Franco-Romanian Business Forum – 2023

Companies in the Franco-Romanian community are seeking a vision for the future with pragmatism and European consciousness, in the context of the overlapping crises Europe and its citizens have faced in recent years: the health crisis, the war in Ukraine, the climate crisis, economic and inflationary tensions, emphasized Julien Munch, President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of France in Romania (CCIFER), on Monday, July 3, 2023, at the opening of the Business Forum “Together for a Stronger, Greener, and Safer Europe.”

The forum takes place on July 3 and 4 in Bucharest, with the participation of the Prime Minister of Romania, Marcel Ciolacu, and Olivier Becht, the French Minister Delegate at the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, responsible for Foreign Trade, Attractiveness, and French presence internationally. The largest event organized by CCIFER this year, in partnership with the French Embassy, Business France, the Romanian Section of the Foreign Trade Advisors of France, and La French Tech, the forum aims to facilitate a dialogue between companies, as well as between companies and authorities from Romania, France, and the Republic of Moldova, regarding the business opportunities offered by the transformations that the European Union and Romania are undergoing during this period, against the backdrop of challenges related to economic growth, security, and environmental protection.

“What we are looking for is a vision of the future. We all have in mind the overlapping crises that have deeply marked our lives in recent years: the health crisis, the war in Ukraine, the climate crisis, or even economic and inflationary tensions. The quality of life for citizens, the competitiveness of companies, the stability and security of European countries, as well as democratic values, have been tested by these crises and will continue to be. European Union member states, including Romania and France, have together developed strategies with European institutions to manage these crises. The European Union is about all of us, our societies, our countries, our companies, our lives as European citizens. Therefore, CCIFER proposes that we respond to the challenges of the moment with pragmatism and European consciousness. By transforming challenges into opportunities, companies are essential actors for the economic development of a country and the prosperity of its citizens,” stated Julien Munch.

The Romanian authorities will be represented by other officials who will participate in the event, including Radu Oprea, Minister of Economy; Sebastian Burduja, Minister of Energy; Pascal Canfin, President of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety in the European Parliament; Luca Niculescu, State Secretary for Romania’s Accession Process to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Mihai Precup, State Secretary, Ministry of Finance; Rareș Burlacu, President of the Agency for Investment and Commerce.

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The President of CCIFER also highlighted the importance of collaboration and partnership in ensuring the long-term economic and social development of a country:

“To be ‘together’ means the ability to bring together, in a common dynamic, the public and private actors who determine the long-term economic and social development of a country. Overcoming crises, transforming difficulties into opportunities, and participating in value creation in our economies – that is what the strength of the Franco-Romanian business community represents: the fact that we work and build together. In a world as interconnected as today’s, the economic growth of a country can only be achieved through partnership,” Julien Munch added.

Representatives from the business community who will speak at the forum include Louis Charles Brintet, Director of International Relations at Framatome; Cosmin Georgescu, CEO of Cluster Power; Radu Hanga, President of the Bucharest Stock Exchange (BVB); Costin Borc, Director for Eastern Europe and Africa at Groupe SNEF; James Hanson, Country Managing Director at Egis Romania and Bulgaria; Ludmila Climoc, CEO of Orange; Georges Durdilly, CEO of Airbus; Cecilia Tudor, Managing Director of Renault South East Europe; Alice Guitton, Vice President of Central and Northern Europe at Thales; Diana Sipos, CEO of Atos; Vargha Moayed, Founder of Endeavor; Bogdan Badea, CEO of Ejobs.

On the first day of the forum, participants – officials and representatives of the business community – will discuss the opportunities and challenges in both Romania and the European Union in areas such as climate challenges and energy transition, Romania’s accession to the OECD, Romania’s attractiveness to foreign investors, Franco-Romanian collaboration in creating added value in strategic sectors to strengthen Europe’s economic sovereignty, digital transition, and talent attraction.

On the second day of the forum, July 4, a roundtable discussion will take place with the participation of Dumitru Alaiba, Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova, Minister of Economic Development and Digitalization, Olivier Becht, Minister Delegate at the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, responsible for Foreign Trade, Attractiveness, and French presence internationally, as well as representatives of companies within CCIFER.