Section: Emerging Europe (UK)
What Was First on the Romanian Table?
For me, food is not just a basic human need but also a cultural act, and the way it is prepared expresses the identity of the people who eat it. Romania has been long been at the intersection of many customs and traditions and its food has been influenced by other nations. In the Daco-Roman period, the Romans brought the pie, or plăcintă. The...
Robust First-Quarter Growth in Romania
The Socialist-led government, in office since the beginning of the year, has started implementing its popular election programme by further cutting the VAT rate and increasing minimum wages, as well as public sector salaries. This has given a boost to consumption which accelerated real GDP growth in the first quarter of 2017, to an unexpectedly...
EU Visa-Liberalisation Strengthens Georgia’s Pro-Western Path
On 2 February 2017, the inhabitants of Georgian capital, Tbilisi, saw the city’s two landmarks — the Bridge of Peace and the TV tower lit up in the colours of the EU flag, marking the day when the European Parliament adopted a visa-free regime for Georgia. Starting from 28 March 2017, when the newly adopted regulation came into force,...
Building on CCE’s Established Reputation for Quality and Value
In ten years’ time we’re planning to be managing an industrial space of some 15 million sqm, across Central and Eastern Europe and beyond, says Remon Vos, CEO at CTP. He spoke to Jerry Cameron about the growing demand for warehouse space in CEE and the company’s plans to satisfy that demand. At the end of last year, CTP owned...
Gdynia: Combining Quality of Life With Business Potential
Nine out of ten inhabitants of the city of Gdynia are happy with their lives, according to the latest Social Diagnosis, which measures the objective and subjective quality of life in Poland. What makes the city the best place to live in the country? Is it the size of the city? Gdynia has a population of about 250,000 and is the 17th largest city...
Ukraine’s Tech Sector Is Booming but Needs Awareness and Confidence
Despite several turbulent years, Ukraine’s economy is now showing real promise. The country recently received its latest tranche of IMF funding and is making a huge effort to stamp out corruption. With a large base of highly skilled technology professionals and a highly-developed information technology sector, Ukraine’s economy has...
The Goal for Romania — the Positives Outweigh the Negatives
We want the story of Romania to be the story of a dynamic, vibrant and innovative country, says Matteo Patrone, Director for Romania and Regional Head Romania and Bulgaria at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). He spoke to Andrew Wrobel about the country’s greatest challenges. Let’s start with economic...
Poznan: Translating Entrepreneurship into Understanding Business Services
For Poznań, Poland’s fifth largest city, 2016 was a fantastic year. Not only did its manufacturing and retail sector grow by nine and thirteen per cent respectively, but labour productivity also increased by six per cent and unemployment didn’t even reach two per cent — the lowest in Poland. In addition, the city attracted more...
Building a Reputation as a Business Services Destination
Large cities have been on the radar of foreign companies that are looking to outsource in Poland, for several years now. With its academic potential, IT traditions and proximity to the large pool of talent in Ukraine and Belarus, Lublin is an interesting alternative. Lublin is a very young city with a population of 350,000 and twice as many...
The Fight Against Corruption in Europe’s Emerging Economies
In some countries, when their leaders have egregiously over-stepped their authority to shield themselves from accountability, citizens have taken to the streets with some success. Corruption and impunity ignite public protest. Anger against corruption sparked the Arab Spring, it also forced Ukraine’s former president Victor Yanukovych to...
