<span style="color: #000000;"><span style="font-size: large;">The city on Bega will become in 2021 the second Romanian city (after Sibiu) to have the name of European Cultural Capital. The decision has been recently made, the jury choosing in the final stage between Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, Baia Mare and Timisoara. Banat people have run with the project that has the slogan “Light the city through you”. Timisoara’s cultural offer is represented by 24 libraries, 19 cinemas, 11 conference halls, 14 contemporary art galleries, 6 theaters, 4 museums, one Philharmonic and one Opera, 47 heritage sites, 8 centers of cultural and creative industry etc. In 2021, there will be three European Capitals of Culture: one from the EU candidate countries (Serbia and Montenegro), one from Greece and one from Romania.</span></span>

<span style="color: #000000;"><span style="font-size: large;">The title of European Capital of Culture is assigned to a city in EU, for one year. Until 2019, 60 cities will have held the title of European Capital of Culture. “The concept is extraordinary, because it promotes intercultural dialogue and emphasizes the feeling of belonging to EU. We must bring Europe closer to people. Culture is the “core” from which Europe was built” – Karel Bartak, Head of Culture Unit of European Commission, stated.</span></span>

<strong><span style="color: #000000;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">7 ROMANIAN COMPANIES IN JAKARTA
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<span style="color: #000000;"> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">USH Pro Business, together with the Embassy of Indonesia in Bucharest, coordinated the presence of 7 Romanian companies at the 31<sup>st</sup> edition of Trade Expo Indonesia 2016 (Jakarta). The event was honored by over 5000 participants in the period 12<sup>th</sup> – 16<sup>th</sup> of October. These companies are interested in developing business relations with the Indonesian market. USH Pro Business was also present at World Cultural Forum, manifestation that took place in the same country, at Nusa Dua (10<sup>th</sup> – 13<sup>th</sup> of October) as well as the Exhibition Center in the forum, where contacts were made with participants and authorities from the Indonesian Ministry of Education and Culture, Cultural Association Romania – Indonesia, which exhibited cultural, tourism, agricultural etc. offers.</span></span></span>
<p align="LEFT"><strong><span style="color: #000000;"><span style="font-size: large;">17 million Euros from wine export
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<span style="color: #000000;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Last year, Romania exported 14 million liters of wine in value of 24 million Euros. The most significant export markets were Great Britain, Germany, China, USA, Canada, Netherlands and Bulgaria. According to the data of the Association of producers and exporters of wines from Romania (APEV), in terms of volume 78% were exported to European markets, the rest being covered by the ones outside this area. Among the important companies that participate to the consolidation of this activity are Cramele Recaș, Oprișor and Halewood, which export about 50% of the production, Domeniile S.E.R.V.E, over 43%, Săhăteni-Aurelia Vișinescu 40% etc. </span></span>

<strong><span style="color: #000000;"><span style="font-size: large;">POTAISSA entered the circuit</span></span></strong>

<span style="color: #000000;"><span style="font-size: large;">As a result of an investment of about 1 million lei, the company Turda Salt Mine modernized and inaugurated Potaissa hotel. According to the manager, Simona Baciu, “the hotel, which offers 24 rooms and apartments, now has a SPA center in which a medical office will also run. Overall, the investment will amount, until the end of the year, to about 4 million lei.” Last year, Turda Salt Mine was visited by almost 550,000 tourists, the highest number registered since its rehabilitation, in 2010. About 30% of them are foreigners and they came from Hungary, Israel, England, USA, Spain, China, Japan, Poland, Germany, Mexico.</span></span>
<p align="LEFT"><strong><span style="color: #000000;"><span style="font-size: large;">PREMIERE: Lake Village on DANUBE GORGES
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<span style="color: #000000;"><span style="font-size: large;">The investment is almost completed at Berzasca (Caras Severin county), on the bank of Danube Gorges. The project of the first lake village in Romania includes 30 cottages on pillars in the middle of the water. The entire complex is composed of two islands, Egreta and Pelicanul, each with 15 bungalows. The cottages (which have living rooms, kitchens and bedroom on the upper level) are connected by suspended cliffs, but pontoons for fishermen and a mini-harbor for boats, alleys for passengers, a bicycle track etc. will also be created. “There is also an arranged swimming pool, parking for 40 cars. This is only the first part of the project: 15 bungalows, swimming pool and reception. We will also have a restaurant which will be ready next year. There will be another 15 mirrored bungalows, but we are waiting for at least one investor wishing to build here” – investor Sorin Liubimirescu specifies. The project was also embraced by the city hall of Berzasca, which sensed that the economic and tourism development will generate jobs and additional finances to the local budget - Traian Mateescu, deputy Mayor of Berzasca commune stated.</span></span>

<span style="color: #000000;"><span style="font-size: large;">The lake holiday village received the financial support of the European Union, which contributed with almost 200,000 non-refundable Euros. The value of the construction amounts until now to over 600,000 Euros.</span></span>
<p align="LEFT"><strong><span style="color: #000000;"><span style="font-size: large;">Athenee Palace-Hilton, a new investment
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<span style="color: #000000;"><span style="font-size: large;">The company Ana Hotels, controlled by the Copos family, announced the start of certain investments in value of about 20 million Euros that will have as subject Athenee Palace – Hilton Hotel of Bucharest. They shall take place on several stages and they include the full renovation of rooms (which will last until 2020), the construction of a new hotel body with about 70 rooms as well as a conference hall of 900 square meters. The investments are supported by the majority shareholder from funds and dividends resulting from the sale of Ana IMEP of Pitesti to the Nippon group Nidec.</span></span>