(P) The National Top of the Companies, the 19th edition gathered the Romanian business elite at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Romania

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Romania awarded the most performing companies within the 19th edition of the National Top of the Companies, the most important annual event of the Romanian business elite, held in the Chandeliers Aula, the Palace of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Romania. The event was attended by members of the Diplomatic Corps, representatives of the central and local authorities, presidents of the County and Bilateral Chambers of Commerce and Industry, businessmen, leaders of various business associations and journalists. “Here can be found all the winners, those ranked on the first place who, despite a frail and plagued economy due to everything that happened both on the world stage and especially in our country, managed to be the first in their businesses”, addressed to the audience in the opening of the award ceremony, H.E. the President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Romania, Mr. Mihail M. Vlasov, thanking the representatives of the awarded companies for the performance achieved and their innovative vision of management. “I hope that the next year will be easier, with a political and administrative power less grabber, closer to the businessman, less oppressive – like it has been in the recent years – that would finally understand that they exist because we assure their life and well-being and not because they would ever provide us an advantage”, noted the President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Romania in the end of his speech. The National Top of the Companies comprises 6424 companies, ranking the top positions at a national level, from six major fields of activity, namely: research, development and high tech (580); industry (2880); agriculture, fisheries, fish farming (259); construction (285); services (1913); commerce and tourism (907). The National Award was received by a number of 917 companies, out of which one third are from the industry sector (376 companies), followed by the services sector - 271 companies and the commerce - tourism sector with 112 companies. It’s also worth mentioning the fact that 90 companies specialized in research, development and high-tech reached the national economic performance podium. "Such an event is important for the business environment, of course, but also for the entire Romanian society because it establishes a classification; we need a set of values, and also a hierarchy organized accordingly. On the other hand, such a meeting provides a communication environment. Within the latest meetings with the think-tank groups that I have worldwide, I noted the failure of the information society which basically doesn’t communicate essential things and has managed rather to divide people than unite them. Thus, I welcome and congratulate the ability of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Romania to gather at least once a year the business people, around such a generous idea", said H.E. the President of Romania during 1996-2000, Prof. Dr. Emil Constantinescu. H.E. handed over the award for excellence in business to Mr. Omer Susli, President of the Turkish Businessmen Association in Romania - TIAD. The decision over the awarding process respected the methodology adopted at a national level by the entire Chamber System. The uniqueness and complexity of this classification is determined through the diverse criteria of this top methodology. "We took into consideration the turnover, gross profit, net profit, the maximization degree of the working capital and human resources, which reflect in the most realistic way the status quo of the Romanian companies, using a methodology conducted by the Chambers of Commerce, the only organizations authorized to establish rankings, i.e. the Top of the companies” said the Vice-president of the CCIR, Mr. Vasile Bar, President of Bistrita Nasaud CCI. The "National Top of the Companies 2012" catalogue, which comprises the database of the 6424 companies ranking the top ten positions at the national level, a true barometer of the Romanian business environment and the economic reality of 2011, was launched during the event. The event’s sponsors were: TIAD, S.C. Romexpo SA and Rominvent S.A., S.C. Cerealcom S.A, S.C. Domeniile Coroanei Segarcea S.R.L.,Ţiriac Auto S.A., J. Christof E&P Services S.R.L., CEZ Distribution – part of the Cez Group in Romania, Bilateral Chamber of Commerce Romania –China, RIG Service S.A., TMK-Artrom S.A., AEM SA, Antibiotics S.A., Electromagnetica S.A., Elmas SRL, Gefco Romania, Kandia Dulce S.A., Rer Ecologic Service Bucureşti REBU S.A., Retim Ecologic Service S.A. Media partners: Agerpres, Business24, Businessage, caleaeuropeana.ro, calendarevenimente.ro, National Courier, The Economist, efin.ro, Financers, Intact Media Group, Golden Pages, The Power, romania-insider.com, Romanian Society of Broadcasting, Transilvania Business, wall-street.ro.