invest romania

Taking notice of Romania’s competitive advantages, smart investors realize that the greatest benefit of investing in our country is that the Romanian business climate provides a platform for reaching broad business objectives that might include penetrating new markets, globalizing company operations, or establishing new supply-chain partnerships.

Only through a strong infusion of capital, technology, and methods of modern management, through opening towards the external markets, Romania will be able to determine an important change of structure of the economy, an increase of its performances, and of its competitiveness at an international level.

When considering Romania as a possible location for developing their businesses, the foreign investors might benefit from the advantages offered by Romania:

Market & Location Advantage

One of the largest markets in Central and Eastern Europe (over 21 million inhabitants)
Market is growing, there are increasing business opportunities, while the entry barriers remain low
Attractive location: allowing an easy access to the countries of the former CIS countries, Balkans, the Middle East and Northern Africa
Attractive location: at the junction of three prospective European transportation corridors no. 4, 7 & 9

Resource Advantage

Skilled labor force, with solid knowledge in technology, IT and engineering
Rich natural resources, including fertile agricultural land, oil and gas
An important potential for tourism
Political Advantage

Stable executive power

Government - more responsive to the dialogue and suggestions of the business community
Stability factor in the Area -NATO member
Stability Guarantee in South Eastern Europe
EU membership on January 2007
IR Advantage

Bilateral agreements between Romania and other countries for investments promotion and protection

Bilateral diplomatic relations with 177 out of 191
Member of the UN and other international organizations, like: OSCE, Council of Europe and International Organization of La Francophonie
Free trade agreements with EU, EFTA countries, CEFTA countries
WTO member since January 1995
Economical Advantage

Sustainable economic growth

Year 2005 - the 6th one of continuous growth for the country
Functional Market Economy status
Decreasing inflation
Permanent financial assistance for SME's Development
Increasing interest of foreign investors
Privatization program still including some very interesting companies
Commitment of investment funds present in the country to develop their business and the association of the government with international financial institutions, such as IMF, EBRD, World Bank, and the EU Commission

Improving Infrastructure Advantage

Well-developed networks of mobile telecommunications in GSM systems
A highly developed industrial infrastructure, including oil and petrochemicals
The presence of branch offices and representatives of various well-known international banks
A newly developed highway infrastructure
Commitment to improve the highway infrastructure to EU standards
Extensive maritime and river navigation facilities

Social and Education Advantage

Agreement between Government and Major Unions
No major Union Movements
Permanent dialogue with the employees associations
Labor relations regulated by the Labor Code
Foreign languages largely spoken in the main cities
Good housing, schooling, shopping, etc. options

Legislative Advantage

Good law and order
Legislation compatible with Acquis Communautaire
Similar legal provisions as in UE
Healthy fiscal policy regulated by the Fiscal Code
Competitive tax policy: 16% flat tax

Regulation for applying the VAT Directive

A new EU Regulation has been published introducing clarifications for amendments to the VAT Directive that came into force on 1 January 2010.
The clarifications deal with (among others):
• the place of taxation for intra-community services;
• the status as taxable persons of the beneficiaries of services;
• the conditions under which a company is deemed to have a fixed establishment for VAT purposes.

The provisions of this Regulation enter into force on 1 July 2011 and are directly applicable to all Member States of the European Union. Please note that most of the amendments clarified by this Regulation have already been implemented into Romanian national law. See: Regulation no. 282/2011 laying down implementing measures for Directive 2006/112/EC on the common system of VAT published in the Official Journal of the European Union L77/23.03.2011

Amendment of the VAT refund procedure

An Order has been published introducing new rules regarding the refund of value added tax (“VAT”). The main amendments brought by this Order are:

• The reimbursement decision will be issued within five days of submitting the VAT return in the following situations:
- The VAT refundable amount is equal to RON 10,000 or lower;
- The VAT returns are considered to be of low fiscal risk;
- The amount requested at reimbursement does not exceed the value of the Negative Individual Standard.

• The conditions for applying the special procedure of VAT reimbursement for exporters was modified as follows:

- The value of the export operations and intra-community supplies should represent 60% of the client’s account (previously 75%);
- The minimum value of export operations and intra-community supplies should exceed EUR 500,000 (previously EUR 1,000,000).

• The tax inspection for large and medium taxpayers will be performed within four years of the reimbursement being approved (previously 2 years).

• In cases of annulment of the VAT number, all the negative VAT amounts, irrespective of their value, will be reimbursed in accordance with the general procedure stipulated by the law.

The Order is applicable starting with the VAT returns related to April 2011.
See: Order no. 2017/2011 issued by the Ministry of Public Finance published in the Official Gazette of Romania no. 362/24.05.2011

Presedintele Traian Basescu a atras marti atentia dupa o criza financiara ar putea urma o criza alimentara

Prezent marti la un forum in Bucuresti, la care au participat oameni de afaceri din zona Golfului, presedintele Traian Basescu a atras atentia asupra posibilitatii producerii unei crize alimentare in lume.

"Nu trebuie sa neglijam, asa cum am neglijat toti, oameni politici, bancheri, oameni de afaceri, avertismentele cu privire la criza financiara. Astazi specialistii ne avertizeaza ca poate urma o criza alimentara", a spus presedintele.

In discutiile pe care le-a avut cu oamenii de afaceri din zona Golfului, despre potentialul "exceptional" al Romaniei in domeniul agricol, Basescu a spus despre tara noastra, care are aproximativ 22 de milioane de locuitori, ca are posibilitatea de a satisface nevoile alimentare a 80 de milioane de locuitori.

Seful statului le-a spus potentialilor investitori ca industria alimentara este un domeniu foarte bun pentru investitii in tara noastra.

Seful statului a mai adaugat ca valorificarea potentialului agricol al Romaniei ne-ar permite sa devenim un mare exportator de alimente.

Source: agenda.ro 9 march 2011

Rural development projects attract 31.6 pct of EU funds

Romanian Economic Highlights, September 6, 2010. More than 13,500 contracts worth over 3.16 billion euros were concluded by Aug. 18 and the incurred payments amount to 613.72 million euros. Other 826 million euros represent payments made for the support measures on eligible surfaces implemented by the Agency for Payment and Intervention in Agriculture (APIA), given that the National Rural Development Programme has 10 billion euros for the 2007-2013 time span, out of which 1.43 billion euros are payments incurred. By now, the Payment Agency for Rural Development and Fisheries (APDRP) received 5,220 financing claims to modernise the agricultural holdings, and contracts were signed for 1,514 of these, with a non-reimbursable value of 526.9 million euros. At the same time, payments of over 182 million euros were made. The maximum non-reimbursable amount may be up to two million euros per one project. As for the Adding Value to Agricultural and Forestry Products Measure, out of 913 claims submitted financing agreements were signed for 376. The projects' public value is over 365 million euros, and the payments made exceed 48 million euros. The maximum non-reimbursable amount may be up to two million euros per one project. The projects under the Village Renewal and Development Measure receive 100 percent non-reimbursable European funds for investments, which are carried out in the rural areas, represented by communes, as territorial-administrative units, together with their villages. Over 3,039 financing claims were submitted and the amount of 1.57 billion euros allotted for this measure, by 2013, has been exceeded five times by now. So far, 585 projects worth 1.51 billion euros were contracted, the contracting stage still being under way. The payments made total around 74 million euros. The maximum non-reimbursable amount may be up to 6 million euros. Within the support measure for micro-enterprises setting up and development, launched in September 2008, 3,980 financing claims were submitted. By Aug. 18, around 1,261 projects were contracted, worth almost 183 million euros, but the contracting process is under way. The maximum non-reimbursable amount may be up to 200,000 euros. The activities related to tourism are encouraged by the Measure launched in September 2008. Around 1,401 financing applications were submitted, and 595 projects were contracted, amounting to 105.12 million euros. Most of the beneficiaries were interested in the accommodation structures financial component. Thus, 500 beneficiaries requested support of maximum 200,000 euros to build or update lodging houses, huts and so on. The measure on setting up young farmers was received with great interest. Around 5,261 financing claims were submitted, and 2,671 projects were contracted worth over 56 million euros.

Renewable heating projects worth 11.388 ml lei approved

Romanian Economic Highlights, September 13, 2010. According to data provided by the Environment Fund Administration (AFM), under the program for the installation of heating systems using renewable energy, including the replacement or completion of classic heating systems - "Casa Verde", 1,883 files for financing natural persons were approved. Their total value is of 11.388 million lei. A total number of 2,270 files were checked until the end of August 2010. The projects' application began in July 2010 and the total budget rose to 110 million lei. Most of the files applied for the projects for the increase of energy production from renewable sources, and amount to 726 million euros. AFM has a total budget of 3.797 billion lei representing commitment appropriations and the sum available until the end of the year rises to 1.3 billion lei. The program to boost renewable energy sources has a budget of 440 million lei allocated; 170 million lei are assigned for the national program for improving environmental quality by creating green spaces in localities; the program of improving environmental quality by the afforestation of degraded agricultural plots has 100 million lei earmarked. As much as 300 million lei were allocated for the program for the protection of water resources, integrated water supply systems, treatment plants, sewage and purification plants; the program for the closing of settlement ponds in the mining areas will have a 100 million lei budget, the program on the installation of heating systems using renewable energy will be allocated 80 million lei, the program for the construction of bicycle tracks will dispose of a 54 million lei budget. The program for the public's education and awareness regarding the protection of the environment has a 20 million lei budget.

Source: Agerpres

Cum sa infiintezi mai repede o firma dupa ce vor fi puse in practica noile reglementari?

Procedurile de inregistrare a unei firme vor dura de doua ori mai mult, din cauza modificarii prevederilor legale. Solutia temporara: stabilirea sediului social la cabinetele de avocatura
Din cauza crizei, dar si a noilor reglementari legale in domeniu, numarul firmelor care se vor infiinta in acest an va scadea cu cel putin 20% fata de 2009, considera avocatii specializati in drept comercial.
Din cauza faptului ca legislatia prevede obligativitatea obtinerii de la administratia financiara a unui certificat care sa ateste cate sedii de firma mai sunt inregistrate intr-un apartament, procedurile de intocmire a dosarului de infiintare a unei societati comerciale vor dura mai mult. “Teoretic, procedurile ar trebui sa dureze acum zece zile lucratoare in loc de cinci. Practic, va dura mai mult, deoarece certificatul respectiv nu este intotdeauna eliberat in termenul prevazut de lege”, a declarat pentru Gandul Adriana Georgescu, avocat in cadrul Scarlatescu Law Office.

Sursa: www.gandul.info

Cum sa infiintezi mai repede o firma dupa ce vor fi puse in practica noile reglementari?

Procedurile de inregistrare a unei firme vor dura de doua ori mai mult, din cauza modificarii prevederilor legale. Solutia temporara: stabilirea sediului social la cabinetele de avocatura
Din cauza crizei, dar si a noilor reglementari legale in domeniu, numarul firmelor care se vor infiinta in acest an va scadea cu cel putin 20% fata de 2009, considera avocatii specializati in drept comercial.
Din cauza faptului ca legislatia prevede obligativitatea obtinerii de la administratia financiara a unui certificat care sa ateste cate sedii de firma mai sunt inregistrate intr-un apartament, procedurile de intocmire a dosarului de infiintare a unei societati comerciale vor dura mai mult. “Teoretic, procedurile ar trebui sa dureze acum zece zile lucratoare in loc de cinci. Practic, va dura mai mult, deoarece certificatul respectiv nu este intotdeauna eliberat in termenul prevazut de lege”, a declarat pentru Gandul Adriana Georgescu, avocat in cadrul Scarlatescu Law Office.

Sursa: www.gandul.info

Actele pentru sediul social in apartamentele de bloc vor fi mai greu de obtinut

Firmele vor obtine mai greu actele pentru sediul social in apartamente de bloc si vor putea coabita in acelasi spatiu doar daca suprafata acestuia le va permite, potrivit noilor proceduri de infiintare a societatilor comerciale, recent intrate in vigoare.
Sediul social in apartament de bloc si inregistrarea mai multor firme in acelasi spatiu sunt, din punctul de vedere al Fiscului, metode susceptibile de evaziune fiscala, dupa cum arata recentele modificari aduse legii societatilor comerciale prin Ordonanta de urgenta nr. 54/2010, detaliate prin Ordinul nr. 2.112/2010 al Agentiei Nationale de Administrare Fiscala (ANAF). Aceste prevederi obliga firmele noi si pe cele care vor sa-si schimbe sediul social sa inregistreze la administratia financiara actele de spatiu (proprietate, inchiriere, comodat etc). In baza acestora, urmeaza sa primeasca un certificat si o adeverinta pe care trebuie sa le prezinte la inmatricularea societatii la Registrul Comertului.

Persoanele care trebuie sa prezinte certificatul de cazier judiciar pentru inscrierea in ROI

Pentru a urgenta solicitarile operatorilor intracomunitari de inscriere in Registrul operatorilor intracomunitari, care intra in vigoare la data de 1 august 2010, Ministerul Finantelor Publice atrage atentia asupra continutului normelor metodologice, care aduc precizari cu privire la persoanele care trebuie sa prezinte certificatul de cazier judiciar.

Astfel:
(1) In cazul persoanelor impozabile care au sediul activitatii economice in Romania, prin asociati si administratori se intelege numai asociatii si administratorii societatilor comerciale reglementate de Legea nr. 31/1990 privind societatile comerciale, republicata, cu modificarile si completarile ulterioare.

(2) In cazul societatilor pe actiuni, inclusiv a celor in comandita pe actiuni, care au sediul activitatii economice in Romania, in vederea inscrierii in Registrul operatorilor intracomunitari, se va prezenta cazierul judiciar al administratorilor, nu si al asociatilor.

(3) Institutiile publice, astfel cum sunt prevazute de Legea nr. 500/2002 privind finantele publice, cu modificarile si completarile ulterioare, precum si orice alte persoane impozabile stabilite sau nestabilite in Romania, care nu sunt constituite in baza Legii nr. 31/1990 privind societatile comerciale, republicata, cu modificarile si completarile ulterioare, nu au obligatia prezentarii cazierului judiciar, in vederea inscrierii in Registrul operatorilor intracomunitari.

Normele metodologice de aplicare a Legii nr. 571/2003 privind Codul fiscal, aprobate prin Hotararea Guvernului nr. 44/2004, in materia TVA si accize, au fost aprobate in sedinta de guvern din data de 23 iulie 2010.

Sursa: mfinante.ro

Ajutor de stat pentru asigurarea dezvoltarii

Schema de stat instituita prin HG 1680/2008 isi propune, in general, acordarea de finantare nerambursabila proiectelor care au un efect stimulativ,indeplinind unul sau mai multe dintre urmatoarele criterii:
a) o crestere substantiala a dimensiunii proiectului/activitatii ca urmare a acordarii ajutorului;
b) o crestere substantiala a domeniului de aplicare a proiectului/activitatii ca urmare a acordarii ajutorului;
c) o crestere substantiala a valorii totale a costurilor suportate de beneficiar pentru proiect/activitate ca urmare a acordarii ajutorului;
d) o crestere substantiala a ritmului de finalizare a proiectului/activitatii in cauza;
e) proiectul nu ar fi fost realizat in regiunea asistata in cauza in absenta acordarii ajutorului.

Principalul avantaj al acestei scheme de ajutor de stat este faptul ca se adreseaza unei arii extinse de domenii de activitate, cu exceptia urmatoarelor:
agricultura, silvicultura si exploatare forestiera, pescuit si acvacultura, extractia carbunelui, fabricarea bauturilor, a produselor din tutun, fabricarea produselor textile si imbracamintei, prelucrarea lemnului si fabricarea produselor din lemn, fabricarea hartiei si a produselor din hartie,tiparirea si reproducerea pe suporti a inregistrarilor fabricarea substantelor si a produselor chimice, industria metalurgica, fabricarea de mobila, repararea, intretinerea si instalarea masinilor si echipamentelor fabricarea altor mijloace de transport (inclusiv constructia de nave maritime) Ministerul Finantelor Publie a modificat in sedinsa de guvern din 23 iunie 2010 criteriile de eligibilitate referitoare la valoarea minima a investitiei si numarul minim de noi locuri de munca in sensul scaderii pragurilor initiale (mimim 30 milioane euro si minim 300 locuri de munca).

Asadar, in prezent se au in vedere trei categorii de proiecte eligibile:

a) investitii intre 10 - 20 milioane euro,inclusiv, si minim 100 de noi locuri de munca;

b) investitii intre 20 - 30 milioane euro, inclusiv si minim 200 de noi locuri de munca;

c) investitii care depasesc 30 milioane euro si minim 300 de noi locuri de munca.

In cadrul acestei scheme de ajutor de stat, aportul beneficiarului destinat finantarii proiectului trebuie sa fie de cel putin 50% din costurile eligibile, sub o forma care sa nu faca obiectul niciunui alt ajutor public.

Nivelul maxim al ajutorului de stat de care poate beneficia un operator economic conform schemei H.G. nr 1680/2008 este echivalentul in lei a 28,125 milioane euro, daca realizeaza investitii si creeaza locuri de munca ca urmare a realizarii unei investitii initiale in orice regiune, mai putin regiunea de dezvoltare 8 ucuresti - Ilfov. Pentru investitiile si locurile de munca create in regiunea de dezvoltare 8 Bucuresti - Ilfov nivelul maxim al ajutorului de stat de care poate beneficia un operator economic este echivalentul in lei a 22,5 milioane euro.

Pentru intreprinderile din sectorul prelucrarii si comercializarii produselor agricole si care au mai putin de 750 de angajati si/sau o cifra de afaceri mai mica de 200 de milioane euro, intensitatea maxima este de 25% din costurile eligibile aferente investitiei initiale. Pentru investitiile ale caror costuri eligibile sunt mai mici de 50 milioane euro, intensitatea bruta a ajutorului de stat regional nu poate depasi 50% din costurile aferente investitiei initiale sau din costurile salariale pe o perioada de 2 ani cu personalul nou-angajat. Pentru investitiile sau locurile de munca realizate in Regiunea de dezvoltare 8 Bucuresti - Ilfov, intensitatea maxima a ajutorului de stat este de 40%. Pentru proiectele mari de investitii - ale caror costuri eligibile depasesc echivalentul in lei a 50 milioane euro - intensitatea bruta se calculeaza ajustandu-se plafonul regional, in functie de valoarea costurilor eligibile, dupa cum urmeaza:

- pentru costurile eligibile cu valoarea in lei sub echivalentul a 50 milioane euro, se aplica plafonul regional;

- pentru transe din costurile eligibile cu valoare cuprinsa intre echivalentul in lei a 50 milioane euro si echivalentul in lei a 100 milioane euro, se aplica 50% din plafonul regional;

- pentru transe din costurile eligibile a caror valoare depaseste echivalentul in lei a 100 milioane euro, se aplica 34% din plafonul regional.

Durata acestei schemei este de 5 ani, respectiv 2009-2013. Bugetul maxim al schemei de ajutor de stat este echivalentul in lei a 1 miliard euro, cu un buget mediu anual de 200 milioane euro, in limita plafoanelor bugetare anuale pe perioada celor 5 ani.
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