Radio România Internațional

Tag: IMF estimates

  • October 10, 2023

    October 10, 2023


    ZELENSKYY IN ROMANIA – Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, is today paying
    an official visit to Romania, the first since the full-scale Russian invasion
    of Ukraine last year. Volodymyr Zelenskyy will meet president Klaus Iohannis.
    According to the presidency, the visit comes as further confirmation of
    Romania’s unconditional support for Ukraine in the context of Russia’s illegal
    war against this country and of the good bilateral relation. President Iohannis
    will focus on constructive and pragmatic approaches to the key areas of
    bilateral cooperation, in particular the expansion of cross-border connections,
    economic ties, Ukraine’s European and Euro-Atlantic integration as well as the
    proper observance of the rights of national minorities. The agenda for talks
    also includes regional security and the Ukrainian grain crisis. Upon arriving
    in Bucharest, Volodymyr Zelenskyy hailed Romania’s support for Ukraine. In a
    message on social media, the Ukrainian president wrote that Romania’s
    solidarity allows the two nations to act as security providers in the world,
    food security in particular. President Zelenskyy is also expected to meet Prime
    Minister Marcel Ciolacu.


    ATTACKS IN ISRAEL – The death toll of the latest conflict in the Middle East
    between Israel and the terrorist organization Hamas has exceeded 1,500 dead, of
    whom 900 in Israel and 600 in Gaza. Over 2,600 Israeli citizens and some 3,700
    Palestinians have been wounded in the attacks and ensuing retaliation strikes.
    Hamas has captured over 100 hostages, mostly Israelis, but also citizens of
    other states and has threatened to kill one hostage every time civilian
    objectives are bombed. Israel has called up an unprecedented number of 300,000
    reservists and has built up a sizable force on the border with Gaza. Defense
    Minister Yoav Gallant announced Israel has now imposed a total blockade on
    Gaza, after cutting supplies of electricity, fuel and food via Israel, a
    decision met with criticism from international humanitarian organizations. On
    the other hand, Arab League Foreign Ministers on Wednesday will convene in an
    emergency meeting to address the crisis in Palestine and Israel.


    ROMANIANS IN ISRAEL – The
    government is looking for solutions to repatriate an additional 780 Romanian
    nationals who want to leave Israel. They will be brought home onboard flights
    operated by the national airline TAROM, which will take the total number of
    Romanians repatriated to 1,600. Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu will today hold
    talks with government members and the head of the Competition Council after
    some airlines have refused to provide refunds to Romanians who have been
    repatriated and have offered them other trips instead. The Romanian official
    has thanked TAROM for taking the risk of flying to conflict areas to bring Romanians
    home.






    EXERCISE – Over 400 servicemen are
    taking part in the Steadfast Jupiter 2023. The opening ceremony is today taking
    place in the Getica Training Center in Cincu, Brașov County. Taking place are military
    from 17 allied states and over 20 subunits of NATO command structures.
    Steadfast Jupiter is organized by the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SHAPE)
    and focuses on a 360-degree approach to the security and collective defence of
    the North Atlantic Alliance. According to the Defense Ministry, the exercise is
    intended to increase the cohesion and interoperability among the armed forces
    involved, being an excellent opportunity to test the response and the
    command-and-control abilities as well as the defense posture in a geopolitical
    environment characterized by multiple threats.




    IMF – The International Monetary Fund estimates an
    economic growth of 2.2% for Romania this year compared to the previous forecast
    of 2.4%, according to a report the IMF presented today. For 2024, the IMF
    anticipates a 3.8% economic growth. The annual inflation rate forecast stands
    at 10.7% in 2023 and at 5.8% in 2024. According to a report of a recent IMF
    mission to Bucharest, budget deficit will stand at 6% this year and 5% next
    year. The head of the IMF mission in Romania, Jan Kees Martijn said the
    government’s fiscal package is designed to curb public spending, although
    additional measures are required to boost efficiency and revenues.




    FILM – The winners of the Cannes, Berlin and
    Venice film festivals this year will be screened alongside much anticipated
    Romanian productions as part of the 14th edition of the Festival Les Films de Cannes a Bucarest, held over October
    20-29. Over 43 features and 15 shorts from 15 countries have been selected for
    this year’s edition. (VP)













  • July 28, 2021

    July 28, 2021

    COVID-19 – The number of infections in Romania
    remains low, although it has gone up in recent days. According to the head of
    the vaccination campaign, medical doctor Valeriu Gheorghiţă, nearly 90% of the
    people currently diagnosed with COVID-19 are not vaccinated, while over 91% of
    related fatalities were people who hadn’t taken the anti-COVID jab. Right now,
    some 30% of Romania’s total population got immunized. Starting August 2, young
    people aged 12-17 can also receive the Moderna vaccine, Valeriu Gheorghiţă
    said. The Romanian official went on to say that, by mid-September, Romania
    might start administering the third dose of the vaccine for at-risk categories,
    such as health workers, chronically ill and people over 65 years of age. So
    far, 4.8 million people have completed the full vaccination scheme in Romania.
    On Wednesday, 159 new COVID infections were reported and 1 related death. 47
    people are in intensive care.


    GOVERNMENT – The Government is today discussing plans to further ease
    anti-COVID restrictions starting August 1. Additional measures will be taken in
    the case of vaccinated people, those who present a negative PCR test, no older
    than 72 hours, or a rapid test no older than 24 hours, or those who have had
    the disease in the last six months. All of the aforementioned categories will
    be allowed to attend cultural events held outdoors within the limit of 2,500
    people, in those towns and villages where the incidence rate is below 3 per
    thousand inhabitants, and within the limit of 75,000 people where the rate is
    below 2 per thousand. The 2,500-limit can be exceeded in the case of vaccinated
    people. For sports events, crowd attendance is limited to 50% of the venue’s
    full capacity. Also today, the Government is expected to discuss a bill
    modifying the adoption law, by cutting waiting times and making the application
    process non-discriminatory.


    HEAT WAVE – Meteorologists have issued a code orange alert against
    extreme heat and thermal discomfort in seven counties in the south and the
    capital Bucharest, in place until Saturday. Maximum temperatures are expected
    to reach 40 degrees Centigrade locally. A code yellow alert against extreme
    heat is in place until Saturday for all other regions, with highs ranging from
    34 to 39 degrees. Passenger and freight trains will travel at reduced speeds
    during the interval. Road traffic authorities have also warned some
    restrictions may be introduced due to the extreme heat.


    IMF – The International Monetary Fund on Tuesday maintained its
    6% economic growth estimate for global economy this year and upgraded its
    outlook on the United States and other developed economies, while downgrading
    its forecast for a number of developing countries affected by the fallout of
    COVID-19. In the case of Romania, in October last year the IMF estimated a
    growth rate of 4.6% this year. The new outlook expects Romanian economic growth
    to reach 6% this year. Additionally, the IMF has upgraded its forecast for
    2022, from 3.9% as originally estimated, to 4.8%. According to the new report,
    Romania’s economic growth rates for 2021 and 2022 will stand above the European
    average.


    INFRINGEMENT – The European Commission decided to start infringement
    proceedings against 12 Member States, including Romania, for their failure to
    transpose EU rules banning unfair trade practices in the agricultural and food
    supply chain. The deadline for transposing the regulations into national law
    was May 1, 2021. The Commission sent letters of formal notice to Austria,
    Belgium, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Italy, Poland, Portugal,
    Romania, Slovenia and Spain requesting them to adopt and notify the relevant
    measures. The Member States have now two months to reply.


    BEAR CENSUS – A bear census worth 11 million Euro
    started on Wednesday in Romania. Minister for Investments and European
    Projects, Cristian Ghinea, explained the project is funded under the Large
    Infrastructure Operational Programme. There will be two lines of investment,
    one focusing on the bear census itself, while the other will help implement state-of-the-art
    technologies aimed at limiting the interaction of bears with humans. On the
    other hand, the Senate convened in an extraordinary sitting today to discuss
    the Government’s emergency decree regulating emergency intervention in case of
    bear attacks. Adopted last week, the bill stipulates bears can be tranquilized
    and relocated in low-risk cases, or even shot if they pose a risk to the
    livelihood of people or their livestock.


    OLYMPICS – Romania has won two medals in Wednesday’s
    rowing finals at the Tokyo Olympics: Ancuţa
    Bodnar and Simona Radiş won gold in the women’s double scull event, while
    Romania’s four crew, made up of Mihăiţă Ţigănescu, Mugurel Semciuc, Ştefan
    Berariu and Cosmin Pascari scooped silver. Adding to the two medals is
    Ana-Maria Popescu’s silver medal scooped in the women’s epee event. Also on
    Wednesday, three Romanian rowing crews secured qualification to the A Finals:
    the women’s lightweight double scull crew, the men’s pair and the women’s eight
    crew. In swimming, David Popovici has qualified to the A final of the 100-meter
    freestyle event from fifth position with a time of 47.72. Earlier this month,
    Popovici set a new world junior record at the European championships in Rome. (VP)