Conference on JIU VALLEY REGION: Challenges in Local Development

Petrosani, 23 & 24 June 2004
Venue: Petrosani City Hall

Agenda

Day One Wednesday, June 23rd, 2004

10.00 Registration

Plenary Session

11.00 Welcoming Address
Mr. , Vice Prefect of Hunedoara County
11.15 Introductory remarks
Mr. Octavian Costescu, President of the Jiu Valley Association
11.20 Where are we in the JVR development process? View presentation (Romanian)
Mr. Octavian Costescu, President of the Jiu Valley Association
11.45 JVR’s Competitiveness and Poverty Assessment - main findings View presentation (Romanian)
Mrs. Arabela Negulescu, Deputy Country Manager, World Bank
12.15 Key Messages
H. E. Mrs. Elena Dumitru, Minister
Mr. Owaise Saadat, Country Manager World Bank

13.00 Lunch break

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14.00 Panel 1 Enterprise Sector and Business Environment

• How financially health is the enterprise sector in JVR?
• Which is the financial viability of the Hard Coal Company and how it affects the business environment in JVR?
• Which are the characteristics of the business environment in JVR?
• How a supportive business environment can generate economic growth and job creation?
• What is needed to move from the current business environment in the JVR to a better one?

Moderators:
Mrs. Virginia Gheorghiu, Business Environment Specialist
Mr. Lorenzo Constantino, Private Sector Specialist, WB

Panelists
Mrs. Arabela Negulescu, Deputy Country Manager, WB View presentation (Romanian)
Mr. Ionel Lumezianu, Information Analyst, WB View presentation (Romanian)
Mr. George Teseleanu, Local business man
Mr. Mihael Melczer, Local business man View presentation (Romanian)
Mr. Daniel Surulescu, Hard Coal Mining Company View presentation (Romanian)
Mrs. Elisabeta Nichifor, CRM Director - Sofwin View presentation (Romanian)
Mr. Alexandru Printz - BCR View presentation (Romanian)

15.45 Coffee Break

 

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16.00 Panel 2 Public Services to Serve Business Needs

• What is the capacity of the local authorities to provide public services to serve business needs?
• What is the status of the built environment to make it attractive for business retention, expansion or recruitment?
• What are the Government programs for building or improving key access infrastructure?
• What are the programs for developing, improving industrial sites and buildings?
• Which are the nodes and corridors for development?

Moderator:
Mrs. Ileana Tureanu, Secretary of State

Panelists
Mr. Dorin Mantescu, Ministry of Public Finance View presentation (Romanian)
Mr. Liviu Ianasi, Urban development specialist View presentation (Romanian)
Mr. Nicolae Turdean, Ministry of Economy and Commerce View presentation (Romanian)
Mr. Ilie Botgros, Aninoasa Mayor View presentation (Romanian)
Mr. Emil Parau, Straja Tourism Association View presentation (Romanian)

Jiu Valley Zonal Development Strategy View presentation (Romanian)

17.45 First day closing remarks
Mr. Octavian Costescu, President of the JVA

Day Two - Thursday 24 June 2004

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9.00 Panel 3 Poverty and social assistance

• Why is extreme poverty so concentrated in the Jiu Valley Region?
• What can be done to reduce the number of poor people?
• What are the most important aspects to increase liveability conditions for people?
• Which are the Government social assistance programs that target JVR?

Moderators
Mr. Ioan Cindrea, Secretary of State, Ministry of Labor
Mr. Constantin Nelega, Hunedoara Prefecture

Panelists
Mrs. Manuela Stanculescu, Sociology specialist View presentation (Romanian)
Mr. Dumitru Sandu, Sociology professor View presentation (Romanian)
Mr. Ioan Marcel Socol, AJOFM View presentation (Romanian)
Mr. Iulian Mitrache, ANDPRZM View presentation (Romanian)
Mrs. Carmen Tarnovschi, FPIPMMP, View presentation (Romanian)
Mrs. Iuliana Cimponer, Lupeni Townhall

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10.00 Panel 4 Institutional non-economic conditions for Cooperation

• Can the community act and respond like a single organism?
• What is the role of the non economic stakeholders in the JVR development?
• How can the social capital of the JVR be improved?

Moderators
Mr. Aurel Rizescu, consultant, WB
Mr. Alin Bunescu, DEEP Foundation

Panelists
Mr. Dumitru Sandu, Sociology professor View presentation (Romanian)
Mr. Vasile Ioan Savu, JV Trade Union League View presentation (Romanian)
Mrs. Liliana Vasilescu, FRDS View presentation (Romanian)
Mr. Valentin Fulger University of Petrosani View presentation (Romanian)

11.15 Coffee Break

11.30 Local development - Lessons from international experience View presentation (English)
Ms. Aurel Rizescu, Consultant, WB
Mr. Lorenzo Constantino, Private Sector Specialist, WB

12.30 Agenda for future - Stakeholders Perspectives
Discussions about recommendations and further actions in order to make a strong and realistic development strategy in Jiu Valley Region.

Reports from the Moderators
Role of the JVA - Mr. Marian Groza, AVJ View presentation (Romanian)
Strategic approach for the future - Mr. Octavian Costescu, President of AVJ

14.30 Closing Remarks