The excellent results in Prahova-Romania have been celebrated during the anniversary reception organized on Wednesday, 21st March 2018, in Ploiesti West Park, an event attended by important personalities of public life, economic partners, shareholders of Domo Investment Group, which includes Alinso Group, the developer of Ploiesti West Park and company employees.
The road from an abandoned field to an investment of hundreds of millions of euros
What once was a mere arid area on the outskirts of Ploiesti has become, in only ten years, an economic example of good practice in terms of development, environmental concern and social involvement. In order to correctly understand the size of the investment, which is derived exclusively from foreign capital, it is worth mentioning a few of the well-known names that have chosen to become partners of the Alinso Group, choosing to invest in Ploiesti West Park: Unilever, Lufkin Industries Inc (General Electric), TORO Company, Federal Mogul, Timken, Beaulieu International Group, Saipem (ENI Group), Schlumberger, Halliburton, British American Tobacco and Rockwool, the list adding up to 50 companies currently occupying the Park.
Where did the idea begin and why Prahova-Romania?
“It all started from the idea of the Domo Group shareholders, whose portfolio also includes the Alinso company that manages Ploiesti West Park,” explains Ivan Lokere, CEO of Alinso Group.
With Romania’s accession to the European Union and the positive signals from this part of Europe, the Belgian group has participated with more than one hundred million euros in the arrangement of the area covering 300 hectares of land as currently owned by the business park. 50 companies have already established their headquarters here, occupying 200 hectares. They were attracted by the facilities offered by Ploiesti West Park, which include full service, from guard to custom-built construction, consultancy relocation assistance and industry-standard utilities. Other arguments that convinced the Belgian shareholders to invest hundreds of millions of euros in Prahova was the strategic position of the region, which is an important traffic hub ensuring links to any area of Europe, on the road and on the rail. Any type of cargo transportation can depart on the railway line from the railway station which is in managed Ploiesti West Park, with direct connection to the Black Sea.
The impressive figures of the Domo Investment Group-Alinso Group investment also make an important contribution to the local and national budget, the development of the area implicitly producing a significant increase in the quality of life, as highlighted by Alexandru Cristea, Mayor of Ariceştii-Rahtivani commune, locality on the territory of which the private business park was built.
Important names at the celebration of the ten years of Alinso Group activity in Romania
Alinso Group’s anniversary event has been honored by the presence of His Excellency Thomas BAEKELANDT, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium to Romania; Prahova County Council President Bogdan Toader; Prahova County Vice Prefect, Emil Draganescu; President of the Prahova Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Aurelian Gogulescu; Mayor of Ariceşti-Rahtivani, Alexandru Cristea; shareholders of the multinational group Domo, including the company Alinso, Jan De Clerck and Jan Jr. De Clerck, many business partners and clients of Alinso Group, as well as countless representatives from the administrative, political and economic sectors of Prahova County.
Speeches
Ivan Lokere, CEO of Alinso Group: We have created jobs, we promote creativity in harmony with the environment and local community
“Hello, dear business partners, ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the tenth anniversary of the Alinso Group in Romania, here in Prahova County.
We are honored to have here your Excellency, Ambassador of Belgium, high representatives of local authorities, our business partners, our shareholders, and last but not least, our extraordinary and dynamic team.
You have done a wonderful job, not only today, by organizing this event, but also by creating this large business park, Ploiesti West Park, a park that brings together so many nationalities.
Over the last decade in Romania, more than 50 customers have entered the park, all with the mission to create value and an inspiring working environment. More than 2.000 employees are happy to work in this park every day and many other jobs have been created outside the park. Our company has a precise aim, that of creating jobs that inspire and motivate, of developing creativity, everything in harmony with the surrounding environment. We are proud of the flexibility and versatility of our facilities, the place we are here now being just one of the examples. Thank you for everything!”, declared Ivan Lokere, CEO of Alinso Group, during the anniversary event.
Mr. Thomas BAEKELANDT, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium to Romania: “Ivan Lokere and his team have done a great job”
“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to this 10th anniversary of the Alinso Group. Domo Investment Group decided in 2008 to invest, through Alinso Group, in a business park near Ploiesti. It was, at that time, a risky investment of more than 130 million euros, based on the belief that the economic development of the region and the attractiveness of investments in Ploiesti could be excellent for production and services. It was also essential for the regional and national authorities to maintain their support for this effort. Business parks can remain attractive to prospective investors looking for opportunities in a very competitive market only if excellent services are offered to these clients.
I believe that Ivan Lokere and his team have done a tremendous job in this regard. You will find out more about the positive effect of this investment of DOMO Group and the economic development and job creation in the region, but I would also like to highlight some of the specific aspects of this investment: it is a private initiative, a very large amount was invested in a difficult project with a result of great effects for the welfare of the local community. The Embassy of the Kingdom of Belgium is proud to illustrate this investment as an example of the excellent economic relations between the two countries within the European Union. This is a win-win situation, not only for business, but also for Ploiesti and the region.
As a last point - I would like to send a message to a minister from Ploieşti, Mr. Radu Oprea, that this investment of DOMO Group could inspire the Romanian government to address initiatives related to public-private partnerships and I am convinced that Alinso can be of great help to the Government of Romania”, declared Mr. Thomas BAEKELANDT, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium to Romania.
Emil Drăgănescu, Prahova County Vice Prefect: “You have a reliable partner in the Prahova county authorities”
Hello, ladies and gentlemen, Your Excellency Ambassador, Mr. President, dear hosts, thank you for inviting us here today! I represent the Government of Romania and, on behalf of it and Madame Prefect, Mădălina Lupea, we wish you a happy anniversary. What we see here is a success story. I hope that in ten years’ time we will find ourselves with several success stories and with the certainty that in Prahova, the authorities will remain a loyal partner, a trusted and right one. I would like to thank you, on behalf of those who work here, for choosing our county, one of the most prosperous counties in the country, where you will find understanding and support. Thank you and happy anniversary!
Bogdan Toader, President of the Prahova County Council: “This park has grown tremendously”
Hello, Happy Birthday Alinso, good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, Ivan Lokere, Mr. Le Clerck, it’s a pleasure to be here after nine years, the last time I was here at the inauguration of the Toro investment. I think it was among the first here. Since then I have noticed how this industrial park has developed and I congratulate the Domo group, Mr. Ivan Lokere and the staff handling the development of this park. The building of parks is generally a success for Prahova county, and this park has grown tremendously, and I hereby congratulate you and the local authorities, the Mayor of Ariceştii Rahtivani here present, because they understood how important this investment is for the locality, as here more than 2,000 people from Prahova County work. I wish that the remaining 120 hectares find investors as serious as those you already have, and I hope you still trust that your partnership with Prahova County and the local authorities at Ariceştii Rahtivani will be serious and you can rely on us for the development of the business. I want to offer to Mr. Ivan Lokere and Mr. Jan De Clerck a diploma on behalf of the Prahova County Council for the special contribution to the economic growth of the county. Investors are very important to us, our budgets depend on these investments, I congratulate you for everything, happy anniversary!
Alexandru Cristea, Mayor of Ariceştii Rahtivani: “Due to the investment in Ploieşti West Park, the standard of living has increased and will continue to grow”
“I would like to start with a Latin dictum that says “inreparabile fugit tempus” – ten years have passed since Alinso came here to make an investment, but these ten years have not passed by in vain, so we are not in the search of the lost time like Marcel Proust. There are ten years of achievements, although initially I was a little reluctant - it seemed a matter of Science Fiction for Aricestii Rahtivani to receive such large investments and with such a great impact on the the community. We can say that due to the investors grouped in Ploiesti West Park, the living standards of our locality have increased and will steadily increase. On behalf of me, the mayoralty staff, on behalf of the ladies and gentlemen local councilors, but especially on behalf of the citizens I currently represent, I thank you for giving us the chance to overcome an infinitely more modest life than it could have been now. Thank you and count on our absolute support”, said Alexandru Cristea, Mayor of Ariceştii Rahtivani commune.
Aurelian Gogulescu: „Ploiesti West Park has set a new standard for business parks”
Your Excellency Mr. Ambassador, Mr. De Clerck, Mr. Lokere, President of the Prahova County Council, Mr. Vice Prefect, Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to say first of all that I remember with much pleasure, with joy and little excitement of what happened ten years ago, when I had the honor of attending the opening ceremony of this beautiful investment, a festivity that took place at Mariott Hotel in Bucharest, during which NATO Secretary General Willy Claes, had a memorable speech, stating, among other things, that this investment will mean a lot for Romania, that it will amount to one billion euros. Frankly, at that time, the figure seemed to me a little exaggerated, even utopian, because it was the time when the economic crisis had become visible in Romania. But, after ten years, West West Park has become the largest private industrial park in Southeast Europe, of the 300 hectares 200 are already occupied, with an investment of almost 800 million euros and 2.500 jobs. Ploiesti West Park has set a new standard for industrial parks in Romania and, remarkably, it has managed to bring together companies from nearly 40 states that operate in different fields of activity. Alinso Group has a special merit because, besides being one of the most important and valuable investors in Romania at present, it has also become one of the best ambassadors of Prahova County and of Romania on all meridians of the globe. There is a lot to be said about Ploiesti West Park, I have to remind everybody that Ploiesti West Park is one of the most important members of Prahova Chamber of Commerce and Industry and a permanent presence in the charts and tops of the best companies at local and national level. For all that it has done for our county, please allow me, on behalf of the College of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, to award Mr. Lokere, as CEO of Alinso Group, a diploma of excellence marking not only the event we are celebrating today, but all the contribution and merits he has had in bringing foreign investments in Prahova County”, declared Aurelian Gogulescu, president of the Prahova Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Jan Jr. De Clerck: “We think long term, we have a long-term vision”
“Dear Mr. President, Dear Mr. Mayor, dear clients and partners, dear guests, welcome to our 10th anniversary, thank you all for being here! As you know, we are a family company, Domo Investment Group, we think long term and act long-term, we have a long-term vision. It is a large business park that we created ten years ago, we still have space available, so I assure you that Alinso is the best place to look for a business space and I hope we can celebrate the next ten years with everyone of you, with your support, our clients and suppliers, and with the support of our team. Thank you very much”, said Jan Jr. De Clerck, the shareholder of Domo Investment Group, a concern that includes Alinso Group, the developer of Ploiesti West Park.
Further details about the investment and contact - official website Ploiesti West Park.
