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.

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.

*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

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.

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.

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.

Several companies announced their financial results yesterday and the Romanian media was quick to capture them: A&D Pharma, Rompetrol Rafinare, Ranbaxy, Edy International Spedition. Most of them posted positive results, which trigger hopes of growth for the future too. Meanwhile, a new real estate investment was announced: the Electroputere shopping center in Craiova, which will include an Auchan hypermarket and several other retail brands from the portfolio owned by billionaire family Mulliez, writes the local media. Read more headlines from the Romanian and international media.

Health care company A&D Pharma posted sales of EUR 482.2 million in the first nine months of this year, an increase of 32 percent compared to the same period of last year. The amount includes the EUR 16.7 million Q3 revenue from newly acquired Marketing & Sales operations outside of Romania.

Romania has set a too optimistic target in joining the Eurozone in 2015, according to Peter Sanfey, chief economist with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

*BNR about the idea of adding supplementary tax for banks: we will respect the European decision – in Ziarul Financiar
*Unpleasant surprise for Petrom in the third quarter: strong RON and Kazakhstan have taken the company on the loss side – in Ziarul Financiar
*UniCredit's strategy is to increase lending and stop expenses – in Ziarul Financiar
*The Romanian – German Chamber of Commerce proposes a commercial arbitrage court for companies – in Ziarul Financiar
*Cheaper insurance policies brought a drop of business for Allianz – in Ziarul Financiar

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.

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.

*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

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.

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.

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.

Several companies announced their financial results yesterday and the Romanian media was quick to capture them: A&D Pharma, Rompetrol Rafinare, Ranbaxy, Edy International Spedition. Most of them posted positive results, which trigger hopes of growth for the future too. Meanwhile, a new real estate investment was announced: the Electroputere shopping center in Craiova, which will include an Auchan hypermarket and several other retail brands from the portfolio owned by billionaire family Mulliez, writes the local media. Read more headlines from the Romanian and international media.

Health care company A&D Pharma posted sales of EUR 482.2 million in the first nine months of this year, an increase of 32 percent compared to the same period of last year. The amount includes the EUR 16.7 million Q3 revenue from newly acquired Marketing & Sales operations outside of Romania.

Romania has set a too optimistic target in joining the Eurozone in 2015, according to Peter Sanfey, chief economist with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

*BNR about the idea of adding supplementary tax for banks: we will respect the European decision – in Ziarul Financiar
*Unpleasant surprise for Petrom in the third quarter: strong RON and Kazakhstan have taken the company on the loss side – in Ziarul Financiar
*UniCredit's strategy is to increase lending and stop expenses – in Ziarul Financiar
*The Romanian – German Chamber of Commerce proposes a commercial arbitrage court for companies – in Ziarul Financiar
*Cheaper insurance policies brought a drop of business for Allianz – in Ziarul Financiar