*Surprise in the Parliament- with IMF reviewing the country, Parliament votes drop of VAT and tax exemptions for some pensions – in Ziarul Financiar
*Finance Ministry could refinance bonds worth EUR 1.4 billion – in Ziarul Financiar
*Polish, first expat who runs Microsoft Romania – in Ziarul Financiar
*Pestera and Cernavoda, the new wind energy villages in Dobrogea – in Ziarul Financiar
*BCR buys good.bee mobile banking services from the mother band – in Ziarul Financiar

Mike Holmes, who has been running Pepsi's business in Romania for the last four years, will leave the company and will be replaced by Pavlos Katsivelis, who used to run Pepsi in Greece. Katsivelis will lead both the beverages and the snacks divisions in Romania.

Ronald Binkofski (in picture) is the new general manager of Microsoft Romania, replacing Calin Tatomir, who has recently resigned after two years at the helm of the company.

Real estate developer Alinso Group will build an inter-modal railway terminal in Ploiesti, connecting the Eastern and Western areas of Romania, a private investment of EUR 7 million. The terminal, called Euro Gate Terminal Ploiesti, will be ready in 2011. It will be built on 10 hectares of land and it will include three railway lines with a total length of 2,200 meters.

Several Romanians inspired the audience with their stories at the recent TEDx Bucharest event last week. They're brilliant people who either stayed in Romania to achieve performances in their home country or chose to go abroad to test their limits and achieve their potential.

(Update adds details about the ruling party's declaration about the vote on the VAT reduction in the last paragraph.) Romania’s Chamber of Deputies adopted Tuesday a bill setting the value added tax on basic foods, such as bread, milk, meat, sugar and vegetable oil, at 5% instead of 24%.

The charity Light into Europe will organize The Highland Dinner and the Bucharest Caledonian Ball on November 20 at the InterContinental Hotel and at the Cercul Militar in the capital city. The ticket price is of EUR 99 (or RON 430) for the evening.

The Rediscover Sinaia Association organizes a week-end trip to Sinaia between October 22 and 24. Attendants will learn how to prepare pickles using a local recipe on Saturday, followed by a festive dinner. On Sunday, a two-hour Sinaia tour will follow, featuring visits to the old homes of noblemen families in Sinaia. Creative workshops will be organized for children.

Romania's economic evolution as reflected in numbers looks good for the time being, but the International Monetary Fund is only at the beginning of its analysis on Romania, said Jeffrey Franks (in picture, right), head of the IMF mission for Romania. An IMF delegation is in Romania to review the country's economic evolution. Franks and his team started meetings at the Labor Ministry this morning.

Named Cluj –Napoca in Romanian, Kolozsvárin in Hungarian, Klausenburg in German, Kluż in Polish, Claudiopolis in Greek and Napoca in Latin, this is the second largest and one of the most visited cities of Romania. A great place to visit over an extended week-end. Romania-Insider.com takes you on a trip to the city of Cluj – Napoca.

*Surprise in the Parliament- with IMF reviewing the country, Parliament votes drop of VAT and tax exemptions for some pensions – in Ziarul Financiar
*Finance Ministry could refinance bonds worth EUR 1.4 billion – in Ziarul Financiar
*Polish, first expat who runs Microsoft Romania – in Ziarul Financiar
*Pestera and Cernavoda, the new wind energy villages in Dobrogea – in Ziarul Financiar
*BCR buys good.bee mobile banking services from the mother band – in Ziarul Financiar

Mike Holmes, who has been running Pepsi's business in Romania for the last four years, will leave the company and will be replaced by Pavlos Katsivelis, who used to run Pepsi in Greece. Katsivelis will lead both the beverages and the snacks divisions in Romania.

Ronald Binkofski (in picture) is the new general manager of Microsoft Romania, replacing Calin Tatomir, who has recently resigned after two years at the helm of the company.

Real estate developer Alinso Group will build an inter-modal railway terminal in Ploiesti, connecting the Eastern and Western areas of Romania, a private investment of EUR 7 million. The terminal, called Euro Gate Terminal Ploiesti, will be ready in 2011. It will be built on 10 hectares of land and it will include three railway lines with a total length of 2,200 meters.

Several Romanians inspired the audience with their stories at the recent TEDx Bucharest event last week. They're brilliant people who either stayed in Romania to achieve performances in their home country or chose to go abroad to test their limits and achieve their potential.

(Update adds details about the ruling party's declaration about the vote on the VAT reduction in the last paragraph.) Romania’s Chamber of Deputies adopted Tuesday a bill setting the value added tax on basic foods, such as bread, milk, meat, sugar and vegetable oil, at 5% instead of 24%.

The charity Light into Europe will organize The Highland Dinner and the Bucharest Caledonian Ball on November 20 at the InterContinental Hotel and at the Cercul Militar in the capital city. The ticket price is of EUR 99 (or RON 430) for the evening.

The Rediscover Sinaia Association organizes a week-end trip to Sinaia between October 22 and 24. Attendants will learn how to prepare pickles using a local recipe on Saturday, followed by a festive dinner. On Sunday, a two-hour Sinaia tour will follow, featuring visits to the old homes of noblemen families in Sinaia. Creative workshops will be organized for children.

Romania's economic evolution as reflected in numbers looks good for the time being, but the International Monetary Fund is only at the beginning of its analysis on Romania, said Jeffrey Franks (in picture, right), head of the IMF mission for Romania. An IMF delegation is in Romania to review the country's economic evolution. Franks and his team started meetings at the Labor Ministry this morning.

Named Cluj –Napoca in Romanian, Kolozsvárin in Hungarian, Klausenburg in German, Kluż in Polish, Claudiopolis in Greek and Napoca in Latin, this is the second largest and one of the most visited cities of Romania. A great place to visit over an extended week-end. Romania-Insider.com takes you on a trip to the city of Cluj – Napoca.