Romanian Portuguese Chamber of Commerce Hosts Business Breakfast on Bilateral Relations and Investment Opportunities

The recent business breakfast, orchestrated by the Romanian Portuguese Chamber of Commerce in collaboration with the Belgian Luxembourg Romanian Moldovan Chamber of Commerce, emerged as a pivotal gathering for stakeholders deeply committed to advancing constructive bilateral relations and exploring investment opportunities in Romania.

The event provided a fertile ground for a constructive dialogue between the business community and distinguished representatives of the Chancellery of the Prime Minister of Romania, Mr. Florin Spataru, State Councillor and former Minister of the Economy, and Mr. Victor Ponta, Honorary State Councillor and former Prime Minister, alongside the diplomatic finesse of Mr. Paulo Cunha, Portugal’s Ambassador to Romania.

Discussions at the event delved into targeted reforms across various sectors, offering invaluable strategic insights into the government’s vision concerning taxation policies, the Green Industrial Plan, and Financing Initiatives tailored to attract investors. C-level representatives from diverse industries such as renewable energy, real estate development, infrastructure, industry, tourism, and digitalization posed pertinent inquiries regarding predictability, taxation, and regulatory frameworks.

Of significant concern was the deadlock surrounding construction authorizations in Bucharest and apprehensions regarding potential VAT and tax escalations, igniting passionate discussions among attendees. Mr. Spataru illuminated prospective opportunities stemming from forthcoming developments such as the Moldova area’s freeway and the European Green Deal, underlining the imperative of efficient natural resource exploration in Romania. Additionally, Romania’s aspirations for OECD membership were underscored as a substantial prospect for advancing economic agendas.

Against the backdrop of Belgium’s stewardship of the EU Council presidency, the occasion served as an invaluable platform for prominent Portuguese and Belgian investors in Romania to directly engage with governmental authorities. Ambassador Paulo Cunha, in his address, emphasized the pivotal role of robust bilateral relations in bolstering investment endeavours between Romania and Portugal, while also acknowledging the contextual complexities surrounding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

The business breakfast functioned as a catalytic platform for constructive dialogue between governmental representatives and industry stakeholders, fostering a deeper understanding of investment challenges and potential for collaboration across Romania, Portugal, and Belgium.

The Portuguese delegation was led by Marina Coanda Bundac, director and board member of the Romanian Portuguese Chamber of Commerce and included companies like Greenvolt, EY, Solarealize, BA Glass, Happy Tour, Pragosa , Generalcom, SIBS.

The Belgium delegation was led by Alain Schodts, executive director BEROCC and included companies like: Speedwell, Cegeka, Interparking, Reynaers Aliminium.