„How to Attract Investors and Grow a Company” was an event dedicated to the business environment in the western part of Romania and organized by the Supreme Council of European Business (SCEB) and the British Romanian Chamber of Commerce (BRCC). The conference was on Thursday – May 18, 2023 – at the Atlas Hotel in Timișoara.
Investments are one of the main drivers of a company’s development, regardless of size or location. Even if there are domestic investments, made by foreigners in productive facilities or cross-border mergers and acquisitions, they are all important for a company, even more so in times of great financial pressure like this.
The topic was approached from several key perspectives by the panel speakers.
Oana Alda – Auditor, INAQ Consulting: Company certifications became a necessity in Romania. They represent a first step towards attracting strategic investors of companies, producers, and entrepreneurs, regardless of their level, because they come with prices, instructions, with procedures and create standardization of their operations.
Carmen Liptak – Regional Director Exim Banca Românească: Starting in 2020, with the pandemic, Exim Banca Românească was the first bank to join the IMM Invest program. I am proud that among the first loans granted were for entrepreneurs from Timișoara. Funding represented the fuel that allowed entrepreneurs to resume activity and produce added value, and keep their employees, during the pandemic crisis period 2020-2022 and until 2023.
Anneliese LAMOS – General Manager, Global Technical: Quality is always a priority when you want to attract a strategic partner. Then, you need to know who you are working with, to be able to trust your partner. In return, you must have a conduct beyond reproach and know how to adapt to market conditions. The customers you have illustrate your value to a future partner and your reputation must have a certain status of trust.
Adrian BĂDESCU – CEO of Medici’s Clinics: From the point of view of entrepreneurship, Timișoara is suffering. I’ve said it many times, and that’s why it’s very important to support every entrepreneurial business. We started the business 25 years ago, trying to make our profession and also develop a medical office. We ended up with a network of local clinics and probably the main player in the medical field in the west of the country. Last year, we managed to attract a very large investor, and at the moment we are part of the MedLife group, a network worth almost half a billion euros.
Sorin MAXIM – Director General of the West Regional Development Agency: ADR West generally finances grants from funds from the European Union for micro-enterprises and SMEs, but from this year it will also have a financial instrument component, venture capital fund, which will cover an area of technology and IT innovation, which is very difficult to finance from a grant. ADR will also have a digitalization component for enterprises.
Representatives of local institutions, such as Timișoara City Hall, ANAF, or ITM Timiș, also spoke during the conference.
Alongside the two organizations were, as partners: Diamond – Inaq Consulting, Gold – Cost Contab Group, and Silver – Exim Banca Românească. Camele Cricova was in the Wine Partners category, and MBS Holding, Nomade Communication, and MAPPS – Value Appraisers were among the Supporting Partners. The media partners of the conference were: Ziarul Bursa, TheBizz, The Diplomat, Transilvania Business, Oameni si Compani, Events Online, Business Mark, Pria Events, Jurnalul De Afaceri, Revista Patronatului Român, Gazeta de Agricultura and Radio Romania Timișoara.
The Supreme Council of European Business is an international organization that aims to create and develop business opportunities for the economic and educational progress of every citizen of the world. SCEB acts through sectoral councils from European and non-European countries and brings together business people, decision-makers, and experts from various industries. The entire community is working together to create an international business environment characterized by agility and better adapted to today’s challenges.
The British Romanian Chamber of Commerce, a chamber of commerce with offices in London and Bucharest, is the leading business-led organization promoting bilateral trade and investment between the United Kingdom and Romania since 1998. The Chamber of Commerce is actively involved in creating and sustaining a dynamic business environment, where free trade and investment support companies in their development process.