LOGISTICS NOTE

THEME: PROCUREMENT INNOVATION AND STRATEGY

ATHÉNÉE HILTON 1-3 EPISCOPIEI STREET, ,

TABLE OF CONTENTS Contents

Objectives ...... 3 Results...... 3 Host, Participants and Agenda ...... 3 Presentations and Discussions ...... 3 Venue and Duration ...... 4 Forum Conclusions and Follow Up...... 4 Forum Coordination Team ...... 4

Tickets for Country Delegates ...... 4 Transportation and Visa Fees ...... 4 Taxi ...... 4 Free-lance driver...... 5 Accommodation ...... 5 Hotel address...... 6 Lunch, Coffee Break and Dinner...... 6 Payment of Per Diem, Taxi and Visa related Costs to Delegates ...... 6 Translation Services ...... 6 Currency ...... 6

Weather ...... 6 Brief Information about Bucharest ...... 7 Places to visit in Bucharest: Please visit https://www.viator.com/Bucharest/d22134 8 Main contacts for all PRIMO related matters:...... 8

2

Objectives The 2018 marks the 14th year for this Forum. The main event objectives are i) to provide an opportunity for public procurement agencies of participating countries to learn and share their experiences and practices in public procurement reforms, with a special focus on innovation in public procurement and preparation of procurement strategy; and ii) to promote and foster regional and global cooperation and networking in public procurement, and good governance to further improve service delivery to the citizens through efficient procurement implementation.

This year, theme of the Forum is “Procurement Innovation and Strategy”. Results At the end of the Forum, each country will present procurement related actions that are to be monitored throughout the year. This is the main output of the Forum. Learning from their peers, each team formulates an action plan, upload it on the shared website monitored by the Governments, IFI’s and other procurement experts. Host, Participants and Agenda The 14th PRIMO forum will be hosted this year by the National Agency for Public Procurement (ANAP) of Romania. The Forum will be held in Bucharest, Romania during the period of May 8- 10, 2018. It will be co-sponsored by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and the World Bank and in cooperation with European Investment Bank (EIB), SIGMA, OECD, and UNICTRAL. The Forum is expected to be attended by around 100 people. These include about 50 high level government officials responsible for public procurement in 24 countries (Albania, Armenia, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, FYR Macedonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyz, Moldova, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Bulgaria) and representatives from the ADB, IsDB, EBRD, EU, SIGMA, EIB, OECD, WTO, UNCITRAL, WB and others. Presentations and Discussions Speakers and participants from all participating countries and the representatives of the development partners will make presentations on their country experiences on the forum theme “Procurement Invocation and Strategy” that will be useful for other countries.

Special speakers from the USA and the Netherlands will also participate.

3

Venue and Duration The Forum will be held at the Bucharest Athénée Palace Hilton Hotel, Romania, during the May 8 thru 10, 2018. Forum Conclusions and Follow Up On the third day of the Forum, the Country Delegates will discuss and propose actions that they plan to work on during the next year with focus on this year’s Forum theme of the forum in their respective country as well as other procurement reforms of their choice. They will also report on their achievements of the last year action plan. Forum Coordination Team The Forum is coordinated by a team lead from the government side by Mr. Bogdan Puşcaş, President of ANAP and from the co-sponsors (WB, EBRD, ADB and IsDB) by Majed M. El-Bayya, Lead Procurement Specialist, World Bank. All staff in the World Bank field offices in ECA region will take a role in the coordination with the Government counterparts. Each of the cosponsoring donors assigned a focal point for coordination with the World Bank forum coordinator.

Tickets for Country Delegates The air tickets for Country Delegates will be arranged with the assistance of the World Bank country office staff in each participating country. Country delegates are requested to make sure that their travel request has been prepared and approved by their World Bank contact person. The permissible class for travel is “economy”. An approved trip request will also help in processing the reimbursement requests, if any. Transportation and Visa Fees Participants are responsible for obtaining Visas and make their own arrangements for transportation from/to airports in their home country and in Bucharest. Please keep receipts to claim reimbursement through the relevant World Bank Country Office. Taxi The airport has an effective system of calling a taxi. From the “Taxi by request” helpdesk you can make an online order or call, it is very simple and safe. You can choose any of the companies listed there. Once booked, you will see on the receipt both company's name and identification number of the taxi. Airport staff can offer guidance and will allow access to the cab.

Ordering taxi at the Otopeni/Henri Coanda airport: The taxi station is at the exit of the terminal, on the ground floor. http://www.bucharestairports.ro/otp/index.php?cat=16&article=55

Charges: 1, 39 lei/km – 3, 50 lei/km

4

• Maximum Price for distance - 3.5 lei / km;

• Maximum Price for starting - 3.5 lei;

• Maximum Price for standing - 35 lei / hour.

• Taxi trip to city center takes around 25 minutes.

• Taxi access in public parking is prohibited by law.

Attention! Do not let you accost by “pirates” taxi drivers! Accosting customers, both by taxi drivers and by intermediaries, is sanctioned by taxi law (Law 168/2010 on the approval of the Government Emergency Ordinance 34/2010). The implementation of the sanctions, in the airport’s area, is made by Transport Police. Telephone of the National Authority for Consumer’s Protection: +4021 9551 Free-lance driver The freelance driver whom we usually hire for airport pick-ups, (Aurel Tudorache, tel: +4 0722 257 953) will be waiting for you at the airport, in the arrivals area, with a name sign. Email to book your transfer in advance: [email protected]. The cost of the transfer from the airport is 25 EUR, or 35 USD, which is to be paid to the driver (he will give you a receipt). Uber is a good option as well.

Hotel transfer: Travelers with hotel bookings can arrange for a car from the hotel where they are booked to be sent to collect them.

Gama Proconsult Travel agency: The cost of the transfer from the airport is EUR16/ USD17. To book, Email to: [email protected]/Cc to: [email protected], Mobile: +40 744 755 774 - Serban Pall Accommodation The Athénée Palace Hilton Hotel is the place for accommodation and venue for the 14th Procurement, Integrity, Management and Openness (PRIMO) Forum. Hotel bookings for all confirmed country delegates are arranged. The room rate includes access to Full Buffett Breakfast in Roberto’s Restaurant, internet connection, access to the Health Club, and will be paid by the sponsors for the country delegates (maximum two participants from each country). A spouse or additional person in the room will cause an extra charge of RON 30 /room/night + taxes, per a standard room, to be paid from own funds of the participant. Standard check-in time is 17:00 and check-out time is noon. All extras (phone, room service etc.) will be paid by the participants out of own funds during the check-out. Early check-in option will be arranged with the Hotel for some participants as per their travel itinerary.

5

Hotel address Athénée Palace Hilton 1-3 Episcopiei Street, Bucharest, 010292 Tel: +40 21 3033777 Fax: +40 21 3154400 Email: [email protected] Website: http://www.atheneepalace-hotel.ro/en

Lunch, Coffee Break and Dinner All lunches, coffee breaks, two formal dinners and a social event will be arranged during the forum’s three days. For updated information on date, time and location please check Forum Agenda. The lunches and coffee breaks as well as one formal dinner will be paid by the sponsors for all participants. The Host is also inviting all participants to a dinner in the first days of the Forum. Payment of Per Diem, Taxi and Visa related Costs to Delegates There will be no per diem payable to any country delegates. However, based on actual receipts, the World Bank will process reimbursement of meals on the days not covered by the Host and Sponsors as well as taxi and visa related costs.

Translation Services Simultaneous English-Russian and English – Romanian translation will be provided for the whole period of the Event.

Currency The local currency is Romanian Leu (RON). Money may be easily exchanged at the Otopeni airport, hotels, banks or exchange offices in the streets. The exchange rate can vary every day due to a free floating of the local currency. The reference exchange rate is established by the National Bank of Romania, and may be checked at www.bnr.ro.

Weather The temperature is expected to be around +20° Celsius during the day and +11° Celsius at night. There is also possibility of rain. A warm sweater, light rain coat or warm jacket is recommended for chilly evenings. Over the course of the year typical wind speed vary from 1 m/s to 7 m/s (light air to moderate breeze), rarely exceeding 11 m/s (strong breeze). Sunrise at 05:55 AM local time, sunset 20:30 PM local time.

6

Brief Information about Bucharest Bucharest, is the largest city in the country with approximately 2 million inhabitants. The principal airport in the country is Henri Coanda International Airport, located 16.5km (10.3 mi) northwest of Bucharest. Any lingering doubts that Romania is a normal reformist place on the go are discarded as the visitor is welcome in Romanian, the official language. The "Little Paris" label may have been shredded by decades of war and oppression, but the Romanian capital's rich culture is thriving once again. Bucharest today is open and green – a place where tradition partners with modern life! Here's what to see and do. Arts and entertainment, music, opera and ballet in Bucharest during the winter season at very cheap prices, with outdoor entertainment during the summer months. The National Theatre shows classical and contemporary performances. All theatres close during July and August. Opera performances take place at the Romanian Opera House. Romanian Athenaeum is home to the George Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra. Folk shows can be seen at the Rapsodia Romana Artistic Ensemble Hall.

Museums such as the National Art Museum, the National Museum of Contemporary Art, the Museum of the Romanian Peasant, and the National History Museum, Dimitrie Gusti National Village Museum (a must see), the former Ceauşescu Residence, Grigore Antipa National Museum of Natural History, or the Jewish History Museum. The Village Museum in the north of the city has almost 300 rural buildings including several churches. Also, you may visit Museum or the Palace of the Parliament (the second largest building in the world. You need to book your visit in advance at http://cic.cdep.ro/en/visiting/opening-hours-and-tariffs). Please note that most museums are closed on Mondays. Old religious sites: The Great Synagogue, Stavropoleos Monastery, Kretzulescu Church

Gardens and parks, such as Cismigiu Park, Herastrau Park, Tineretului Park. On top of this: Vacaresti – the urban delta, the only one of its kind in continental Europe. It is the unbelievable story of how nature can bring back to life an abandoned urban area creating an unforgettable experience for visitors and a beautiful island for flora and fauna.

Guided tours can be booked at least 2 days in advance. You will be able to discover old buildings with incredible history, the gardens, the musical background, food tours, night tours and more. Stroll with a knowledgeable guide through the capital’s most interesting neighborhoods, stopping along the way to hear local legends and historical anecdotes. Nights out – many clubs are in the historic city center, and also plenty good restaurants in the city. Cinemas such as Scala, Patria and Hollywood Multiplex (www.hmultiplex.ro) show films in the original language with subtitles in Romanian. Further information on local events can be found on the following: www.whatsonwhen.com and World Events Guide

7

(www.worldeventsguide.com). On http://www.eventim.ro/en you can find out the next main events of entertainment in Bucharest, and you can also purchase tickets. Places to visit in Bucharest: Please visit https://www.viator.com/Bucharest/d22134

Main contacts for all PRIMO related matters:

• Ms. Andreea Florescu, Team Assistant, contact at [email protected], phone: +4021 20 10 317

• Ms. Carmen Calin, Procurement Specialist, contact at [email protected],

• Mr. Majed M Elbayya, Lead procurement specialist, the World Bank Forum coordinator

National Agency for Public Procurement contact representative:

• Ms. Raluca Marțian, [email protected], Head of Unit, Public Policies and System Coordination, National Agency for Public Procurement

• Ms. Ana Ungureanu, [email protected], Communications Expert, National Agency for Public Procurement

8