Romania

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Romania
Alison Abraham Steve Koreck Thomas
Maruszewski
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Theres more to Romania than just
DRACULA!!!!
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History - Timeline

• 13th Century Walachian/Moldavian principalities
  emerge
• 14th 19th century Region aligned with Hungary
  Ottoman Empire
• 1878 Treaty of Berlin recognizes Romanias
  independence
• 1881 Kingdom of Romania formally proclaimed
• 1945 Communist-dominated government installed
• 1967 Ceausescu becomes President of the Council
  of State
• 1989 Countrywide protests begin in Timisoara
• Ceausecu and wife are executed
• National Salvation Front takes over government
• 1990 National Elections Held

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Life in Romania
Geography
Government
Communication
People
Economy
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Geography
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IT in RomaniaYesterday Today

• 1997 Approx. 25,000 Internet Users
• 1999 Approx. 650,000 Internet Users
• 2003 Over 1 Million Internet Users
• 1999 28 Internet Service Providers (ISP)
• 2003 Over 100 ISPs

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Comparison

• In 2002 Over 50 of Population has Cell Phone
• Less Than 5 have Personal Computer (PC)
• 1997 Price of PC More than Half a Years Salary
• 2000 Price of PC was Nearly 800 (USD)
• Internet Access 25-60/month (dial-up access)
• Plus 2/hour Local Call

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Television

• Cable TV is Booming in Romania
• 50 of Population has TV
• 48 have Cable
• High Speed Internet (Cable Modem)
• Kappa (ISP)

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Telephones

• Existing Lines are Poor in Quality
• But
• Romania Laying Groundwork for Fiber Optic
  Lines

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Laying Groundwork in Other Ways
EOS Educating for an Open Society
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Today in Romania

• Many Internet Services that offer Business
  Solutions in IT World
• Romania Encourages External Investment
• 130 Countries have Invested in Romania

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Is Romania a Good Place to Invest in IT??

• Environmental Parameters
• Economic Stability
• IT Infrastructure
• Industrial Policy
• The Master Plan

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Environmental Parameters

• Political/Social
• Premier Adrian Nastase (elected Nov, 2000)
• Bureaucracy/Corruption Still Affects Efficiency
• Widespread Poverty
• Economic
• 3rd Year of Stable Economic Development
• GDP Grew by 5 in 2003, Forecast More Growth 2004
• October, 2003 expected to sign 1st Joint Program
  with IMF

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IT Infrastructure
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Industrial Policy

• Long-Term Telecommunication Development Program
  1991-2005
• Extension of Analogue Networks
• Intro to Digital Technology
• Digital Microwave Links/Fiber Optic Cables
• High Speed Data Transmission Network

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Industrial Policy Cont

• National Broadcast Council
• Independent Regulatory Body
• Issues Licenses for Broadcasting companies
• Ministry of Communications
  (Technical Authorizations)
• General Communications Inspectorate (GCI)
• Enforces/Monitors Regulations
• Similar to FCC

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The Master Plan

• Intensive Development of Telecommunications
  Sector
• Quantitative Targets for 2005
• Main Line Penetration of 30 lines per 100
  Inhabitants
• Nearly 7 Million Lines
• Full Completion of Network Digitalization

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Reasons Against Investment

• High Poverty Rate (44.5)
• 40 of Labor Force is Agricultural
• Major Industries
• Mining, Timber, Metallurgy
• Limited Access
• Under-Developed Infrastructure

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Reasons for Investment

• Developing Country (Access is Improving)
• Sound Economic Policies
• Nastases Focus on Foreign Investment
• 98.4 Literacy Rate
• Gini Index 31.1 (vs. 40.8 for USA)
• Involvement with the IMF
• Many Potential Opportunities

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Should We Invest??
YES!
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Resources

• http//www.cia.gov/
• http//www.students.missouri.edu/romsa/romania
• http//memory.loc.gov/frd/cs/rotoc.html
• http//www.ici.ro/romania
• http//www.romania.com
• http//www.FT.com