On 8^th and 9^th March 2010 two meetings entitled "Romania: new opportunities to end the crisis" had been organized by ACCOA and the Consul General of Romania in Trieste. Among the speakers, the Vice-Minister of Economy and Trade of Romania Maria Parcalabescu, the Consul General of Romania in Trieste, Radu Dobre and the President of ACCOA, Gian Carlo D. Murkovic. In the hall several entrepreneurs, representatives of banks, SACE and some Chambers of Commerce. The event was held in Trieste on March 8 at the multimedia room "Tiziano Tessitori” at the FVG Regional Council at 17.00 and replied the following day, at the same time, at the "Sala degli Anziani” at the City Hall of Padua.

After a general overview of the country by the President of ACCOA and a small digression on the history of Romania, the Deputy Minister Parcalabescu provided to institutions and entrepreneurs present a comprehensive overview on the current state of Romanian economy and the measures taken by Government of Bucharest to get out of the economic crisis. The final debate allowed the audience to interact directly with the Deputy Minister for questions, clarifications, but also tips on how to improve, economic and trade relations between Italy and Romania, first of all the strengthening of links between the two countries and internal infrastructure (highways, railways etc.).. Important, and in process of simplification by the Romanian government, the access to structural funds, sometimes indispensable to start a business, together with the tax benefits that the various ministries have jointly developed to support the business in a difficult time like this.

It is equally true, as stated by one of those present in the meeting in Padua, that the market in Romania is already saturated with Italian firms and that we should start thinking this country as a big market rather than a place to relocate to be competitive in terms of production costs.