CRAIOVA Economic future LOCATION Craiova lies in the South-West of Romania. It is the residential city of Dolj County and the most important economic, social and cultural center of Oltenia South-East Development Region. Craiova is the second most important city after Bucharest, at the South of the Carpathian Mountains and comprises approximately 40% of Dolj County total population. • covers 8.141 ha surface area • includes 13 districts. • number of inhabitants of Craiova: 298,488. • number of inhabitants of Dolj county: 660,544. ADVANTAGES Craiova and Dolj County are located in the plain area of Romania. The hydrological network in Dolj County consists of the Danube River and the Jiu River. Energy resources in Dolj County: • oil and natural gas with exploitation centers in Brădești, Ghercești, Coșoveni • In Craiova and the immediate vicinity, there are the headquarters of 2 large thermal power plants, with installed capacities of over 1000 MW: Ișalnița and Craiova II. The average annual temperature in Craiova is 10.8 degrees Celsius. Inhabitants Craiova: 298.488. Inhabitants Dolj: 660.544. Craiova is a geostrategic landmark for the cross-border region, being located halfway between the 3 capitals - Sofia, Bucharest and Belgrade. Proof - the meeting in Craiova, in 2015, of the 3 prime ministers of Romania, Bulgaria and Serbia, when the Craiova Group was founded. Craiova is part of the Craiova Metropolitan Area - an inter-community development association established in 2008, on the basis of a voluntary partnership, for a balanced development of the territory. CRAIOVA METROPOLITAN AREA This association was made between the Municipality of Craiova and the localities in the nearby area of influence. They have developed partnerships on multiple levels (economic, social, communication, transport etc.). CRAIOVA METROPOLITAN AREA • gathers 356,544 inhabitants - 54% of the entire population of Dolj County (660,544) • extends over a distance of about 30 km around the Municipality of Craiova • covers an area of 149,862 ha - 20% of the total area of Dolj County (741,400 ha). • includes 24 associates. ACCESSIBILITY Craiova provides very good accessibility and connection. It is located at the cross point of the Trans-Carpathian, Danubian and Trans- European communication arterial routes. ACCESSIBILITY Roads Routes: • Craiova is 121 km away from Piteşti-Bucharest-Constanţa highway. • The express road Craiova – Pitești will be soon finished. It has a total length of 121 km. • The Craiova-Calafat expressway (90 km) leads to the Calafat-Vidin bridge (railway and road) and connects to road and rail transport to Bulgaria, but also to naval transport, through Calafat Port. • The national road Craiova-Bechet (70 km) connects to road and rail transport to Bulgaria and to naval transport through the Port of Bechet. RAILWAYS ROUTES Craiova is a national railway joint, with direct connection to the international railway transportation. Air Routes CRAIOVA AIRPORT: ● Located 7 km from downtown Craiova, on Craiova–Bucharest highway, the airport serves the entire region of Oltenia. ● It is the closest air gate to Dolj, Gorj, Mehedinți, Olt, and Vâlcea counties and also to Serbia and Bulgaria. ● It is the only airport that serves the 2.3 million inhabitants of the region. CRAIOVA AIRPORT: Infrastructure Runway: 2.500 x 45 m Airplane runway: 380 x 25 m The boarding/landing platform with the surface of 24.000 m² 8 parking spots for type C aircrafts Operating schedule: 24 H The security system respects the ICAO rules, 6 X-Ray devices being available, with the possibility of processing 600 passengers/hour and having 2 separate flows of passengers and luggage for departures and arrivals. Regular flights in 2021: Londra – Luton Birmingham Bologna Milano Bergamo Roma Ciampino Barcelona Madrid Paris - Beauvais Koln Bruxelles Forli Charter flights in 2021: Antalya Bodrum Hurghada Sharm El Sheikh Main investments in operation An expansion project is currently underway: . the arrivals terminal in the eastern part of the existing terminal and the departures terminal to the west of the existing terminal. the built area related to the proposed extensions will be 1509,66 sqm and 2250,06 sqm developed area . the total value of the project will sum up to 6.4 million euros. A new car parking with a capacity of approximately 200 parking places. Complete security (indoor/outdoor) of Craiova International Airport, an investment about 16 million euros. Extension and modernization of Craiova International Airport. The project has an estimated value of 76 million euros and aims to build a new terminal. ECONOMIC INFO ECONOMIC INFO According to the information provided by the Dolj County Institution of Statistics the economic situation, in 2020, in Craiova municipality, was as follows: • Registered unemployed – 1751 persons, of which 1150 women • Average number of employees – 110596 • Number of active units on the main branches of activity – 10778. 1. Wholesale and retail trade, repair and maintenance of motor vehicles and motorcycles – 3742 2. Real estate transactions, professional scientific and technical activities, administrative services – 1732 3. Manufacturing industry – 975 4. Transport, storage, courier – 973 5. Constructions – 785 Considered, in the twentieth century, one of the most important industrial centers in Romania (factories of cars, planes, locomotives, agricultural equipment etc.), Craiova has become attractive to investors again, due to the policies adopted in recent years and the facilities offered by the local administration. Craiova opened a business center in 2013 in Great Britain (Bridge Project). So far, Craiova made available to investors, in partnership with the Dolj County Council, two industrial parks - one with an area of 18 hectares Craiova Industrial Park and High-Tech Industry Park Craiova - with an area of 31.38 hectares. In Craiova is the headquarters of FORD Romania, other important major investors being from Turkey, Great Britain, Germany etc. Craiova City Hall has created the Job Market, through which hundreds of available jobs are announced every month. Craiova is among the only two municipalities in Romania co-opted into the International Association of Danube Cities and Municipalities. ADVANTAGES FOR INVESTORS Facilities made available to investors: ● the exception from the payment of local taxes (land, constructions, other taxes), ● the exception from the payment of branches for utilities (industrial water and drinking water, sanitation, sewerage). ● land price 0.10 euros/sqm ● except for building permits payments ● minimis aids of 200,000 euros ● highly qualified workforce. Craiova has a national and international recognized University training center EDUCATIONAL OFFER EDUCATION For the academic year 2020-2021: • the University of Craiova has a number of 17881 students, of which 655 are foreigners, • the University of Medicine and Pharmacy 4559 students, 3849 romanians and 710 foreigners. • public high schools: 45 in Dolj county and 23 in Craiova • public high schools with technological profile - 14 • high school with teaching in French – 1 Craiova City Hall has a strategic partnership with the educational, administrative and economic environment to support dual education in local high schools. Ford Romania is the main partner. Dual education in Craiova: tourism and food, mechanical, 4 Fields electromechanical and electrical 7 Companies partners 5 High schools partners 188 Places for the current school year EDUCATION One of the best example of good practice in Education for Craiova administration is the CRAF project - Ford Resource and Commitment Center The Ford Resource and Engagement Center (FREC) is a community, entrepreneurial center where young people have the opportunity to gain new skills for the benefit of the community. It benefits from financial support from Ford Motor Company Fund. Is a collaboration project between FORD Romania - Craiova City Hall - University of Craiova. The Ford Resource and Engagement Center is the only one of its kind in Europe and brings together non-profit partners to serve the community. HIGH-TECH INDUSTRY PARK CRAIOVA HIGH-TECH INDUSTRY PARK CRAIOVA • It was set up by the Decision of the Dolj County Council in 2015 • It is situated in the eastern part of Craiova on the European road E574, at the entrance from Bucharest to Craiova, about 6 km from the city center, near Craiova International Airport • The total area of High-Tech Industry Park Craiova is 31.38 ha, of which 29.85 ha have the title of industrial park HIGH-TECH INDUSTRY PARK CRAIOVA Facilities The industrial park offers to any investor the following fiscal facilities: • remission from the payment of the land tax; • remission from the payment of the building tax, corresponding to the buildings that are part of the infrastructure of the industrial park; • utilities up to the factory gate; • remission from the payment of any taxes due to the local budget of Craiova Municipality for issuing any urbanism certificates, building permits and / or building demolition permits for the lands and buildings from the infrastructure of the High-Tech Industry Park Craiova • minimis aids of 200,000 euros HIGH-TECH INDUSTRY PARK CRAIOVA Residents: At present, in the High-Tech Industry Park Craiova are located 48 residents. They rented an area of 233,857 m2, will make investments worth 28,577,340 Euros and will create 2,540 jobs. Occupancy rate of the industrial park: 100%. The 48 residents work in various economic fields: • printing activities, specialized