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Some businesses unhurt by crisis

Some activity sectors are still unhurt by the financial crisis that hit the Romanian economy and can even boast significant growth. What's their secret for success? The directly involved factors say it all has to do with organization and short- and medium-term business-plans, yet admit it is also a matter of good fortune. Some experts say Romania is not yet confronted with a crisis in the literal meaning of the word, but that hardships will come in as of next year.

Even against the backdrop of the crisis, the Romanians are buying massively: according to data published by Eurostat, retail sales on the local market increased 15 pct in September from the same period of the year before, placing Romania on the leading position in the EU. Romania is actually one of the few countries in the world with a thriving commerce, in a trend somewhat disconnected from global developments. The Carrefour Romania network, which announced that it expects its turnover to top 1 bln euros this year, provides a telling example. Local sales of the French retailer stood at 508 million euros in H1, by 40.3 pct more than in the same interval of 2007. Company marketing manager Andreea Mihai specified that the crisis spared the company and the current economic context brought no change whatsoever in the company's business plans.

Tourism is another sector left unaffected by the crisis. Business growth ranges here from 10 to 30 pct, with trip packages abroad having registered the major leap. 'There was a real boom in the sector. The trend will continue next year, as recession is still out of question for us. There might be a stalemate, mot probably in business tourism, but we'll neither see a significant drop. The companies will cut costs with tourism bonuses for employees, and in the rest I don't think we have reason to worry. Maybe people will be more down-to-earth in choosing their destination, seeking mostly less expensive locations,' Traian Badulescu, spokesman of the National Tourism Associations, told the cited paper. Secretary-general of the Tourism Employers Organizations Federation Dragos Raducan does not share the same optimism, saying that one should wait for spring to come to see the exact effects of the crisis on Romania.

Despite experts talking about the collapse of the property market, growth can be seen here too. The drive for business development is the absence of skilled staff. The Association of Building Plant Distributors (ADUC) says that the companies specializing in the marketing of these products are increasingly sought and sales advanced 33 pct over the first nine months of the year compared to the similar interval of 2007.

McDonald's Romania communication manager Cristian Savu said that between January - Sept. 2008 the company's turnover advanced 30 pct from the year before, reaching 97.5 million euros, 'all under the effect of investments; and the expansion policy will continue,' said Savu. American Restaurant System, that also runs the Pizza Hut franchise for Romania, shares a similar principle.

The list of growing businesses is long enough both in Bucharest - that is far richer in opportunities - and out of the Capital City. Still, with analysts saying that 2009 is critical for Romanian economy, a prediction on what's in store is hard to make, notes the cited paper.

 

Sursa: http://www.rompress.ro

Tags: tourism romania business crisis

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