romanians see participation in the EU favorably, down from 55% in 2020. Romania has significantly slipped below the EU average in this area, which is currently 62% and is expected to rise from 59% in 2020.
Not only that but the proportion of individuals who still believe that being a part of the EU benefits them fell from 72% in 2020—which was and remains the average for Europe—to 62% presently. In just two years, there has been a 6% decline.
39% of Romanians who were asked why they valued their country’s participation in the EU said it was for the employment prospects. This is due to the fact that millions of Romanians labor overseas. On the other side, the study reveals that Romania falls well short of the EU average in terms of valuing the EU’s economic contribution to the development of the nation or its contribution to restoring peace and security in Romania. Given the EU’s failure to solidify the peace in the region, it is understandable why they think this way. The Romanian people don’t notice much of an impact from the EU, just from NATO, as the so-called „special operation” is taking place close by.
How did Romanians lose trust in their leaders and the EU and why did this happen?
Although the pandemic may have been a major factor in this, we must admit that Romanian officials may have had a part to play. The lawmakers merely seemed to the Romanians as a group of individuals who faithfully carried out EU directives. Romania implemented one of the most autocratic regimes during the pandemic to impose quarantine regulations on its inhabitants. The government once sent personnel armed with heavy machine guns and military trucks onto the streets to deliver a straightforward message: we set the rules now!
Romania also demonstrated unrestricted devotion to Brussels by spending billions and purchasing tens of millions of vaccination shots, just to dispose them now that they had expired. These may be the main reasons why the country is losing trust in the EU.
Also, the recent developments at the European level made more Romanians reject European values. While keeping Romania out of Schengen, European politicians should consider that the country could retaliate. Boycotts against Western companies are underway in Romania. Instead of understanding the people and trying and fulfill their rightful demands, politicians in Bruxelles blame the Russian rhetoric whenever they spot opposition to the European institutions.
Now, the Romanian Government and the country’s elites reap what they sow: the lack of trust of Romanians in the European institutions is only the consequence of how the politicians in Bruxelles and Bucharest treated the population. Suppose anyone in Bruxelles would like to change the current trend and the widening gap between the Romanians and the EU. In that case, they should try and understand that it’s not Russia to be blamed but their own decisions and behaviour.
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Digital Nomad Law Romania: Advantages and Requirements
Foreigners coming to Romania for a more extended period of time and working remotely for a non-EU company will benefit from tax breaks following the adoption by Parliament of the bill to clarify the tax regime for digital nomads.
Specifically, digital nomads will be able to choose Romania as their destination without worrying about double taxation of income earned outside Romania. They will be exempt from paying income tax, social security, and health insurance contributions.
Romanian MP Diana Buzoianu states that Romania has the potential of becoming a destinated demanded by digital nomads, as the country has extraordinary tourism potential. However, in order to accomplish this, the state must provide a clear tax regime for digital nomads who would like to choose Romania as their destination country.
Romania is a country with a lot of potential and benefits: the country’s fixed-line broadband package average monthly rates, at $8.15, which is a lot cheaper in comparison to other EU countries. Romania might be the ideal location for someone who is seeking affordable, dependable internet connectivity.
Digital nomad in Romania – what are the advantages?
With an average broadband internet speed of 188 mb/s, an internet cost of €7.5 and an affordable rent of around €323, Romania has long been considered one of the best places to work remotely in the Central and Eastern European region.
Additionally, Romania offers reliable and fast internet service, making it an ideal location for those who require a stable online connection, such as those who need the best WordPress hosting.
The language is also an important aspect when moving to a foreign country, as in Romania, English is spoken on a large scale, so there is no language barrier.
Restaurants, clubs, and pubs are affordable, so it is easy to eat a good meal and feel good with little money.
Also, Bucharest, the capital of Romania offers a multitude of amazing touristic attractions to visit.
What are the requirements to work as a digital nomad in Romania?
The long-stay visa is granted by the diplomatic missions and consular offices of Romania in the country where the digital nomads have their residence or domicile. The conditions they must meet to obtain the visa are:
- have means of subsistence from the activity carried out, amounting to at least three times the average gross monthly earnings in Romania for each of the last 6 months preceding the submission of the visa application and for the entire period of the visa
- carry out the activities from which they derive their income remotely using information and communication technology
In order to obtain a digital nomad visa, digital nomads who meet the above-mentioned conditions will have to present a number of documents:
- employment contract concluded with the company registered abroad / proof of at least 3 years of management of the company registered abroad – in original and accompanied by an authenticated translation into Romanian
- a document issued by the company with which the foreigner has concluded an employment contract/which the foreigner owns, presenting its identification and contact data (including the field of activity and, if applicable, the foreigner’s participation in the company, as well as data on its legal representatives) – in original and accompanied by an authenticated translation into Romanian
- letter of intent detailing the purpose of the trip to Romania and the activities the foreigner intends to carry out – in original and accompanied by an authenticated translation into Romanian
- apostilled or super-certified document issued by the specialized institution of the public administration of the place of tax residence, certifying that the foreigner employed/company owned by the foreigner has paid taxes, duties, and other compulsory contributions up to date and is not registered for tax evasion or tax fraud – in original and accompanied by an authenticated translation into Romanian
- reservation of a valid travel ticket or driving license, together with proof of itinerary, in the case of drivers
- proof of medical insurance for the entire duration of validity of the visa, valid on the territory of Romania and covering at least EUR 30 000
- proof of means of support amounting to at least three times the average gross monthly earnings in Romania
- proof of accommodation
- criminal record certificate or another document with the same legal value, apostilled or super-stamped, certifying that there are no records of criminal offenses – accompanied by an authenticated translation into Romanian
- other supporting documents that the competent Romanian authorities require in addition to the above.
Thus, digital nomads will henceforth be included in the category of foreigners eligible for a long-stay visa, on the essential condition that their gross monthly income is at least three times higher than the average income of Romanian nationals. This means that future digital nomads will have to earn around €3 300 per month from remote work in Romania to be eligible for a visa.
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Romania Prepares to Forbid Gambling Advertising
Stormy times are ahead for Romania’s gambling and betting industry if the newly initiated law is passed.
According to Valahia News, the law draft follows the decision of the WHO – World Health Organization. The organization included gambling addiction among the most severe psychic disease. Also, the law’s initiators motivated the initiative by the numerous suicide cases following gambling loss.
Average education is a characteristic of gamblers, and, likely, this is also true of people who emotionally respond to online or television advertisements.
The Romanian gambling industry contributes to the state budget with more than EUR 600 million in yearly taxes and hires 45,000 workers.
According to the latest study on the industry, 15% of the Romanian population over 18 had gambled at least once in the last year. One Romanian man out of 4 had gambled at least once in the last year at the time of the study, while the percentage of women who ticked this activity was 7%. The profile of loyal customers, who play at least once a week, consists of men between 18 and 24, single and from the urban environment.
On the other hand, the most current survey shows that Romania is comparable to the rest of Europe, with 0.5–2% of the population over 18 who are serious gamblers. This indicates that Romania’s gambling sector does not produce more addicts than the industry in developed nations, although playing responsibly ought to be more than just a catchphrase.
More sectors will be affected. The first is the gambling sector, but there will also be others, like the media sector, TV networks, and online platforms. Lastly, the Romanian state would suffer because the money would not reach the public budget.
Online casinos in Romania are prosperous, and this is not something to be hidden. We see casino sponsorship everywhere, including in sports. In Romania, top football teams, such as Dinamo Bucharest or FCSB, and many others, have casino brands on their T-shirts. While clamping on casino advertising, won’t these clubs be affected?
A reply is to be issued by the Romanian associations for gambling.
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Romanian oncology introduces AI: Docviser oncology platform
The fight against cancer is challenging for doctors, oncology researchers and patients. Romania is currently one of the countries offering state-of-the-art solutions based on Artificial Intelligence to make the entire process of treatment and healing of patients more efficient.
AI is replacing humans at a rapid pace, but we still wonder. We don’t know; we only know the era of AI is here, and from doctors to marketers and decision-makers, no job is safe for the artificial intelligence revolution.
MCRO, one of the most reputable software development companies in Cluj Napoca, launched Docviser, the first oncology healthcare application in Romania, dedicated to improving the collaboration between doctors and the care of cancer patients.
Docviser is a product that incorporates Artificial Intelligence to extract relevant data and provide the best results to improve medical decisions for those who use it. And the numbers so far are highly encouraging.
Since the launch of this application, it has been used by 99 doctors, nurses and pharmacists from 29 clinics registered in the application.
Artificial Intelligence helped all these specialists to prescribe 5106 drugs and treatment schemes and monitor treatment progress for the benefit of 1876 patients. During all this time, the platform supported establishing remote medical commissions to analyze 67 complex cases requiring multidisciplinary decision-making, with specialists located in different locations.
Docviser involves intelligently prescribing treatment through the continuous development of an artificial intelligence model. It recommends the optimal treatment in each case, taking into account both the active substance through the treatment protocol and the dose prescribed based on the one calculated and adjusted according to comorbidities, creatinine level and other relevant indicators that will appear in the future.
The product was developed with the direct involvement of oncologists, adapted to their needs and streamlines the flow of information from the patient to doctors, medical staff and pharmacists, offering real-time progress on the status of the treatment protocol.
The process of using Docviser involves oncologists but also assistants and pharmacists:
- Clinic doctors upload all patient data and initial diagnosis.
- For each case, a treatment protocol is assigned with the drug and dose recommended by the platform, or the doctor can decide to prescribe a new treatment.
- Once the treatment protocol is validated, it is sent to the pharmacy for preparation.
- As soon as the treatment is prepared, it is sent to the nurse to be administered to the patient.
Throughout the process, all the medical personnel involved in the patient’s treatment receive, depending on the level of access, live notifications about the status of the treatment protocol. Doctors can communicate through the web application through messages, comments or video calls, which made it possible to streamline the meetings of tumor boards.
„Docviser helps me make better treatment decisions by leveraging the power of state-of-the-art technology and Artificial Intelligence. But even if we think about the current activities, such as meeting multidisciplinary committees – the application allows the oncologist to talk in real-time with other doctors from other specialties (pathological anatomy, radiotherapy, cardiology and others) or simply to ask for a second opinion, and this makes these decisions much easier to make in a very organized environment. Before Docviser, it was much more difficult to set up these commissions, and doctors had to send the documents from one to another to be analyzed and signed. It was harder to meet, we communicated in writing, and working remotely was impossible. Docviser offers us all the support we need to make decisions much easier and securely. Now I can focus on what matters most – taking care of my patients”.
Alexandru Iliescu, Medical Director and head of the Oncology Department of Zalău County Hospital.
Docviser unifies technology with the oncology patient care process. Within this application, medical records and health history exist securely in one place for physicians and licensed medical personnel to gain a fast, in-depth, data-driven understanding of each patient’s needs.
„Working with professionals in the field and having on our side medical expertise provided by oncology experts, we have created an intuitive and easy-to-use platform so that doctors and the entire medical staff can collaborate much more effectively within the clinics. Docviser perfectly combines scientific research and experience accumulated over the years with artificial intelligence and the latest generation of technological advances. I believe these fields are closely related, and there is an extraordinary potential in validating scientific research with real-life data; therefore, the application contributes to saving patients’ lives by making medical decisions easier”.
Alexandru Lazăr, Docviser CEO.
Docviser is an intelligent application for rapid care management of cancer patients and offers:
- Improving the collection of health data and the evolution of prescribed treatments;
- More accurate diagnosis, based on the medical experience of oncology professionals, transposed into the modules used by Artificial Intelligence;
- Personalized treatment protocols for each patient;
- The ability to communicate more quickly and efficiently between oncologists and the medical staff who help in oncological treatment;
- Cost and time management;
- Traceability of the medical document
Docviser is designed to become the online hub for cancer treatment services in the healthcare industry. This platform will become an indispensable tool for medical centers and open new cancer treatment and research horizons. The platform has the potential to revolutionize healthcare systems as we know them, using machine learning, artificial intelligence, big data and other intelligent technologies.
About MCRO
MCRO is a software development company focused on building innovative digital products. With over ten years of application development experience, MCRO’s software developers maximize the use of Artificial Intelligence from product creativity and design to development and scaling to provide companies with a maximized return on investment.
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Schengen Vote Causes Diplomatic Tension Between Romania and Austria
As mentioned by Valahia News, Romania started boycotting Austria following the December 8th vote on Schengen’s admission. As anticipated, Austria was the only country which opposed Romania, and the Eastern country was left outside the free economic area once again.
Romanian politicians, entrepreneurs, football club owners and large agricultural associations call for boycotting Austria and their brands. For a starter, Romania withdraws its ambassador to Vienna, but the political battle has just started. Some politicians publicly warned Austria to expect Romania to oppose its interest in Europe. Also, the Universitatea Craiova football club announced they won’t fuel in Austrian gas stations, and one museum cancelled the exhibition of an Austrian artist.
Also, politicians and influencers ask Romanians not to spend their vacations in Austria, as there are many other ski destinations for these winter holidays. Protests were summoned in front of the Austrian Embassy in Bucharest, and there is a certain turmoil in the country that show similar actions are to come.
Romanians have massively started boycotting Austrian companies. These days hundreds of social media posts ask or show fellow citizens boycotting Austrian brands. The easiest way to protest against the arbitrary decision to oppose Romania’s presence in Schengen was to stop buying fuel from OMV, the Austrian oil giant, and Romanians understood that quickly. Instead of driving to OMV petrol stations, Romanians are now heading for local brands like Rompetrol.
Another target is the banking and financial sector. Raiffeisen Bank and BCR – Erste Bank is on the list, and Romanians are asked to withdraw all their money from these banks or close their accounts here and head for the Romanian CEC Bank. Both Austrian banks issued rather boring than convincing press releases and posted them on their social media accounts, but this didn’t seem to help.
Also, the insurance sector is another battlefield for the ones upset with Austria’s decision: UNIQA or Vienna Insurance Group are also targeted by the boycott calls, and people are asked to head for other insurance companies.
An infamous company is on the list as well: Holzindustrie Schweighofer, now rebranded as HS Timber Productions, is the one seen as the usual suspect for exploiting the woods from the Romanian forests. More than that, the Austrian company was under investigation for using timber from illegal logging, but, as it always happens in Romania when it comes to Western companies, this investigation has never been concluded.
On top of that, products like coffee and natural juice are now pointed out: Julius Meinl, Red Bull and even Pfanner are only some of the Austrian brands for which they ask for a boycott.
Romania is one country whose citizens are not famous for this sort of boycott action or protesting against Western companies or decisions. Western companies thrive in Romania, especially the Austrian ones, which make billions in profit each year. Yet, this could be the beginning of an uprising that could wake the Romanian people and make them understand how to stand up for their rights.
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Women Empowerment in Romania
While the European Union promotes women empowerment through gender equality, as it believes that diversity should be encouraged and men and women should have equal opportunities, Romania is a state that makes no exception to the rule. Inspired by the European way of thinking, this country strongly believes that women are brave, beautiful and powerful and that they should have the same opportunities to grow as men.
Women Empowerment in Romania – Challenges
That is not to say that Romania didn’t face its fair share of challenges regarding this issue. After the collapse of communism in Romania, new issues that had never been addressed emerged, one of them being the issue of gender equality. After it adhered to the European Union, a set of measures meant to promote women’s rights was passed, but it was never easy. One of them was the dissolution in 2010 of the National Agency for Equal Opportunities between Women and Men following the financial crisis that hit the country. During this time, an increase was noticed in the rate of unemployment for women of about 1.8 percent, while the rate of unemployment for men was only 1.2 percent.
It hasn’t been the only difficulty women empowerment in Romania has faced. However, in the present, thanks to the efforts made by the European Union, women benefit from way more opportunities to grow than they did before communism fell.
Women Empowerment in Romania – Claret Credit Romania case study
Women empowerment in Romania is encouraged by way of thinking that strongly believes that creativity and homogeneity are the most important ingredients in a team. Homogeneity and creativity are key ingredients in a team’s success. This is because all members work together in the same direction. The same goes for creativity. It will make it easier to complete tasks and solve problems faster.
It is common to hear about the gender gap in the workplace. Many women don’t hold high-ranking leadership positions within companies in some countries. This is not uncommon, but Romanian companies have many women who have built successful businesses and helped many people who were looking for quick financing solutions. These companies consider women to be a fundamental pillar of their businesses. One of the examples of this fact is the way Claret functions as an institution.
The women of Claret have brought a positive change to the company through their professional way of dealing with any problem, showing patience, calmness and professionalism. They handle all situations encountered calmly, creating a relationship based on trust with any client. They are the ones who interact with customers, trying to understand the reasons why they turn to an IFN and give them the best advice for choosing a loan. The women of Claret empathize with those who come to ask for financial help from the company’s IFN and put themselves in their situation to be able to offer them the ideal solution to overcome the obstacles caused by the lack of money.
At Claret, the position of CEO also brings with it many responsibilities. As a woman, it is sometimes difficult to make your presence felt in a male-dominated world of business, but the determination I have shown has helped me advance and occupy this important position within this IFN. The team is made up of many strong and courageous women who show professionalism every day. The ability to work under pressure is vital for this leadership position, but I am a confident woman who can handle any difficult situation.
Laura Leanca, CLARET general director (CEO)
With their well-defined vision, spirit, creativity and ease with which they carry out their tasks, the women of Claret manage to create a work environment conducive to performance. In addition, the presence of strong and determined women in the company’s collective will always be an asset that Claret will have in front of competitors.
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Romanian MP Pledges to Obstruct Austrian and Dutch Interests if Romania is Not Admitted to Schengen
Pavel Popescu, a member of the Romanian parliament, made a strong remark on Facebook over the weekend addressing the opposition Romania faces while trying to join the Schengen region from Holland and Austria.
Romania made enough compromises to be admitted to the much-desired Schengen region, but when foreign interests are at risk, hurdles and opposition are constantly there, making the compromises insufficient. When it came to debating the Schengen entrance issue, the Romanian MP had had enough and said he had no intention of adhering to instructions for the proper use of diplomatic language.
“I refuse to consider a failure of Romania’s accession to the Schengen area by the end of the year. Or the scenario of postponement until another suitable moment. Two countries are currently opposed: the Netherlands and Austria, with the mention that the Prime Minister of the Netherlands is very agitated these days with phones to widen further the club of the two countries full of issues, who would go into instant withdrawal without the daily overdoses of Russian gas and Colombian cocaine.”
Pavel Popescu, MP of PNL party and head of the Defense Committee
Popescu promised to follow through as he did with China in 2019 if the disagreement resulted in Romania still being denied entry to the Schengen region by the end of the year. Popescu indicated that he would not comment on what Romania did in the past to get into this position but that the final two years of his term would be devoted to passing laws and taking political action that would specifically target Austrian and Dutch businesses and interests (which are essentially Russian) present in Romania.
The sole distinction is that Popescu is not acting alone in this situation. Many of his generation’s legislative colleagues are willing to join him, hence his confidence in this position.
”I know the two countries’ ambassadors will send this post home to headquarters, and they do well. Because it’s not a political threat, but just a firm promise that some of us, who didn’t put our hands in the “honey jar” with these companies because we love our country, are a bit fed up. P.S: I’m not accepting diplomacy tips until December 8th. I am voted politically, I am not a diplomat”.
Pavel Popescu
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EIT Innoenergy Becomes Minor Shareholder at Prime Batteries Technology after EUR 1 Billion Investment
The European conglomerate EIT InnoEnergy, which includes banks and corporations from all across Europe, including ING, Volkswagen, and Siemens, co-founded in 2008 with the European Union, makes a sizeable investment in the Romanian energy storage solution supplier Prime Batteries Technology. The company has declared an investment of more than one billion euros to enhance the manufacture of batteries and storage systems.
As ValahiaNews reports, EIT InnoEnergy formally announced its purchase of shares from Prime Batteries Technology in Ilfov on Thursday in Brussels. Florin Spataru, the Economy Minister, Adina Vâlean, the European Commissioner for Transport, and several MEPs from Romania attended the event.
„Central and Eastern Europe is becoming an important player in the energy transition and battery production and we are glad to see a Romanian company developing”
Adina Vâlean, European Commissioner for Transport
The existing Prime Batteries Technology factory in Cernica will receive an investment of about 200 million euros to increase the yearly output of the present level of 2GWh. According to business leaders’ predictions, the group wants to grow this capacity to 8 GWh, boosting the investment to more than 1 billion euros by 2026.
„A 30–35% component of the funding will come from investment funds focused only on renewable energy causes, with the remaining amount funded by loans. Additionally, we sent a memo to the Ministry of Energy, and we are eagerly awaiting a response […..]”.
Adrian Polec, Stakeholder at Prime Batteries Technology
EIT InnoEnergy encourages innovation in several different areas. These fields include energy storage, transportation and mobility, renewable sources, and sustainable buildings and communities, all of which are supported by the company’s trustworthy network of more than 1200 partners and 29 shareholders. The portfolio, which has over 180 businesses, will have made 72.8 billion euros in revenue and avoided 1.1 gigatons of carbon dioxide from entering the environment by 2030.
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YAROOMS, Romanian Provider of Workplace Management Software, Raises €2 Million in Funding.
A second promising Romanian business joins its initial funding round and raises EUR 2 million for future growth.
In order to pursue a new market opportunity and spur expansion, Yarooms, a SaaS provider of industry-leading workplace experience solutions, has raised 2 million EUR in funding. With 1.6 million EUR, GapMinder is the principal investor. SeedBlink is another investment.
Dragos Badea, Emil Muhtu, and Marcel Preda collaborated to start Yarooms, a technology business in Romania, in 2010. The business develops robust yet user-friendly office management software, including options for desk reservations, meeting room reservations, hybrid work planning, digital signage, and visitor management.
To thrive in the modern world, workplaces must become more human-centric than ever. Strong collaboration culture, flexibility, and employee autonomy – Yarooms’ mission is to help companies foster these values and bring freedom to their employees. We are agile and understand our industry very well, allowing us to innovate and create solutions that help our clients create cutting-edge employee experiences even in the hardest times, such as the Covid pandemic. As we pursue newly identified market opportunities, we are looking to accelerate growth by expanding the team and its know-how.
Dragoș Badea, CEO and Co-founder of Yarooms
Their leading investor, together with the representative of SeedBlink, Andrei Dudoiu, praise the team at Yarooms behind the product and the product’s potential itself.
Over 50 nations are served by Yarooms, with the USA, Canada, Italy, and the UK being among the most significant markets. Business clients come from various sectors, including financial companies, governmental agencies, and educational institutions. Columbia University, Dedalus, the National Health Service, AAA, Dr. Martens, Cerved, and Robalino are a few examples of clientele.
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Nokian Tyres to Build Million Euro Plant in Romania
In addition to its current operating facilities in Finland and the US, Nokian Tyres, a Finnish firm, has announced plans to develop a tire factory in Romania. The business was founded in Nokia, Finland, in 1988 and produces tires for cars, trucks, buses, and heavy equipment.
The new factory will be located in North-West Oradea, not far from the Hungarian border, and it will have a 6 million tire yearly manufacturing capacity. This project, which will include 650 million euros in investment, is regarded as a greenfield project.
The board of directors of Nokian Tyres decided last month to begin a controlled withdrawal from the area and signed a deal to sell its Russian subsidiary as a result of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine and the subsequent tightening of sanctions. This led the manufacturer to decide to broaden its operational strategies and invest in a new manufacturing facility in Europe to ensure the supply of its goods. To accomplish its objectives, the upcoming Romanian plant is essential.
”A world-class manufacturing facility in Europe is a key step in getting additional capacity and creating a balanced manufacturing platform as we start building the new Nokian Tyres without Russia”.
Jukka Moisio, Nokian Tyres Presdinet and CEO
Because of the nearby production of green energy, the logistical and administrative advantages, and the readily accessible skilled labour force, Oradea is the ideal location for the construction and growth of the facility.
The plant’s construction is scheduled to begin in early 2023, and it is projected that the first tires will be produced in the second half of 2024 with a staff of 500 people. Early 2025 is the expected start date for commercial production, along with the addition of a house distribution facility for the transportation and storage of tires to the industrial site.
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