Speed Seminar: Romania Eastgate to Europe
- Date: 15 Sep 2011 : 15 Sep 2011
Speed Seminar: “ Road to Romania”
On September 15, EGP (European Gateways Platform) and DRN (Dutch Romanian Network), commissioned by NL Agency, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation, organised the Speed Seminar Road to Romania. Over 70 people, both Dutch and Romanian, attended the seminar that was held on the SS Rotterdam. Especially the presence of the Romanian Minister of Transport, Mrs. Anca Boagiu, who was in the Netherlands for further bilateral talks on the cooperation between the ports of Constanta and Rotterdam, made the seminar into a great success. The seminar ended quite special as well. Exactly this day the Dutch government decided to use her veto in the EU to prevent Romania from entering into Schengen. It even made Mrs. Boagiu return to the conference room to hold a very passionate plea to ‘do something about this’!
Steve Sol, International Port Development and Management at Port of Rotterdam was the first speaker and explained why they are keen to work with the Port of Constanta and how important the collaboration between the two ports is.
Secondly, Mario Schoofs, CCO at Wim Bosman Group, and Kees Kuijken, CEO at KLG Europe, held a duo presentation on their businesses in Romania. They told about their experiences, the existing fierce competition and the do’s and don’ts in Romania.
After a short break the seminar continued with Lars Breedveld, Logistics Manager at Samsung Electronics Benelux, sharing with us the experiences of Samsung in setting up their logistics subsidiary in Romania.
Cor Geertsma from ISDC further mediated a forum discussion between all speakers. By use of a couple of thesis various subjects were discussed interactively which lead to a very interesting discussion.
Highlight of the seminar was the keynote speech of Minister Anca Boagiu who, while sitting on a table with her feet on a chair, told us about what she had done from the start of her mandate in furthering Romania as the Eastern Gateway to Europe and how and why she is so pleased to work together with the Dutch authorities and companies . She openly answered all questions asked and assured the present Dutch business community that the Romanian Ministry of Transport is making strong progress in the development of the infrastructure in Romania.
The afternoon ended with informal drinks on the SS Rotterdam.
However, the announcement of our Government on Schengen that afternoon struck a sour note.
Mrs. Boagiu, hearing this while she was already in her taxi, immediately got out and returned to the conference room to keep a passionate plea calling up the Dutch business to do something about this, ending her plea in saying: “You believe in Romania, I count on your support.”
Presentations seminar