Embassy Press Release

Center for Entrepreneurship and Executive Development - A U.S. Government Assistance Legacy in Romania

Romanian entrepreneurs, particularly those who started or are in the process of starting a small or medium size enterprise (SME), will benefit from professional training offered by the newly launched Center for Entrepreneurship and Executive Development – CEED Romania.

The courses offered by CEED are based on materials developed with several reputable American Universities and bring a new, practical approach to Romania as they will be taught by seasoned entrepreneurs able to provide a ‘real world’ perspective and examples from their personal experiences. More importantly, CEED, through its regional network, will help entrepreneurs and SMEs make the connections they need to grow their business throughout the region.

The Center was established by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in Romania in cooperation with the Small Enterprise Assistance Funds (SEAF) who has launched a network and educational assistance program for SMEs in the region.

Vice Prime Minister Bogdan Pascu joined U.S. Ambassador Nicholas Taubman and provided opening remarks at the Launching event of CEED Romania held on October 31 at the Athenée Palace Hilton Hotel. Officials from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) from Washington, representatives from the U.S. Embassy, officials from the Romanian Government, as well as members of Small Enterprise Assistance Funds (SEAF), entrepreneurs, business associations, chambers of commerce, training organizations, consulting companies, banks, and financial institutions attended the event.

Speakers welcomed the launch of CEED Romania and acknowledged Romania's recent successes in economic growth and the important contribution of the SME sector. SMEs represent over 98% of Romanian enterprises, 54% of total employment in Romania, and contribute more than 42% to the country’s foreign trade.

"I am proud to celebrate the achievements of all the U.S. Government programs supporting SMEs over the last decade. More than $93 million has been offered as equity investment and loans, which have contributed to the creation of more than 12,000 jobs and support approximately 55,000 additional jobs" said Ambassador Taubman. He added that "red tape has been significantly cut in recent years," and provided the example that "in 1999 it took 100 days to register a business and now it takes less than 5 days".

The Center is a U.S. Government assistance legacy in Romania and will continue the efforts begun by USAID/Romania to increase the competitiveness of the SME sector.

The launching event was followed by a conference entitled “Growth Starts with a Seed”. During the conference, participants were informed about CEED Romania’s strategy and plans, shared case studies about regional experiences and discussed the SME sector’s need for know-how and networks.

For more information, please contact:
Cristina Manescu, Executive Director CEED Romania
Tel: 4021- 323-4272

Centrul pentru Educatie Economica si Dezvoltare - O Dovada a Programelor de Asistenta Finantate de Guvernul S.U.A. in Romania

Centrul pentru Educatie Economica si Dezvoltare – CEED Romania a fost lansat oficial astazi. Intreprinzatorii romani, in special cei care au pornit sau sunt in procesul sa porneasca o intreprindere mica sau mijlocie (IMM), vor beneficia de cursuri de pregatire oferite de acest centru.

Cursurile pe care urmeza sa le predea CEED se bazeaza pe materiale elaborate de universitati americane de renume si aduc o abordare noua, cu accent pe latura practica. Ele vor fi predate de intreprinzatori cu o bogata experienta, care pot furniza o perspectiva asupra lumii reale a afacerilor precum si exemple practice. Mai mult, CEED, prin colaborarea cu centre similare la nivel regional, va ajuta IMM-urile romanesti sa vina in contact cu alti intreprinzatori pentru a-si dezvolta afacerea in regiune.

Centrul a fost infiintat de Agentia S.U.A. pentru Dezvoltare Internationala (USAID) din Romania in colaborare cu Fondul pentru Asistenta Intrepriderilor Mici (SEAF) din SUA. SEAF a lansat un program de asistenta in domeniul antreprenorial si o retea de centre pentru IMM-urile din regiune.

La evenimentul de lansare a Centrului, ce a avut loc pe 31 octombrie la Hotelul Athenée Palace Hilton, au luat cuvantul Ambasadorul S.U.A. Nicholas Taubman si Vice Premierul Bogdan Pascu. Au mai participat reprezentanti ai USAID Washington, ai ambasadei S.U.A., oficialitati din partea guvernului Romaniei, si Fondului pentru Asistenta Micilor Intreprinderi (SEAF), intreprinzatori, asociatii ale oamenilor de afaceri, reprezentanti ai camerelor de comert, organizatiilor de perfectionare profesionala, firmelor de consultanta, bancilor si institutiilor financiare.

Cei ce au luat cuvantul, au salutat lansarea CEED si au recunoscut recentele succese obtinute de Romania in cresterea economica si importanta contributie a IMM-urilor la aceste succese. IMM-urile reprezinta 98% din intreprinderile romanesti, 54% din forta de munca si contribuie cu peste 42% la schimburile comerciale ale Romaniei.

"Sunt mandru sa celebram realizarile programelor de asistenta pentru IMM-uri finantate de guvernul american in ultimul deceniu. S-au alocat peste 93 milioane de dolari pentru investitii de capital si credite care au contribuit la crearea a peste 12 000 de locuri de munca si la sprijinirea altor 55 000" a spus Ambasadorul Taubman. Domnia sa a mai adaugat: "Birocratia a fost semnificativ diminuata si, de exemplu, in 1999 era nevoie de 100 de zile pentru a inregistra o firma, iar acum e nevoie de mai putin de 5 zile".

CEED este doar o parte din ceea ce lasa in urma programul de asistenta finantat de S.U.A. in Romania si va continua eforturile USAID/Romania pentru cresterea competitivitatii IMM-urilor.

Lansarea Centrului a fost urmata de o conferinta intitulata "Cresterea incepe cu plantarea unei seminte". Participantii la conferinta au fost informati despre strategia si planurile de viitor ale CEED Romania, au schimbat informatii pe baza studiilor de caz din regiune si au discutat despre nevoia de tehnologie moderna in sectorul IMM-urilor si de cat mai multe contacte externe.

Pentru informatii suplimentare contactati:
Cristina Manescu
Director Executiv CEED Romania
Tel: 4021- 323-4272

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