September 17, 2019 UPDATE
A roundup of domestic and international news.
Newsroom, 17.09.2019, 20:05
TRADE – As many as 36 million jobs have been created due to trade with countries outside the community area, while Romanian exports to these countries create 1.1 million jobs, head of the the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Romania, Mihai Daraban, said on Tuesday. Attending a forum on extra-community free trade, held in Bucharest, he has also said that at present Romania’s inter-community trade accounts for 75% of the total and has pointed out that in the next 10-15 years 90% of the global economic growth is expected to be generated outside the EU, for which reason Romanian decision makers and entrepreneurs should capitalize on the market liberalization.
ATTACK – The Romanian Foreign Ministry firmly condemns the September 14 attacks on two oil facilities in Saudi Arabia. “We convey our full support for and solidarity with the Saudi authorities and people. We reiterate the fact that any attack on civilian infrastructure is unacceptable, in breach of international law and a genuine threat to regional stability, while taking into account the escalating tensions in the area”, the Foreign Ministry writes in a release. The Ministry also writes that the attack is bound to heighten uncertainty on the global market by affecting the oil production capacity of Saudi Arabia, the worlds biggest oil producer, by potentially increasing oil prices on the international market and undermining dialog efforts with a view to identifying solutions to existing disputes. On the other hand, President Donald Trump said the United States has the means to respond to the drone strikes on Saudi Arabias oil facilities, but for the time being the focus is on identifying those responsible. The attacks were claimed by Shiite and Houthi militias supported by Iran, at war with Saudi Arabia and its Sunni allies for the past four years.
EUROSTAT – Bulgaria, Greece, Poland and Romania reported the largest employment share in the field of agriculture at EU level, reads a Eurostat report released on Tuesday. Among the eastern and southern areas of the EU, 27 different regions reported an employment share at least three times as high as the EU average of 4.5%, including five out of the six regions in Bulgaria, eight out of the thirteen regions in Greece, six regions in Poland, and five out of the eight regions in Romania. The Vest development area of Romania had a share of employment in industry nearly three times as high as the EU average of 15.3%.
MEETING — Romanian Prime Minister Viorica Dancila has announced she will have a meeting with her Polish counterpart, Mateusz Morawiecki, in Bucharest on Wednesday, on the occasion of a second round of inter-governmental consultations between the two countries. A number of memorandums of understanding are to be signed, in sectors like infrastructure, energy, transport, communications and European funds management. The Prime Minister has also announced that she will travel to the United States on Sunday to present American investors the business opportunities in Romania and to meet with American officials and business people.
EXERCISE – Some 5,400 military from 16 countries, including Romania, are taking part in the Saber Junction 19 multinational exercise hosted by Germany until September 30. The Romanian Land Forces General Staff has announced. Also taking part are military from Azerbaijan, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Georgia, Italy, Kosovo, Lithuania, Macedonia, Moldova, Poland, the United States, Turkey and Ukraine. Saber Junction 19 is contributing to boosting Europes security, promoting regional security and stability. For the joint exercise in Germany the Romanian army is represented by 150 infantry soldiers and 20 pieces of technical equipment. Another 50 military of the Romanian Land Forces are training with military from the Republic of Moldova as part of the Shield Fire 19.2 exercise held until September 20 at the Combat Training Center of the Moldovan National Army.
ENESCU FESTIVAL – The George Enescu International Music Festival continues in Bucharest, held over August 31 – September 22 and bringing together over 2,500 of the worlds most prestigious musicians as part of 84 concerts and recitals. The capital city in Romania and cities in Germany, France, Italy, Canada and the Republic of Moldova are hosting concerts as part of the festival.
VOLLEYBALL – The Romanian mens volleyball team lost 1-3 to Greece in a Group A match at the European Championship hosted by Montpellier, France. Our team will play in the last group fixture against Portugal on Wednesday. Romania previously lost to France, Bulgaria and Italy in Group A, and now holds only mathematical chances of securing 4th place in the standings, which could ensure qualification to the round of 16. This is Romanias first appearance in a European Championship after a 24-year break. In the womens competition, Romania was knocked out in the round of 16 by Serbia.
TENNIS – Romanian tennis player Ana Bogdan on Tuesday advanced to the round of 16 at the WTA tournament in Seoul, South Korea, totaling 250,000 dollars in prize money. After making it past the qualifying phase, Bogdan, 143 WTA, surprisingly knocked out Polona Hercog of Slovenia, the competitions 6th seed, 6-1, 3-6, 6-1. Another Romanian, Mihaela Buzarnescu, who last week reached the semi-finals of the tournament in Hiroshima, lost to 21-year-old Priscilla Hon of Australia, 6-3, 6-4.
(Translated by Elena Enache)
