Romania ranks 18th out of 30 countries listed in the World Bank Migration and Remittances Factbook 2011 (read the report below), with 2.8 million emigrants, close to Indonesia, with 2.5 million. The percentage of emigrants of the total population in Romania is of 13.2 percent. Romania is also among the top remittance-receiving countries, with an estimated USD 4.5 billion for this year, ranking 22nd out of 30 countries.

*Economic growth for 2011 is better seen after the third quarter results – in Ziarul Financiar
*Loans for individuals, the hope of banks for the fourth quarter – in Ziarul Financiar
*Mihai Rohan leaves Carpatcement – in Ziarul Financiar
*The crucial test for Schengen area: the airport check – in Ziarul Financiar
*Unhappy Volksbank customers asking bank to discontinue installments – in Ziarul Financiar

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has offered a EUR 10 million credit line to BRD Societe Generale to finance energy efficiency projects in Romania, the bank has announced. The loan is supplementing a similar EUR 10 million credit line offered by the EBRD to BRD in 2008.

Tire producer Pirelli, which will invest EUR 1.9 million by 2015 worldwide, will direct some of the investments in increasing tire production capacities to the new plants in Romania, Mexico and China, the company has recently announced. On the industrial segment, investments will be focused on the steelcord factory in Romania, as well as on the company's subsidiaries in China, Egypt and Russia.

Romanian state-owned drug producer Antibiotice Iasi posted a net profit of RON 21 million (EUR 4.9 million) in the first nine months of the year, up 33.9 percent on the same period of last year.

Do-it-Yourself retailer Praktiker has expended the Ploiesti store by 2,000 sqm with an investment of EUR 2.2 million, the company has announced. The store, which was opened in 2003, is now spreading over 8,270 sqm.

Mercadia, the retail company controlled by Romanian billionaire Dinu Patriciu (in picture), will invest EUR 100 million in the Mic.ro network of stores, turning 2,000 of them into mobile stores. The company will buy cars and turns them into mobile stores. The company already signed for 1,000 Fiat Ducato cars with importer Autoitalia.

*National Bank officials about the possibility to exit crisis: the budget adjustment is just the start of reforms – in Ziarul Financiar
*Patriciu wants to invest EUR 100 million in putting Mic.ro on wheels – in Ziarul Financiar
*Astra profit grows four times in nine months to EUR 4.3 million – in Ziarul Financiar
*Ardaf won EUR 2.6 million but its business dropped 23 percent – in Ziarul Financiar
*BCR Life Insurance sees business up 37 percent – in Ziarul Financiar

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

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

Romania ranks 18th out of 30 countries listed in the World Bank Migration and Remittances Factbook 2011 (read the report below), with 2.8 million emigrants, close to Indonesia, with 2.5 million. The percentage of emigrants of the total population in Romania is of 13.2 percent. Romania is also among the top remittance-receiving countries, with an estimated USD 4.5 billion for this year, ranking 22nd out of 30 countries.

*Economic growth for 2011 is better seen after the third quarter results – in Ziarul Financiar
*Loans for individuals, the hope of banks for the fourth quarter – in Ziarul Financiar
*Mihai Rohan leaves Carpatcement – in Ziarul Financiar
*The crucial test for Schengen area: the airport check – in Ziarul Financiar
*Unhappy Volksbank customers asking bank to discontinue installments – in Ziarul Financiar

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has offered a EUR 10 million credit line to BRD Societe Generale to finance energy efficiency projects in Romania, the bank has announced. The loan is supplementing a similar EUR 10 million credit line offered by the EBRD to BRD in 2008.

Tire producer Pirelli, which will invest EUR 1.9 million by 2015 worldwide, will direct some of the investments in increasing tire production capacities to the new plants in Romania, Mexico and China, the company has recently announced. On the industrial segment, investments will be focused on the steelcord factory in Romania, as well as on the company's subsidiaries in China, Egypt and Russia.

Romanian state-owned drug producer Antibiotice Iasi posted a net profit of RON 21 million (EUR 4.9 million) in the first nine months of the year, up 33.9 percent on the same period of last year.

Do-it-Yourself retailer Praktiker has expended the Ploiesti store by 2,000 sqm with an investment of EUR 2.2 million, the company has announced. The store, which was opened in 2003, is now spreading over 8,270 sqm.

Mercadia, the retail company controlled by Romanian billionaire Dinu Patriciu (in picture), will invest EUR 100 million in the Mic.ro network of stores, turning 2,000 of them into mobile stores. The company will buy cars and turns them into mobile stores. The company already signed for 1,000 Fiat Ducato cars with importer Autoitalia.

*National Bank officials about the possibility to exit crisis: the budget adjustment is just the start of reforms – in Ziarul Financiar
*Patriciu wants to invest EUR 100 million in putting Mic.ro on wheels – in Ziarul Financiar
*Astra profit grows four times in nine months to EUR 4.3 million – in Ziarul Financiar
*Ardaf won EUR 2.6 million but its business dropped 23 percent – in Ziarul Financiar
*BCR Life Insurance sees business up 37 percent – in Ziarul Financiar

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

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