‘I wanted to tour a facility that is an investment of a European and world leader that some time ago decided to start up shop in Romania. Managers of the factory have told me the history of this investment here in Giurgiu, which was not a success story from the word go. It took a long time for it to carry out the procedures allowing access to European funds. I am here to congratulate them, tell them that I am sorry about all the years lost on procedures and projects that were delayed. I want to tell them that fortunately now things have improved and they will certainly be able to conduct new investment, benefiting from both European funds and state-aid schemes,’ Ponta said after touring the production halls of Voestalpine.

He added that the profit derived by the Austrian company is invested and fully tax exempt, while rates, social security contributions on employer and the employees will go down in the period immediately ahead.

Another topic discussed by Ponta and Voestalpine managers related to vocational training, with Ponta pointing to an existing partnership with Austria’s Education Ministry for some companies to take under their wings vocational training schools, training young people and provide a place for them to practice, so that in their turn the young trainees may become competent employees using very high technology.

The factory in Giurgiu opened in October 2012 on an investment of nearly EUR 20 million that started in 2010. The factory’s management was announcing back then that they were eyeing an annual output of 130,000 tonnes of processed steel a year by 2016. (source: nineoclock.ro)