(part 2, to read part 1, please press here) Wednesday was a special day for me. Business Review magazine (http://business-review.ro/), a English talking leading publication for business in Romania, organized its second “Greek Business Forum” event at Intercontinental Hotel. As I was informed, this is the only event for Greek entrepreneurs in Romania, organized by a successful newswire. The panel was excellent: Ioannis Paschalis, the Greek Minister Counselor for Economic and Commercial Affairs (Greek Embassy in Romania) Dimitris Spanodimos, Group Head Corporate Strategy Director, [...]
[relevant-to-adsense]Greek Business Forum:“We reached bottom, but recovery will be slow”
(part 1) Yesterday was a special day for me. Business Review magazine (http://business-review.ro/), a English talking leading publication for business in Romania, organized its second “Greek Business Forum” event at Intercontinental Hotel. As I was informed, this is the only event for Greek entrepreneurs in Romania, organized by a successful newswire. The panel was excellent: Ioannis Paschalis, the Greek Minister Counselor for Economic and Commercial Affairs (Greek Embassy in Romania) Dimitris Spanodimos, Group Head Corporate Strategy Director, Marfin Bank Jean Valvis, CEO [...]
[relevant-to-adsense]A Romanian musician by Croisette, the Georgian Labor code and more…
Memories from Cannes, MIPIM 2010, part 1 A Romanian musician on Croisette Boulevard… It was Wednesday night when I was walking with my brother Grigoris and some good friends of ours on Croisette boulevard. Two years ago a Romanian colleague of mine noticed that almost all the musicians performing at Croisette are… Romanians (and usually from Brasov!) That night I was in my… talkative mood, so when I spotted a musician close to Dior shop, I headed to him. It proved out that the musician was in mood for talks too. “Buna seara, ce faceti, domnule?” I [...]
[relevant-to-adsense]MIPIM 2010. Lesson no.3The European map of Real Estate investments:Where is Romania located nowadays?
On Thursday morning I did not follow my brother to the exhibition. I finished my breakfast and I went up to the 4th floor, to my room, at Splendid hotel. “Ilia, imagine how big the crisis is… a simple man like you managed to find a room there, without paying a very high price for it” my friends Giannis had told me. He was right, but I should also take advantage of this small luck too. I opened the window and filled my lugs breathing fresh air. The sun had started his trip to the sky and the port of Cannes was looking amazing. With a wonderful sea as background, hundreds of yachts were tied by [...]
[relevant-to-adsense]MIPIM 2010, Lesson no. 2:Investor’s attention is focused on Poland. Why it looks better than Romania today
The “investment clock” of CEE countries As many major European investors explain, the previous Real Estate expansion on the Central Eastern Europe (CEE) was clockwise: It started from Poland and then Czech Republic followed. Slovakia and Hungary were the next ones to join the party. Every phase of this “Real Estate invasion” lasted for several years, as the “clock” was moving as well. Before the investors to enter in a new market, they had previously made sure that they had established a solid basis on the previous country. Eventually in 2004 – 2006 Romania’s and Bulgaria’s turn arrived as well. Several [...]
[relevant-to-adsense]MIPIM 2010, Lesson no. 1:World market: Don’t expect much from 2010, Better days to come in 2011
Hello from Cannes. As you read these lines I am probably out of the exhibition, having finished from there and enjoying some sun before I fly back to Bucharest tonight. Between you and me, half of the visitors and participants left already from Thursday night. The other half are still here, but very few come to the Palais de Festivals during Friday. Croisette Boulevard, Monte Carlo, Monaco, or their flight back home capture their attention. Last night MIPIM Awards were awarded too, so there is nothing more to expect from this exhibition for this year. MIPIM: Quiet and peaceful… down by 25% Maybe [...]
[relevant-to-adsense]At Cannes for MIPIM 2010What do the international investors think about Romania?
Mipim 2010 exclusive photos coverage The plane from Bucharest to Rome and then Nice was not full. People are not smiling and don’t look eager to arrive at Cannes, our destination. The Romanian “community” is not exactly what one could describe as “loud”. Just one residential developer (Panhol group) with future projects. Also one design and construction firm (Sommering). There is no architectural firm exhibiting with a stand. Thank God there are still several representatives of multinational companies who join their common stands together with their colleagues from all around the world. But as [...]
[relevant-to-adsense]2010: The year of opportunities and careful actions
As “a year full of challenges, opportunities but careful actions too” described 2010 Mr Ilias Papageorgiadis on Wednesday morning. The CEO of MORE Real Estate Services, a major Real Estate consultancy and brokerage firm based in Bucharest since 2004, explained that the new year brings up to a surface a completely new economic environment, with serious changes regarding 2009: The Romanian economy will stop falling and will stabilize around 0 (from -1,5% to +1,5%). Several new projects in many domains will start, especially if the funds from European Union will be finally [...]
[relevant-to-adsense]
Few days ago, on Tuesday, I had presented to you an interview of Mr Gavin Ryan, an expert in Private Equity and Venture Capital Funds. As far as I understood from your feedback, this subject was really interesting for you, as the official information about this segment is really limited. This is why I decided to address to Mr Ryan again, summing some of your questions and adding some new ones. This domain is really interesting and I think that it worths to know ... 
