September 4, 2013
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Valentin Țigău, 04.09.2013, 12:06
The World Economic Forum submitted today its 2013- 2014 Global Competitiveness Report. Romania this year climbed two positions as opposed to last year, reaching 76. Switzerland maintains its top world position for the fifth year in the world, followed by Singapore and Finland. Germany is now in fourth place, higher than the United States in the ranking.
Around two thousand Romanians held protests for the third consecutive day, in Bucharest and other cities, against the controversial project to mine gold in Rosia Montana, employing cyanide. Green NGOs point out that the process using cyanide involves major risks of irreversible pollution in the surrounding area. In addition, according to opponents, the mining may destroy the old Roman mine galleries, unique world historical sites. The government has sent a bill the Parliament claiming that the project will create jobs and bring budget revenue worth over give billion dollars. The head of state, Traian Basescu, and Prime Minister Ponta are also in favor of a decision by referendum next year.
The Romanian President issued yet another warning to Romanians in Syria, asking them to leave the country as quickly as possible, against the mounting possibility of a foreign military intervention. He also said that, in spite of last week’s similar announcement, very few Romanians chose to leave Syria. Also, the head of state said that the Foreign Ministry evaluates the number of Romanians in that country to between 12,000 and 14,000, spread over most areas.
Romania’s largest cultural event, the George Enescu International Festival, continues in Bucharest, until 28 September. The Romanian series of shows by Romanian orchestras at the Athenaeum started on Tuesday, when the Pittsburgh Philharmonic played in the Grand Hall of the Royal Palace. The workshop entitled ‘21st century music- Enescu and his contemporaries’ started with three conferences on the same day.
In Romania, the GDP went up 0.5 % in the second quarter against the previous one, and by 1.8% per semester, according to the National Institute of Statistics. The growth is higher than previous estimates of 0.3%, being equal to 1.7%, due to industry, agriculture, real estate and constructions. The national bank adjusted this month its forecast for economic growth this year to above 2%, based on higher exports, industrial growth and a good year for agriculture. The IMF did the same, raising its forecast for growth in Romania for 2014 from 2% to 2.25%.
