maribor’12
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Drvengrad Welcome to Emir Kusturica's Green Ethnic Wooden Town P. 44-45
Monthly Free Press About Countries, Cities, People, Companies, Projects & the Environment
JUNE-JULY 2012
GREECE
GREEN ENERGY
Posidonia 2012
NEWS in 1’
world’s biggest shipping event
*Serbia world solar energy player Serbia will host the world’s largest individual solar energy park. The solar power project should bring 1,000 MW of additional electricity and the solar park should cover a total area of 3,000 hectares. The solar energy project worth about €2 billion is expected to take several years to complete and would provide employment for 2,500 to 3,500 people.
MBA
*Drive up Bulgarian green energy
Education in SE Europe
The combined capacity of all renewable energy facilities produces about 11% of Bulgaria’s total energy. According to Bulgaria’s commitment in the EU, its green energy is supposed to be 16% of its total production in 2020.
*Croatia’s renewable energy
20 Business Schools
Several conferences dealing with renewable energy in Croatia have shown a growing interest from international investors in the country, which in 2013, will become the youngest member state of the EU.
Oil and gas producer Petrom will put €200 million in the Petrobrazi refinery by 2014, adding to the €400 million it has already invested.
Think Entrepreneurial
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Posidonia: 1,800exhibitors from almost 90 countries and 25,000 visitors.“The event’s success and global appeal sends a strong message to the Greek and international communities that Greece was, is and will always be the homeport of global shipping”stated Mr Veniamis,President of the P.11 Union Greek Shipown-
ROMANIA
YES Now We Can! ROMANIAN BUSINESS LEADERS FOUNDATION
Andreea Rosca:
“We think that we have enough business leaders in Romania to affect change in the country in the important 5 P.3 most areas. ”
SE EUROPE
TOURISM 2012
*Romanian Petrom will invest €200 million
Franc Kangler
Issue n. 9
Is it the right time to invest in R Estate?
Summer Exit to the Balkans
Maribor Mayor
People Need dialogue, solidarety & cooperation BuildPress had the opportunity to interview Mr. Franc Kangler Mayor of Maribor , Slovenia, the city which shares the title of European Capital of Culture this year.
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Unemployment
JOB crisis
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Soaring unemployment is changing the labour landscape, with young people invariably bearing the brunt. Many have given up looking for jobs, while others are emigrating or staying on in the education system.
World news p.6..European news p.7..Expo & Trade fairs p.11..Cartoons p. 46-48
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MY PAGE
Infographics
EDUCATION
worth more
HIGHER EDUCATION
than a thousand words Kyriaki Balkoudi Editor in chief
YOUNG ADULTS CARE ABOUT 8 BIG ISSUES The future of social activism More young adults (ages 20-28) are now actively supporting the causes they care about. They are taking real actions in ways that companies and organisations should take note of.
Infographics by BPress
LABOUR
UNEMPLOYMENT MAY 2012 Euro area unemployment rate at 11.1%
11,1% MAY ‘12
MAKES PERMANENT EMPLOYMENT MORE LIKELY
On average, between 10 % and 15 % of employees aged 25-64 in the European Union, have temporary contracts. This general figure hides great variations between countries. The lowest levels of temporary employment are registered in Estonia, Lithuania, Malta and Romania, while the highest levels are reported by Spain, Poland and Portugal. In these countries, about a quarter of the total work force is employed on fixed-term contracts. As with the different distribution of tertiary graduates across various employment sectors, the introduction of labour market reforms in several countries in recent years, which have enabled increased flexibility in the types and length of contracts, have probably played a part. The proportion of temporary employees decreases along with the increase in the level of education attained. Employees with medium and higher education levels are more likely to obtain permanent contracts than employees who completed their education at lower levels.
BUSINESS
Greek Shipping Report Q2 2012
]
[
The euro area seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 11.1% in May 2012.
Eurostat estimates that 24.868 million men and women in the EU27, of whom 17.561 million were in the euro area, were unemployed in May 2012. Compared with May 2011, unemployment rose by 1.952 million in the EU27 and by 1.820 million in the euro area. Among the Member States, the lowest unemployment rates were recorded in Austria (4.1%), the Netherlands (5.1%), Luxembourg (5.4%) and Germany (5.6%), and the highest in Spain (24.6%) and Greece (21.9% in March 2012.) 5.517 million young persons (under 25) were unemployed in the EU27, of whom 3.412 million were in the euro area.
EU TOURISM 2012
Greek shipping, like other sectors, face a tough operating environment. Domestic demand is stymied by the economic outlook, with Greece estimated to remain in recession for another year, its fourth in a row. Unemployment is at a high and consumer spending, understandably, is down.Total tonnage throughput at the country's ports highlight the tough economic environment in Greece, with BMI forecasting total tonnage at the ports of Piraeus and Thessaloniki to decrease by 1.1% and 3.5% respectively.
TECHNOLOGY
Roll up laptops concept Laptops keep getting thinner and lighter, but some concept laptops take portable to a new level. Orkin Design's Rolltop consists of an OLED display that can start as a rolled-up mat and deploy as a multitouch 17-inch laptop. The Orkin laptop can also transform into a tablet PC operable with a stylus, or become a standup flat screen display. A power adapter and other features fit with the carrying canister that comes with a convenient holding strap. You Can Keep D-Roll Laptop Inside A TubeD-roll is a next generation concept laptop design which is way distinctive from usual laptops in both shape and function. The long tube shape of this laptop, which was inspired from the storage tubes that artists are using for storing large drawings, eliminates perception of the traditional book looking laptops. This multifunctional laptop has two working modes. When it is operating in full function mode, the laptop is unfolded completely and all peripherals are turned on. The main display is turned off and a smaller screen, attached with main body is turned on allowing the users to check and send mails when D-roll is under email mode.
ENERGY
Energy passports for new buildings in Serbia According to the Rules on energy efficiency of buildings and Rules on issuing certificates that will come into force on 30 September 2012, all new buildings will need to have an energy passport in order to get an occupancy permit. Only companies that have engineers licensed for energy efficiency of buildings will be able to issue energy passports. Energy passports will also be required during transactions, renting or sale of properties. These rules state that energy efficiency study is part of technical documentation that needs to be submitted to get building permits or decisions for approvals of construction works.
Europeans travel despite the crisis
According to the results of the new Eurobarometer survey, 72% of EU citizens travelled in 2011, and more than 80% will do so in 2012, choosing to go either on short trips or longer holidays. Regarding the attitudes of Europeans towards tourism, the following pattern emerges: Travelling is done mostly by car and motorbike. Those who travelled in 2011 preferred to travel by these means of transport (78%), much more than in 2010 (44%). However, 2011 also recorded a slight increase in the use of aeroplanes compared to 2010 (46% compared to 39%). European travellers seek rest and recreation: 48% of those who went on holidays in 2011 had this objective in mind, more than in 2010 (36%), followed by "sun
BUiLD PRESS
BUiLD PRESS
Published by: EUROPAPROEDITIONS srl Publisher/Editor in chief: Kyriaki Balkoudi
Accounting: Ionel Termure Legal Advisor:Evi Balkoudi Journalist /Copy Editor: Andrew Eatwell
and beach" and "visiting family and friends" (28%) They value natural beauty and quality service: more than 50% of EU residents would go back to the same place, for its natural features. More than 90% of EU respondents were satisfied with their choice of destination and with the quality of the accommodation. Europeans will travel in 2012: 73% of the respondents will not give up to their holidays despite the crisis, although 33% have had to change their original plans. Preferred destinations in 2012 will be Spain (10%), Italy (7%), France (6%), Greece (4%), Austria, UK and Germany (3%).
Translator: Dumitru Horvath Marketing: advertise@buildpress24.com
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SLOVENIA Ptuj,Murska Sobota,Novo Mesto,Slovenj Gradec,Velenje
An upswing that will be felt by generations to come 6 CITIES ARE OPENING THEIR DOORS This year Maribor, the second-largest city in Slovenia, has been awarded the honorary title of European Capital of Culture, together with the Portuguese city of Guimarães. The title is awarded by the European Union and is a predetermined honour given for a period of one year to a particular city. Becoming European Capital of Culture is a great responsibility since every ECOC must meet strict contentrelated and organisational criteria established by the cultural institutions of the EU. At the same time, the title is a historic opportunity for the sustainable transformation of the city, since it seeks to bring long-term improvements and structural changes. Maribor is being ‘assisted’ by its partner towns Murska Sobota, Novo mesto, Ptuj, Slovenj Gradec and Velenje. Throughout the year 2012, Maribor is offering a colourful range of events and activities. One of the basic prerequisites is that the events must resound to the fullest and leave an echo that will resonate in the city's mental landscape for a long time to come. The goal of being cultural capital is to address a great variety of people, touching both locals and the numerous visitors who are welcomed warmly to the city that is readily awaiting them. In Maribor, the cultural programme offers theatre, film, literature, dance, visual arts, architecture and much more. The highlights will be performances by a number of outstanding Slovenian and international ensembles and solo artists. Enrich your stay in Maribor with visits to Murska Sobota, Novo mesto, Ptuj, Slovenj Gradec and Velenje, and motivate your artistic side.
Public Institute
Maribor 2012 European Capital of Culture Vetrinjska ulica 30 SI-2000 Maribor T: +386 2 228 1250 F: +386 2 228 1240 E: epk@maribor2012.eu www.maribor2012.eu
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Interview with the general director of MARIBOR 2012 Suzana Žilič Fišer
Τhe Energy of Art and Culture Build Press had the opportunity to address a few questions to Mrs Suzana Žilič Fišer, general director of MARIBOR 2012. Here are her interesting answers. BP. Would you like to tell our readers what is the procedure for designating “European Capital of Culture” and what are the criteria in order to obtain the title? S.Z.F. With regard to the Brussels application, artistic creativity and cultural invention are assigned a special position of positive effect on social development and social processes, which will be, with its derivations, the main marker of all the events. We are dealing with an old but nonetheless topical investigation of the meaning and social role of art in the current political and historical world. Actualising these questions and applying them to today´s central themes of existence and essence in our national milieu, in Europe and in global relations, the concept also sets out the following leading themes that originate from the basic idea of “the energy of art and culture”: confrontation of art with social activism, the relation of art and ideology toward past and present myths, confrontation with relation to nature, European identity, unity in diversity, the national and transnational, the question of existence and forms of art and culture in the world of contemporary technology and science. BP.What are the cultural, social and economic benefits for the city that carries the title? S.Z.F. The project is an outstanding opportunity for the city, the region and the whole country. The MARIBOR 2012 Institute seeks to activate dormant potentials – artistic and otherwise – and integrate them into the ECOC project. The title of European Capital of Culture increases the recognition of cities and states, enriching them with the positive connotation that is inherent to the ECOC brand. This makes the event a great opportunity, yet one that can only be realised in cooperation with key players in the local community. Creating synergies is also one of our communication objectives. Our communication concept is based on three central elements – the three Cs: Connecting, Content, and Community. These are the key elements that improve our
recognition at the local, national and international level. Οur communication concept can help us achieve our main objectives: increased recognition of the partner towns and a shift in the local mentality. Although very ambitious, these goals are certainly achievable. BP. Can you please tell us the number of artistic events that will take place by the end of the year in Maribor and in the partner towns, the total number of visitors expected, the number of local and international artists participating, expenses and revenues? S.Z.F. Since the official opening, the European Capital of Culture has carried out about 2,000 events, attended by more than one million visitors. By the end of the project about 5,000 events will be held. Around 320,000 visitors have attended performances,exhibitions, concerts and other events. More than 28 countries are involved in the ECoC Cultural Embassies programme, and there is also the Terminal 12 programme which includes performances by various foreign artists. The total cost of the programme part of the project is €17 million, and the income of the projects is transferred to new projects. BP. Which part of the public administration is in charge of the project? Public Institute Maribor 2012 – European Capital of Culture has been founded to meet the demands of sustainable planning, preparation, organisation and implementation of the Maribor 2012 European Capital of Culture project. Beside this institute, the project is being run by the city council and the programme council.
5 PARTNER Towns One Cultural Capital
1. Murska Sobota
2.Novo Mesto
3. Ptuj
Six Slovenian Towns ID Maribor is the second-largest city in Slovenia with 95,200 inhabitants as of 2011 and a total area of 41 km2. Located near the border with Austria beside the Drava River, it lies at the heart of central Europe. Today Maribor is a trans-regional financial, educational, trade and cultural centre. It is a city with museums, concert and congress centers, shops, an international airport, famous parks, sports and recre-
4. Slovenj Gradec
EVENTS CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS SUMMER 2012 JULY 2nd June – 7th July 2012, Maribor LENT FESTIVAL With more than 400 performances and half a million visitors, Lent Festival ranks among one of the biggest of its kind in Europe. 22nd June – 10th July 2012, Murska Sobota MURA NARRATIVE SONGS AND ROMANCES Pannonian music and folk songs inspire Slovenian musicians and writers. 22nd June – 31st August 2012, Slovenj Gradec SLOVENJ GRADEC SUMMERS lovenian and foreign orchestras and upcoming young musicians in genres such as classical music, ethno, jazz and rock. 10th July–12th August 2012, Maribor, MIO MARIBOR INTERNATIONAL ORCHESTRA 2012 With more than 200 young talents from more than 30 countries, the Maribor International Orchestra will first present itself to the local audience in Maribor before going on to perform in front of a wider international audience. 10th July – 1st September 2012, Ptuj ART STAYS 10th Festival of Contemporary Art 20th July – 3rd August 2012, Ptuj FESTIVAL ARSANA Music festival with concerts of classical and non-classical music, exhibitions, music, dance and fine arts academy, as well as summer workshops. 6th and 7th August 2012, Maribor – City park, GENEROSITY Performance by a sensorial theatre, which focuses on the viewer’s senses. Theatre performers from Denmark,Belgium, France and Slovenia will participate in the project. 23rd July – 18th August 2012, Novo mesto – FOTOPUB (Festival of Documentary Photography)
AUGUST
13th – 18th August 2012, Novo mesto – JAZZINTY Numerous concerts by international jazz groups. 16th – 19th August 2012, Ptuj – ROMAN GAMES The town is filled with 1,500 Roman soldiers who demonstrate the life of that time including fights in the Coliseum. 20 – 26 August 2012, Ptuj DAYS OF POETRY AND WINE Evening readings of poetry in various languages with around 25 poets from different countries. 24th August – 1st September 2012,Velenje KUNIGUNDA YOUTH CULTURE FESTIVAL Concerts,graffiti, dance, music, multimedia workshops &more. 24th August – 1st September 2012, Murska Sobota MODERN DANCE FRONT Murska Sobota becomes the European centre of dance
5. Velenje
ational facilities and is also home to “Stara trta”, the Guinness Book-certified oldest grape vine in the world (450 years old). The European Capital of Culture 2012 includes Maribor as its capital along with five other partner cities from the region: Murska Sobota, Novo Mesto, Ptuj, Slovenj Gradec and Velenje. Each town contributes its own features and advantages to the project.Murska Sobota, with approximately 15,000 citizens, is the northernmost town in Slovenia. It is a multicultural town only a few minutes drive from Croatia, Austria and Hungary. Novo Mesto, with almost
40,000 inhabitants, is renowned for its festivals and theatre. Ptuj is Slovenia’s oldest town, without lacking a vision for the future. As early as Roman times it was an important centre and a driving force for the whole region. Slovenj Gradec is the smallest of the partner towns. With its notable medieval tradition, today the town combines its rich heritage from the past with fast-paced modern life. Velenje is the fifth-largest town in Slovenia and stands out as a young town with a powerful and vigorous industry and a lively identity.
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SPECIAL SLOVENIA
BUiLD PRESS
TRAVEL & VISIT SE EUROPE
Slovenia is for you
O D o t t a h W E E S o t t Wha
Slovenia The Small Green Country at the Heart of Europe Slovenia is situated in south-central Europe at the crossroads of the main European cultural and trade routes. It borders Italy to the west, Austria to the north, Croatia to the south and southeast, and Hungary to the northeast. The country covers 20,273 square kilometres and has a population of 2.05 million. Its capital and largest city is Ljubljana. Despite its small size, Slovenia has a surprising variety of terrain, ranging from the beaches of the Mediterranean to the peaks of the Julian Alps, to the rolling hills of the south. Slovenia has a wide variety of accommodation, ranging from five star hotels to secluded cottages in the mountains. It is a year-round tourism destination, with most foreign tourists coming from Italy, Austria, Germany, Croatia and the UK. European tourists account for more than 90 percent of Slovenia's tourism income. The country has the euro (EUR, €) as its currency
Climate Mediterranean climate on the coast, mountain climate in Alps with mild summers and cold winters and a continental climate with hot summers and cold winters on the plateaus and in valleys of the east.
Cuisine Slovenian cuisine is a mixture of three great regional cuisines, Central European, Mediterranean and Balkan cuisine. Slovenian national dishes include: bujta repa, ricet, prekmurska gibanica, potica (nut roll), jota (Istrian stew), minestra (minestrone), prsut (prosciutto)
Five Interesting Slovenian Facts & Features 1. Slovenia is one of the countries with the largest number of religious buildings per capita in Europe. There are almost 3,000 churches, chapels and religious monuments. 2. Slovenia is the third-most forested country in Europe. Almost 60 percent of its territory is covered by forest and over one third of land is protected and included in the Europe-wide Natura 2000 network, which protects biodiversity. 3. Slovenia has the tallest cliff on the Adriatic coast. On the Strunjan Peninsula an almost vertical flysch rock wall rises up from the sea to a height of 80 metres. 4. The canteen of the coal mine in Velenje, 160 metres below the surface, is the lowest-lying dining room in Europe. It is approximately 15 metres long and can seat 48 people at 12 tables. 5. In Slovenia you can pay to spend the night in a prison cell. The Celica Hostel in Ljubljana is a former military prison with imaginatively designed cells for guests.
ska Valley venia 4. Logar lo S of ap M arst caves 3. Ljubljana 2. K SLOVENIA: 1.
MUST SEE Slovenian cities leave no doubt about the historic influences of Austrian and Italian architecture. Ljubljana. The picturesque pint-sized capital. Bled. Impossibly romantic mountain lake complete with castle and island Celje - One of Slovenia's oldest cities. Koper/Capodistria - Lovely Venetian city, largest on the Slovenian coast. Maribor - Slovenia's second-largest city, surrounded by hills renowned for wine-making. Nova Gorica - The city literally on the border with Italy. Piran/Pirano - Gorgeous Venetian port. Ptuj - One of Slovenia's oldest cities. While cities are far from boring, the real Slovenian mustsee is the country’s diverse and unspoiled nature. Postojna - Site of the gigantic Postojna caves. Enjoy the 5.3-km ride through the caves, the deepest publicly accessible cave system in the world, with massive stalactites and stalagmites. Škocjan Caves: Less commercial than Postojna but no less impressive, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Triglav National Park: Home to the national symbol of
Mt. Triglav and the mythical golden chamois Zlatorog. Soča Valley: The Soča River is, with its emerald colour, one of the most beautiful Alpine rivers. The river is said to be one of the few rivers in the world that retains its emerald green colour throughout its course.
MUST DO There are many great opportunities for activity holidays in Slovenia. The mountains and rivers of the Julian Alps provide a perfect location for hiking, mountain biking, rafting and kayaking. You can enjoy different spa resorts in the eastern region, take a dive in the Adriatic Sea, experience the Slovene cities, go skiing, or enjoy the countryside tasting Slovenian cuisine and local wine. Take advantage of beautiful nature in the Alps and go hiking, cross-country skiing or Nordic walking. You may look after your well-being as the traditions of cosmopolitan spa tourism reaching back to the 19th century are preserved by excellent wellness and spa centres. Visit the Slovenian seaside and swim in the Adriatic Sea. Try local sea food. Adrenaline adventures can be found in the Posočje area.
Did you know?
Slovenia has many interesting gastronomic festivals. These include the Saltworkers’ Festival, the Cabbage Festival, Chestnut Sunday and Bean Day. The greatest number of Bled’s famous cream slices or Cremeschnitte have been made in the pastry workshop of the Hotel Park in Bled. The original recipe has remained unchanged since 1953.
SLOVENIA : 1. Port c ity of Kop er 2. Lake Bled 3.Pre djama Cas tle 4. Soca River
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EUROPE NEWS
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SE Europe’s Research & Development deficit by Andrew Eatwell Google cancelled a project to establish an R&D facility in South East Europe last year. The reason? A serious shortage of IT-savvy workers in any one country, and the inability to pool talent between countries because of rigidities in local labour markets. “The talent pool in a single SE Europe country is too small for a company like Google,”Hrabren Suknaic, former regional manager for Google in SE Europe, explained after the project was culled Google’s difficulties reflect a widespread problem across the region: a shortage of highly skilled workers in technology-focused industries, a lack of public and private sector investment in R&D, low domestic demand for tech workers and a chronic brain drain that has led the most talented to seek jobs elsewhere. It is a problem that,in the view of many analysts and internatioal institutions, needs to be addressed if South East European countries are to build a sustainable base for longterm economic growth and job creation. Exports from SEE countries currently contain an average of only 5 percent high technology goods,compared with 10 percent for CEE countries and 20 percent for OECD countries, although between SEE countries there is substantial divergence in the evolution of R&D.A review of individual SEE countries by UNESCO reveals yawning differences in the degree of development and pace of restructuring of R&D systems. It describes Albania, Montenegro and Bosnia-Herzegovina as the most disadvantaged, while Bulgaria, Romania and Croatia, driven by EU-inspired reforms, are starting to show growth in innovation and hi-tech sectors.“For example, Slovenian investment per capita in R&D is 2.5 times that of Greece ,”UNESCO states.“As a consequence of poor and for R&D Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina,Bulgria,Moldova,Montenegro,Romani a,Serbia and Macedonia-FYR all suffer from severe brain drain. An assessment of the severity of this afflicton ranks these countries at between 109th and 121st out of the 125countries studied.”One of the underlying causes for such disparity and the relative weakness of R&D in SΕ European countries compared to the rest of Europe is the uneven distribution of investment, much of which has been concentrated too heavily in sectors that have suffered severely since the onset of the global economic crisis. “Much of the investment of the boom yearswent into real estate and the privatisation of companies in the non-tradable sector, while very little was invested in Greenfield capacity and export-oriented industries.The growth achieved was largely consumption-driven, and based on credit expansion. This model has now reached its limits since households in SEE are now heavily indebted, leaving little room for further credit expansion,” argues Alan Paic,head of the OECD Investment Compact for South East Europe.“New sustainable bases have to be built for future growth which will imply stronger export orientation, including SEE in global value chains, finding niches in which SEE companies can be competitive on a global level.”
AUSTRIA
Austrian company is planning to sell artificial islands ALBANIA
Albania Builds First Major Power Plant The project involves the construction and operation of two run-of-the-river plants, Ashta 1 and Ashta 2, with an installed capacity of 53 MW. The plants are predicted to generate 242GWh per year, supplying power for roughly 100,000 families and will use 45 matrix turbines.
An Austrian company has come up with the ultimate getaway for wealthy people who like their privacy—a man-made private island that can be anchored anywhere in the world. The floating masses, called ORSOS Islands, are priced at $6.5 million each and will take around 18 months to construct, according to the company. Each island will sleep 12 and have around 1,000 square meters of living space.
SLOVENIA SPAIN
Spain Destroys 7.7 Hectares of Coastline Daily According to Greenpeace, Spain is destryoing 7.7 hectares of natural coastline a day after having destroyed over 50,000 hectares of coastline between 1987 and 2005. The most affected areas include areas such as Benidorm, Marbella, Valencia and Cantabria. Greenpeace urged the application and reinforcement of local laws that protect the coastlines, adding that the overbuilding has led to a serious degradation of water quality in the affected regions and while municipalities were still planning to build more housing, hotels and marinas, “the real luxury is not a five star hotel but an unspoilt beach.”
Slovenia to close embassies in four EU countries Slovenia will close its embassies in Sweden, Finland, Portugal and Ireland as part of its efforts to “reorganize the diplomatic network,” said Foreign Minster Karl Erjave. It was reported that the Slovenian Foreign Ministry expected to save some 1.8 million euros annually with the closure of some its unnecessary embassies abroad.
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GERMANY
VW to buy 50.1% of Porsche BRUSSELS
Investing in growth A work programme by the European Commission will inject some 8 billion euros into Europe’s research and innovation system, as an investment in competitiveness and Europe’s prospects for growth and jobs.Member states have put investment in reseach and innovation at the top of the European political agenda by adopting the Europe 2020 strategy
Volkswagen agreed to buy the 50.1% stake in Porsche’s automotive business that it doesn’t already own for 4.46 billion euros ending a seven-year takeover saga that divided two of the most powerful families in Germany. Porsche plans to invest in new business fields, including renewable energy and auto materials.
ROMANIA
Serbian NIS 120 gas stations in Romania by 2015
GERMANY
German businesses get crisis feeling The Ifo economic institute’s closely watched business climate index fell to 105.3 points in June from 106.9 points in May.It is the second month in a row that the index has fallen and brings the barometer to its lowest level since March 2010. “The recent surge in uncertainty in the eurozone is impacting the German economy,” said Ifo president HansWerner Sinn.Ifo calculates its headline index on the basis ofcompanies’ assessments of their current business and the outlook for the next six months, with 100 being the long-term average.
The Serbian oil and gas producer NIS will open 120 gas stations in Romania by the end of 2014, as part of EUR 1.5 billion expansion plan in the Balkans region, according to Bloomberg newswire
CROATIA
Zagreb among Europe’s top places to invest in property Croatia’s capital Zagreb has been named as one of Europe’s top places to invest in property.The chart of 20 cities, with Zagreb ranking 5th, was compiled by the Global Property Guide, and published by the Daily Telegraph.According to the UK daily newspaper, Zagreb’s advantages are strong tourist rental market and moderate taxes.
ITALY
Italian workers take three months holiday a year The dolce vita is alive and well in Italy’s factories, where workers take up to three months holiday a year, according to Gianfranco Polillo, a junior economy minister. He had reached this conclusion by dividing the total number of hours worked by the number of workers. But a spokesman for Italy’s biggest trade union federation, the CGIL, told the Guardian he was at a loss to understand the minister’s maths. He said most factories in Italy closed for only three weeks each year.
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WORLD NEWS
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A OB L G USA 63 Newspapers to Berkshire Hathaway Media General (MEG) completed the previously announced sale of 63 daily and weekly newspapers to World Media Enterprises, Inc., a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. for $142 million in cash, subject to adjustment for working capital and other items. Media General is also in discussions with prospective buyers for its Tampa, Florida, print properties and associated websites.
USA Californian city of Stockton files for bankruptcy
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Worldwide Movement To Ban or Charge Fees For Plastic Bags Shoppers worldwide are using 500 billion to one trillion single-use plastic bags per year. The average use time of a plastic bag is 12 minutes. Plastic is non-biodegradable and is made from a non-renewable resource: oil. As of this writing, 35 countries have already banned the use of plastic bags, 9 countries have passed levies and fees on use, 12 countries are considering bans or fees and 26 states in the US have introduced a form of legislation concerning plastic bag use.
NEW YORK (USA)
Rockefellers and Rothschilds team up
The Californian city of Stockton has become the largest US city in decades to file for bankruptcy, after failing to make a deal with its creditors.Stockton faces a projected $26m budget shortfall.The river port city of 290,000 - which lies 144km east of San Francisco suffered badly during the US housing market crash.Filing for Chapter 9 bankruptcy protection allows the city to hold some of its creditors at bay while still paying for basic services like its police and fire department.
Two of the best-known business clans in global finance are joining forces, with the Rothschild banking dynasty set to acquire a stake in the Rockefeller group’s wealth and asset management business. The partnerships unite 96-year-old David Rockefeller, and Jacob Rothschild, 76 – whose personal ties span five decades. The deal is expected to be finalized by the end of September.
LYBIA Business boom in Misrata Export tonnage increased fivefold between January and April in the port of Misrata. In the first five months of 2012, turnover has trebled, from 3.8 million Libyan Dinar ($3.2mn) to 9.4 million Libyan Dinars ($7.5mn). At the moment, some 1200 people work on site. According to Misrata Free Zone Company, the intent is to turn Misrata into an international hub port; taking in the bulk of the cargo before distributing it to smaller ports across the Mediterranean.
TRINIDAD New National Security Minister asks for citizens’ help Days after being installed as the country’s new National Security Minister, Jack Warner admitted he needed the help of all citizens in the fight against crime. Warner said crime was everybody’s business. “I ask all of you to help me, join with me and to help me in the fight against crime”
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WORLD NEWS
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RUSSIA
CHINA
MOSCOW Gazprom becomes world’s number 1 in net profit for second year
BEIJING
Russia’s energy major Gazprom showed record financial results for the second year running in 2011. The company beat not only other energy companies, but became the only company in the world with a net profit topping $40 billion. Shareholders voted to pay Gazprom’s senior officials their annual bonuses despite the ongoing global financial crisis.
A OB GL
New economic zone China plans to create a special zone to experiment with currency convertibility in Shenzhen, the city where it introduced key economic reforms three decades ago. The measure will enable Hong Kong banks to lend renminbi directly to companies in Qianhai Bay — a new economic zone on a peninsula across the water from Hong Kong — according to Chinese state media.
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Food Crisis Expands The Consumer Price Index indicates that the cost of food is rising faster than the rest of the economy. The cost of food eaten at home has gone up much faster than food eaten out. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics “The index for food at home has risen 5.9 percent over the past year with all six major grocery store food groups up at least 4.4 percent.”
Superbug Bacteria Spreading Worldwide
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Lethal superbugs that do not respond to any known drugs are emerging. The World Health Organization states that the New Delhi, or NDM1, superbug was recently found in UK patients who had traveled to countries such as India or Pakistan and has reached a critical point. These superbugs are resistant to carbapenem antibiotics, a major concern to experts because this group of antibiotics generally reserved for use in emergencies and the treatment of infections caused by multi-resistant bacteria.
AUSTRALIA ETHIOPIA INDIA Ethiopia receives one of the highest amounts of foreign aid in the world Much of that aid is food, but some human rights activists ask: what good is food, if you don’t have freedom? Many Ethiopian activists are calling on the international community to question the rights record of their country before sending aid.
Coca-Cola says it plans to invest $5 billion in India India is one of the fastest growing consumer markets and the firm’s sales there have been rising steadily. The US soft drinks giant is to invest $3billion more over the next eight years than previously announced. Earlier this year, Coca-Cola reported that its sales in India jumped 20% during the first quarter compared with a year ago.
Australia to create world’s largest marine reserve Australia says it will create the world’s largest network of marine parks. The reserves will cover 3.1 million sq km of ocean, including the Coral Sea. Restrictions will be placed on fishing and oil and gas exploration in the protected zone covering more than a third of Australia’s waters. The plans, which have been years in the making, will proceed after a final consultation process
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TRADE- FAIRS NEWS
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FINLAND(TAMPERE) Workplace Welfare fair 2012 5-7 September 2012
for energy, environment, construction, real estate, interior design, tourism, technology, digital industry, telecommunications POLAND European Solid Mechanics Conference 09-13 July 2012 Graz
FRANcE (PARIS) MAISON & OBJET 7-11 September 2012 Renovation materials (paints, coatings), aucets and taps, tiling, carpentry,wooden floors, wall and floor coverings, lamps and lighting, bathroom installations, bathrooms and kitchens.
NANOTEXNOLOGY 2012 is an annual event to explore opportunities in the emerging fields of Nanotechnologies & Organic Electronics. It includes a powerful community that brings together over 2,000 scientists, business and technical professionals to promote research and industrial collaborations and technology transfer by networking and matchmaking. NANOTEXNOLOGY 2012 combines the conference with exposition and summer schools.
www.nanotexnology.com
ROMANIA 5th Annual SEE Private Equity Forum 03 July 2012 Bucharest The annual SEE Private Equity Forum will bring together the general public, institutional investors, SMEs and many leading experts to discuss the private equity investment climate in the emerging economies of S. E.Europe. www.eelevents.co.uk/see_private_equity_2012
AUSTRIA (SALzBURG) FUTURA 2012 13-16 September 2012 Computers, IT solutions, photography, household appliances, white goods, small household appliances, satellite equipment, telecommunications, entertainment electronics and consumer electronics.
http://www.futuramesse.at
GERMANY FRIEDRIchShAFEN 12-15 July 2012
GREECE
30 June - 07 July 2012 Thessaloniki
http://web.tampereenmessut.fi/ttf/
h t t p : / / w w w. m a i s o n objet.com/
The aim of the ESMC is to provide a forum for scientists and engineers to exchange ideas on the current stateof-the-art in the mechanics of solid materials, on new concepts and ideas, and to identify important new directions for research. In addition, MiniSymposia will be organised on a range of specialised topics. www.esmc2012.tugraz.at
International Conference Nanotechnologies
Vending machines, physiotherapy, human resources strategies, ergonomics related products and equipment, ergonomic furniture and fixtures, machine ergonomics, vision ergonomics, professional publications, first-aid training, respirator training, training material and equipment, etc. The trade fair has gained a leading position in Finland and is the most extensive trade fair of the industry in the Nordic countries.
SPAIN (MADRID) Evento Days 4-5 July 2012 Evento Days brings together experts and professional masterminds of event management under the same roof in a collaboration of ideas and knowhow relating to furthering the industry. Businesses also take up this unique opportunity to extend their own business networking and professional relations by displaying some of the best products and finest services they have made available for their current as well as potential clientele.
www.eventoplus.co s m/eday
European Outdoor Trade Fair or the Summit of Outdoor Business. OutDoor is the address for the outdoor community to come together, traders to keep themselves informed, the media to report from, and insiders to discuss tomorrow’s trends today.
www.outdoor-show.de
ROMANIA (BUCHAREST) BIFE 12-15 September 2012 International Fair Of Furniture And Wood Products, Furniture Fittings, Interior Decorations. This fair aims to bring together and promote special offers and trends in the market. At the same time the fair will be a meeting place for both producers and distributors of furniture, as well as manufacturers and distributors of technology equipment for the logging and wood processing industries, offering everyone the chance to meet and discuss new strategies in business, partnerships and collaborations.
www.bife.ro
SWITzERLAND (zURIch) SuisseEMEX 21-23 August 2012 SuisseEMEX is Switzerland’s leading B2B trade show for marketing, communication, events and promotion. The fifth edition is held from 21 August to 23 August 2012 at Exhibition Center Zurich. In 2011, over 360 national and international exhibitors attracted around 13,000 industry experts and decision-makers. SuisseEMEX presents 360° Marketingworld even more holistic and target-group-specific in 2012.
www.suisseemex.ch/de/international/english
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TRADE- FAIRS NEWS
IS COMING
OUT
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SEPTEMBER
2012
POCKET BOOK GUIDE SPECIFICATIONS 228 PAGES FULL COLOUR WHITE GLOSSY PAPER POCKET SIZE (11x11CM) HARD COVER 20.000 COPIES ENGLISH LANGUAGE INTERNATIONAL DISTRIBUTION
South East Europe’s MASTER KEY for the International Buyer TO PLACE YOUR AD CONTACT ROMANIA: Tel. +40 21 35 25 996 GREECE: Tel.+30 2310 230 441 INFO@EPEDITIONS.EU
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PEOPLE
BUiLD PRESS
Interview with the Mayor of Maribor Slovenia FRANC KANGLER
PEOPLE
need
DIALOGUE, SOLIDARITY AND COOPERATION
edited by
shares the title of European Capital of Culture this year, an achievement that in no small measure can be attributed to the city’s forward-thinking and development-focused mayor, Mr. Franc Kangler. In an ongoing effort to promote open dialogue between small and big cities of the EU and in particular between South East European countries, BuildPress took the opportunity to interview Mr. Kangler about the title, Maribor’s future plans and his greatest achievements and challenges since taking office.
BP. Maribor and five other partner cities from the region are sharing, together with Guimarães in Portugal, the title of European Capital of Culture 2012. Why were more than two cities awarded the title in the same year and what are the benefits of this? M. Only two cities were awarded the title,
namely Maribor and Guimarăes. For the implementation of the project and the preparation of the candidature Maribor worked closely with a network of partner cities. During the national selection process (the Ministry of Culture received applications from Celje, Koper, Ljubljana and Maribor) this cooperation was something special and was seen as an advantage. In the application we stated: With a common programme platform we intend to enrich the whole region and use all positive potential to help develop faster through culture, education, renewable energy, promotion of innovation and cultural tourism. The East Cohesion Region would greatly benefit from the title of European Capital of Culture, since it would open new development possibilities, contribute to better international recognition of the area, the people and their achievements. BP. What are the strong points of the city of Maribor that led to the nomination for the title and how did the citizens of Maribor contribute to that? How did your knowledge and experience in law and public administration help in organising this project? M. Maribor was nominated as the European Capital of Culture due to the integrity and development orientation of the project, which includes the entire East Cohesion Region. The project does not merely include events on a cultural level; it offers possibilities for several complementary activities and for the economy as a whole. From the start, citizens were included in the preparation process, since the programme was prepared in coopera-
tion with stakeholders and experts. Today, as the project is being implemented, many different people are actively involved, including volunteers. BP. How has the city prepared to host foreign visitors, particularly in terms of infrastructure (hotels etc.)? Can you explain your organisation strategy, especially for this summer, and how many tourists you expect? M. The city has enough modern accommodation capacity (more than 4,000 beds), especially convenient for so called urban tourism (cultural, business, sports…). We have organised several training sessions for guides, hoteliers and catering providers. We have built a network with Graz and Zagreb and their agencies, guides and bus services. For the past three years we’ve been promoting the European Capital of Culture at all important tourism fares. Maribor was listed among the top ten destinations by Lonely Planet, AOL etc. We have also confirmed a new strategy in the field of tourism through to 2020, based on organic and green tourism, cultural and sports tourism, and also with a strong emphasis on food and wine. BP. In the artistic calendar of events for 2012 are there many foreign artists participating together with national ones? M. More than 28 countries are involved in the ECoC Cultural Embassies programme. There is also the Terminal 12 programme which includes performances by various foreign artists. In the context of the Urban Furrows programme, many international conferences will take place, while quite a
few Austrian artists are involved in the Town Keys programme. We will be able to discuss the statistics once the project is concluded and the first analysis is carried out. BP. How do you see this title helping the city, particularly in this difficult time for Europe? How many jobs are being created and how many people
,
M
aribor, Slovenia,
Kyriaki Balkoudi
When facing the global crisis, which is reflected in the worldwide and local economy, in political spheres and interpersonal relations, a dialogue in its broadest meaning is the only acceptable option that provides long-term positive answers and solutions.
,
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are employed for the project? M. The project helps the city in many ways, not only in the economic sense. We have more visitors and tourists; there are more jobs we can offer - directly in the field of culture (200) and also in other fields. One hundred and twenty people work directly for the project and numerous volunteers are also actively involved. New programmes and projects are being implemented, several international activities are being organised, Maribor is linking and networking with other cities and organisations in Europe, several delegations from different spheres and fields visit us and Maribor appears in different international media. We are preparing several infrastructure projects, and have already finished some of them. BP. Every municipality faces certain problems with garbage, cleaning, recycling, sanitation, traffic, people in need, to name a few. What are the main problems in your municipality and how are you dealing with them? M. We were facing some problems with waste management, but the solutions are now in process. All local stakeholders and different organisations and institutions have worked together to find a solution. On the local level we have taken all the steps necessary to find a solution; however we are waiting on the final decisions from the national government. BP. What were the main reasons that drove you to become the mayor of Maribor? M. In 1996, I was elected as a representative to the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia for the first time. I was representing the interests of the city of Maribor and other cities and villages of north-eastern Slovenia in the parliament until 2007. In 2006, I decided to run for the post of mayor of Maribor because I believed that with my eagerness and strong will I could contribute to the development of the city. I think I was successful in doing so and we proved it with many positive projects, such as the new puppet theatre, the new animal shelter as well as many other European Projects, which we have successfully implemented in recent years. My work is devoted to improving the life of citizens on all levels, to creating intercultural and interreligious dialogues and to help those in need. The citizens of Maribor have recognised this and in 2010 I was elected to the post of mayor for the second time. BP. Because you are a public figure many things about you are known. Would you like to describe how you spend your weekend as a simple citizen, away from office obligations? M. I try to spend my free time surrounded by nature as much as possible. I also enjoy hunting and I’m a member of a hunting club, with a special attitude towards wildlife and hunting in nature. I like to ski and dive. And I also spend quite a lot of time on a farm I have outside Maribor, where I grow asparagus and other vegetables. BP. Reflecting on your years as mayor of Maribor, what would you say have been some of your greatest challenges and achievements? M. I am proud that I have realised what I promised before the elections and because of that I was elected to the post of mayor for the second time in 2010. I was successful in bringing together all political parties represented on the City Council of the Municipality of Maribor, forming a strong coalition with a broad programme. It is wonderful to walk around the city and see what we were able to renovate or build because of the projects we implemented with the support of the European Union. To name just a few: we have reconstructed the Minorite monastery, which is now the home to the puppet theatre, while the renovated Nasko Mansion, a mediaeval building in the historic heart of Maribor, reopened in 2009 and now serves as the organisation headquarters for the Culture Capital of Europe. Thousands of people celebrated the long awaited opening of the animal shelter. Despite the unfortunate circum-
PERSONAL INFO 8 July 1965, Born in Maribor, Slovenia. Franc Kangler is a lawyer and economist. In 1996 he was elected as a Deputy to the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia for the first time.In 2006 he was elected by the citizens of Maribor to the post of Mayor. He has been a member of the national Commission for the Supervision of the Security and Intelligence Services for ten years. He has also been one of the three members of the Slovenian delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly for ten years.He has actively participated in various sports, including judo, jiu-jitsu and football. He is married and has one daughter.
Email: franc.kangler@maribor.si
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stances, when a tower of the gondola lift at Pohorje collapsed we quickly responded and the modern gondola was operational in the record time of merely four months. The previous capacity of 450 passengers per hour was more than doubled by the new capacity of 970 passengers per hour. The new circular cable car was one of the contributing factors that made the winter season 2009/2010 one of the most successful in recent years. I am also proud of the numerous events we will be organising over the coming months. The Municipality of Maribor will be the organiser of the World Youth Chess Championship in 2012. This outstanding sports and tourism project constitutes an enormous organisational challenge that will further contribute to the promotion of the city, the region and the country. In 2013, Maribor will be the European Capital of Youth, an excellent possibility and chance for Maribor to present to local, regional, state and European institutions a diverse programme that enables and stimulates the active participation of young people in all areas of social life. We have been awarded numerous prestigious titles such as Child Friendly City, Disabled People Friendly Municipality and last but not least, the European Capital of Culture. This status represents a unique chance for further development of the residential culture as well as transformation of the city centre into an attractive urban centre. Within the programme of the European Capital of Culture we organised a meeting of Nobel Laureates for Peace. His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Prof. Muhammad Yunus, Dr. Rigoberta Menchú Tum and Dr. Lučka Kajfež Bogataj visited us in May and together we worked on promoting peace, dialogue and solidarity. BP. After the end of project of European Capital of Culture 2012, Maribor will be the 2013 European Youth Capital. What are your plans for that? M. The application for European Capital of Youth represents a strategic developmental decision of the city with the goal of developing towards a ‘youth friendly city’. We have taken the decision to create an environment that will enable young people to develop and realise their own potential. In 2012 and 2013, the municipality will devote more attention to issues connected with youth. Within the programme of the European Capital of Youth 2013, the municipality aims to raise awareness among local people and decision makers on issues related to youth (including inclusion of those issues within the sessions of the city council, activities through which young people and organisations dealing with youth will have access to decision makers etc...). With this title we have won a new impulse for development, focused on youth. In accordance with European, national and local development documents, one of them is the ‘EU Strategy for Youth – Investing and Empowering’, we would like to create an environment based on education, mobility, innovation and creativity. With this project we will work more closely with other municipalities in the region, with local, national and international organisations, we will have the opportunity to represent youth issues to the broader public and to develop new, innovative projects in the field of youth.
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PEOPLE BP. What message would you like to give via BuildPress to other people and mayors of SE Europe? M. At a time when we are facing a crisis of values and trust, we have to promote dialogue and solidarity since it is necessary on all levels of life. When facing the global crisis, which is reflected in the worldwide and local economy, in political spheres and interpersonal relations, a dialogue in its broadest meaning is the only acceptable option that provides long-term positive answers and solutions. A dialogue, based on the willingness to work for a common cause and for the good of all, represents the basis for creating a constructive society. Dialogue also emphasises the role of solidarity and values, which helps develop an understanding of the weakest and most vulnerable social groups. A successfully functioning society, in sense of economy, politics and personal relations, is only possible in an environment where no person is neglected or rejected.
1.LEONA STUKLJA SQUARE
2.RIVER DRAVA AND LENT
3.NEW GONDOLA
PLAGUE MEMORIAL, MAIN SQUARE
3.MARIBOR TOWN HALL
Maribor Town Hall is situated on the town’s Main Square. Built in 1515, it was remodeled in Renaissance style between 1563 and 1565. In the mid-19th century it was again renovated in the late Classical style but was later restored to its original 16th century appearance.
www.maribor.si
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SEE EDUCATION
REPORT
Higher Education in
A
n MBA is by definition a general management degree designed to educate students in areas such as finances, human resources, marketing, strategy and operations management. What sets MBAs apart from regular Master programmes is the characteristic of peer-to-peer education involving successful business people and the networking among students from diverse backgrounds. The MBA aims at a well-rounded business graduate, and not an expert in just one single aspect. As the birthplace of the MBA, around the turn of the 19th Century, North America has always been the dominant player in MBA education. It wasn’t until much later, in the 1950s and 1960s, that institutions such as London Business School or INSAED in France filled the gap in Europe. Although the United States boasts five of the world’s top 10 business schools, according to the Global MBA Rankings 2012 by the Financial Times, Europe has become an MBA Mecca. And in particular in South East Europe (although young, with around 20-years of operational experience at best) business schools are rapidly realising the importance of attracting executive talent from abroad, in order to sustain the economic growth in the region that has occurred over the last two decades. Even though the reputation and fame of business schools in the region are far from close to the notoriety of their North American and West European competitors, the internationalisation strategy employed is a work in progress that is already showing results. The growing interest amongst international students towards MBA programmes in this part of Europe is also explained by the competitive cost of studies and living in the region – a key factor in favour of SE Europe institutions at all levels. While tuition fees for a top full-time US MBA programme can be more than $120,000 and in London around $85,000, the cost in Greece is less than $25,000. Of course, there are several reasons beyond economic constraints to apply to a European school and in particular to a school in SE Europe. SE Europe economies are growing faster than many of the more advanced countries, with many multinational companies having invested in the region, therefore providing more career opportunities. Build Press is presenting top MBAs in South East Europe in its effort to inform business readers about the value of such programmes and the importance of recruiting MBA graduates who have invested time, money and effort in order to gain the degree, have strong leadership skills, think critically, deal with ambiguity and solve complex problems, and therefore can add immediate value to an organisation
If you find any omissions or you would like to express your opinion about this report, don’t hesitate to contact us at: editorial@buildpress24.com
BESTMBA
PROGRAMMES TAUGHT IN ENGLISH
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SEE EDUCATION
SEE business schools offer international MBAs
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ver the last two decades, South
SEE MBAs
East Europe has established itself as one of the fastest-growing economies in the world and as one of the world’s up-and-coming MBA destinations.The EU accession of some SEE countries brought more investor confidence, as their economies opened up and adopted Western-style regulatory frameworks. Nearly all major multinational companies opened subsidiaries in this part of Europe, attracted by the specialised workforce, low salaries and rapid growth in domestic consumption. Following the economic trend, the need for highly educated people increased exponentially. When choosing an MBA, managers and professionals, as well as young local entrepreneurs started to look at what business schools in the region could offer them. Around 200 business schools operate in the region. The Association of MBAs a London-based international organisation that accredits postgraduate business programmes at business schools worldwide, has included in its list various schools from the region, a fact that show-
cases how schools from this region offer quality MBA programmes and their rankings and ratings have moved up fast. Among them are: Cotrugli Business School in Croatia, IEDC-Bled School of Management in Bled, Slovenia, the European University of Cyprus School of Business Administration, Cyprus International Institute of Management, ALBA Graduate Business School in Greece, Athens University of Economics and Business, CITY College in Thessaloniki, and ICBS with campuses in Athens, Thessaloniki and Larissa. The main benefit of studying at a regional business school comes from the mixture between the West European business education model and case studies adapted to the specifics of developing economies. International students are profiting from the local educational background that shapes business skills required within multinationals or organisations operating in emerging markets around the world.The future of business schools in the region looks promising, considering the increasing need for leaders in a very dynamic market despite the effects of the economic crisis.
Business education in Europe
B
usiness education in Europe is as
EU MBAs
diverse as the continent itself. From London to Madrid and from Paris to Milan, Europe contains schools that are undoubtedly among the best in the world. Although most business schools in Europe were founded only in the second half of the last century and therefore cannot boast the lengthy history of some of their prestigious counterparts across the Atlantic, they don’t fall behind in quality nor excellence. In 1957, INSEAD(French name “INStitut Européen d’ADministration des Affaires”) became the first European university offering an MBA degree. It was followed in 1959 by ESADE (Barcelona), ICADE (Madrid) in 1960 and IESE (in Madrid, offering the first two-year programme in Europe) in 1964, UCD Smurfit Business School (in Dublin, Ireland) in
1964, Manchester Business School and London Business School in 1965, The University of Dublin (Trinity College), the Rotterdam School of Management in 1966, the Cranfield School of Management (in the UK) in 1967 and, in 1969,followed by the HEC School of Management and the Institut d’Etudes Politiques de Paris. In 1972, Swiss business school IMEDE (now IMD) began offering a fulltime MBA programme. Because of advances in technology, distance or online MBA programmes have recently emerged in Europe. Several business schools now offer distance MBA programmes. In 2007, ESCEM became the first French business school to offer their own distance or online MBA Studying an MBA in Europe can offer business school students a great deal in terms of diversity and international perspective, making the region still a preferred destination for MBA.
ASSOCIATION OF MBAs ACCREDITATION
I TALY: Bocconi University
USA: Tuck School of Business
USA: Chicago Booth School
SPAIN: Esade Barcelona
USA: Harvard University
SLOVENIA: IEDC-Bled
SWITZERLAND: IMD
FRANCE: Insead
A brief history of the USA MBAs
T
USA MBAs
he first graduate school of business in the United States was the Tuck School of Business, part of Dartmouth College. Founded in 1900, it was the first institution conferring advanced degrees (masters) in the commercial sciences, specifically, a Master of Science in Commerce degree, the forebear of the modern MBA degree.In 1908, the Graduate School of Business Administration (GSBA) at Harvard University was established; it offered the world’s first MBA programme, with a faculty of 15 plus 33 regular students and 47 special students.The University of Chicago Booth School of Business first offered working professionals the Executive MBA (EMBA) programme in 1943, first available on a
permanent campus across three continents (Chicago, London and Singapore), a type of programme offered by most business schools today . For decades, the concept of taking an MBA remained a North American phenomenon and still today the US is one of the most popular MBA study destinations in the world.According to the US Bureau of Labor, over coming years, the most promising and prestigious jobs will be available to candidates pursuing an MBA degree. By the end of 2016, the job growth rate for candidates earning an MBA degree is expected to increase by around 12 percent.Tuition for MBA programmes in the US varies widely from state to state, type of institution and the course of study. Generally, public institutions are less expensive than private institutions.
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UK: London Business School
CYPRUS: European University
GREECE: ICBS Thessaloniki
Setting a global standard for MBAs Sharon Bamford, Chief Executive of the Association of MBAs, gives an overview of the value of an MBA from an accredited business school, including schools in South East Europe, and what MBA programmes offer. An MBA can boost your career and professional networks. It gives you the management toolkit and confidence to climb the ladder to leadership in your own profession, switch careers, or be entrepreneurial and start a new business. To make a success of this professional, financial and personal investment, you need to be sure you are enrolling in a quality MBA.Your shortlist to success is to choose an MBA from a business school that has received accreditation from the Association of MBAs. Setting the global standard for accrediting MBAs, DBAs and MBMs, the Association of MBAs accredits more than 700 programmes in 75 countries. This includes 10 business schools in South East Europe that have achieved the world-class accreditation stamp of approval from the Association of MBAs. Association of MBAs accreditation ensures that an MBA programme is of the highest quality and relevant to the changing world of business. The criteria for accreditation ensure that the MBA programme meets rigorous standards of management training and that the faculty, students and curriculum are of the highest quality. The Association of MBAs detailed assessment process is conducted by an independent panel of senior business school academics who focus purely on the business school’s MBA programme.The criteria upon which MBA programmes are judged are constantly revised and updated by the Association’s International Accreditation Advisory Board to reflect the changing nature of management and business. The Association’s research and partnerships also help inform its accreditation criteria, which then ensure that accredited schools are including the latest social, environmental and cultural management requirements in their courses.Professionals interested in an MBA can choose from the 191 business schools worldwide that have received accreditation from the Association of MBAs. In South East Europe these schools include: ALBA Graduate Business School, Athens University of Economics and Business, CITY College, International Faculty of the University of Sheffield, ICBS Business College, Athens-Thessaloniki-Larissa, in Greece; the International Institute of Management and European University Cyprus; Cotrugli Business School in Croatia; CEU Business School in Hungary; IEDC-Bled School of Management in Slovenia; and, in Ukraine, the IIB - International Institute of Business.Our schools in South East Europe offer the highest standards of academic excellence in all their MBA programmes. They also offer flexibility for professionals choosing to study for an MBA with part-time, full-time or modular types of learning and some of them offer international exchange programmes and partnerships. For example, City College Greece recently launched an executive MBA programme in Istanbul, Turkey, and ALBA have partnered with the American College of GreeceThe Association of MBAs offers quality assurance and an exclusive global network throughout the MBA journey by providing students with a list of guaranteed quality MBA programmes. Created by MBAs for MBAs, it also connects the MBA community through a membership network in more than 110 countries. To find out more www.ambaguide.com
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EDUCATION
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ALBANIA EPOKA UNIVERSITY Epoka University is a private university founded in 2007 in Tirana in order to address the needs of Albania and the Balkans for an institution of higher education based on the American Educational System. The objectives of the founders are to increase the quality and effectiveness of education and training systems, in the region, to facilitate the access of all to the education and training and to open these systems up to the wider world. Epoka University received full accreditation in 2011 and is one of the highest ranking among Albania’s 40 universities. Epoka University has signed MoUs (memorandums of understanding) with universities in the US, the UK, Italy, Poland, Turkey and Montenegro. It attracts students from Albania and the Balkan region, currently having 122 students from abroad, which makes it the university with the highest number of international students in Albania. As well as being AlMain Campus bania’s most international 1001, Rinas university, Epoka has a Tirana,Albania +355(4)22320860 +355(4)2 222 117 www.Epoka.edu.al info@epoka.edu.al
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strong focus on quality with selective entry to all programmes.The study programmes are compatible with the Bologna system. The main Rinas campus is located 12 km from the city centre, near Tirana International Airport. A smaller affiliated campus is located at Zogu i Zi, one km from the city centre. The Department of Business Administration aims at the qualification of new staff with general knowledge, alert to the challenges in economics and management, and able to work in the administration of local and foreign private sectors. Students will be able to acquire the necessary knowledge to work in Albania and abroad due to the subjects covered, including: the- ACADEMIC STAFF oretical framework, human resources management, the Albanian economy, accounting and related laws etc. The global perspective for the MBA programme at EPOKA has been attract- STUDENTS ing international attention from academicians and candidates from several countries.
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Tirana Albania
T.+ 355 4 2441330 www.unyt.edu.al info@unyt.edu.al
Tertiary education institutions Higher education in Albania is offered by 13 public universities and 38 private universities and faculties. All universities have several faculties. The so-called “nonuniversity schools” offer higher education programmes of two years.
University-enterprise cooperation Cooperation has recently commenced between universities and enterprises. Many universities use this cooperation for student work practice in the enterprises, especially for students of engineering, medicine and agriculture. Some universities organise training courses to update the knowledge of enterprise employees such as teacher training, nursing training, economics training etc.
International cooperation
UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK TIRANA University of New York Tirana is the first private university in Albania. The university was inaugurated in September 2002, having received a license from the Albanian government in 2004. Situated in the heart of the city of Tirana,the UNYT aspires to establish itself as a dynamic, multicultural and leading centre for higher education in the Balkans.To support the needs of students, research and scholarship, the university is expanding its library resources, organising scientific seminars promoting research and scholarship, and engages in original research and the promotion of highly scholarly works.The UNYT is a fascinating blend of challenge and vision, responding to the needs of a global society and era. It is for this reason why the UNYT attracts students of high ability and employs acaUNYT demic staff of distinction, Rr. Medar Shtylla some recognised as internaish KomunParisit
Education news
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tional leaders in their fields. The University of New York in Tirana, in collaboration with the Institut Universitaire Kurt Bosch, Switzerland, offers the following MBA programmes: MBA (General); MBA in Banking; MBA in Marketing; MBA in Human Resource Management; MBA in Management Information Systems. The MBA programmes aim at: Exposing participants to an advanced study of business and management in a local and international context; helping them to develop further in ESTABLISHED their careers by enhancing their management skills and knowledge; enabling them to apply knowledge of business and management issues with a view to improving their UNDERGRADUATES decision-making ability at work; and developing managerial skills through their exposure to applied problem-solving, role-playing and experiential learning situations.
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POSTGRADUATES
International cooperation in Albanian higher education institutions is managed by international relations offices. These offices are set up in all public higher education institutions, but not in most private institutions. These offices closely cooperate with foreign institutions on issues such as international student mobility and degrees, legalisation of documents, study transfers and mutual agreements.
Worldwide university Worldwide University is the first online university in Albania, the study programmes of which are drawn up in accordance with the criteria of the Charter of Bologna and meet all European standards. Worldwide University provides both first and second level studies. The institution pursues a policy of cooperating with all national and international stakeholders in higher education. There are three faculties: medicine, nursing and veterinary. www.wwuniversity.eu
Country ID ALBANIA Population: 2,831,741 Area: 28,748 km2 Capital: Tirana Official language: Albanian Calling code: +355 Currency: Lek (ALL) Internet TLD: .al Government: Unitary parliamentary republic
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BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA Sarajevo GRADUATE SCHooL oF BUSInESS Sarajevo Graduate School of Business (SGSB) is a private university in Sarajevo mainly focused on MBA degrees. Since its inception in February 2004 SGSB has accomplished much. After a very short initial recruitment period the school succeeded in recruiting 29 qualified applicants and seating an initial class of 26 students.This initial class, with 22 students remaining, graduated in June 2006. Most SGBS students come from Bosnia-Herzegovina, but there are students from 6 other countries as well, including the US. The school is in partnership with Texas A&M University located in Texas,US, and International Burch University located in Sarajevo.The MBA programme is exactly the same as the programme offered at Texas A&M University- Commerce’s main campus.All professors have extensive business experience and have taught in the United States.Classes are highly interactive and focus on building skills and providSarajevo Graduate ing knowledge relevant to School of Business today’s business world.The Tesanjska 24a programme takes place in an Avaz Twist Tower Sarajevo 71000, B&H T. + 387 33 943 040 F. + 387 33 943 041 info@sgsb.ba www.sgsb.ba
international environment with students from all over the world.Learning resources are designed to meet the needs of our students with access to a library and computer lab.As a part of its operations, SGSB has also designed and launched Executive Education Programmes. Since the mission of the school is to bring together people of daring ambitions and enable the business community to realise its full potential, all efforts are fo- ESTABLISHED cused on providing the best quality in education and the best services to clients who are in need of new business ideas, knowledge and tools.Graduating INDIVIDUALS students from the Sarajevo ATTENDED EXECUTIVE Graduate School of Business EDUCATION COURSES (SGSB) continue to find employment during the continued economic slowdown.SGSB is exceptionally proud of the accomplishments of all of its gradPARTNERSHIP WITH uates and remains committed to providing firms the talent they TEXAS A&M need to grow and compete glob- UNIVERSITY ally.
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Education news History of education in Bosnia-Herzegovina Education has a long and rich tradition in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where a school of Sufi philosophy - the first classifiable higher education institution in the country - was established by Gazi Husrevbeg in 1531, with numerous other religious schools following suit over time. In 1887, under the Austro-Hungarian Empire, a Sharia Law school began a five-year programme. In the 1940s, the University of Sarajevo became the city’s first secular higher education institute. In the 1950s, post-baccalaureate graduate degrees became available. Severely damaged during the war, the university was recently rebuilt in partnership with more than 40 other universities. There are various other institutions of higher education, including University of Mostar, University of Banja Luka, University of Tuzla, the Academy of Sciences and Arts of Bosnia-Herzegovina, which is held in high regard as one of the most prestigious creative arts academies in the region. There are also 22 private univerities and the Law on Higher Education (passed in July 2007) treats private and public higher education institutions equally.
Main characteristics of the education system
InTERnATIonAL UnIvERSITy oF Sarajevo The International University of Sarajevo (IUS) is a private university located in the capital city Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The university was established by the Foundation for the Development of Education in 2004-2005. The vision of the IUS is to become an internationally approved institution of higher education and research and a center of excellence and quality through the shared efforts of the founder, academic and administrative staff, students and all stakeholders. IUS has nearly 1100 students from 22 nations in Asia, Europe, north America and Africa, and faculty members from 12 countries performing academic and research activities in various disciplines of Science, EngiInt. University neering, Arts and Social Sciof Sarajevo ences. First generation of 32 Hrasnička cesta 1 IUS graduates received their 71210 Sarajevo BosniaHerzegovina diplomas on June 26 2009. T+38733957101 F+387 33 957 105 IUS info@ius.edu.ba www.ius.edu.ba
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aims at becoming the major hub in Balkans for bridging the East to the West as a leading international institution of higher education and research centre with comprehensive excellence whose students are lifelong learners, interculturally competent and well-developed leaders in socio-economic development of societies. The university comprises the Faculty of Engineering and natural Sciences, the Faculty of Business and Administration (FBA) and the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. The goal of the FBA is to develop the business and management skills needed to confront the challenges of a changing world. The ESTABLISHED faculty offers undergraduate and graduate courses (including MBA) that provide a strong base in understanding economic sys- ACADEMIC STAFF tems, productivity and economic growth, the role of the government in market economies, with emphasis on analytical methods and problem solving.
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The higher education system in Bosnia and Herzegovina closely reflects the constitutional complexities of the country. The Constitution defines Bosnia and Herzegovina as an independent state consisting of two entities: the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBIH) and Republika Srpska (RS). Brčko District (BD) has been established as a separate administrative unit under the sovereignty of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Federation of BiH is made up of 10 cantons. There are 14 governments in the country: one national, two entity-level, 10 cantonal and Brčko District. This means that there are 14 different ministries/departments dealing with education in the country, including: the state-level Ministry of Civil Affairs of BiH, two entity-level ministries of education (the Federal Ministry of Education and Science and the Ministry of Education and Culture RS), 10 cantonal ministries of education, and an education department within the Government of Brčko District.
Country ID BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA Population: 3,839,737 Area: 51,197 km2 Capital: Sarajevo Official language(s): Bosnian, Croatian and Serbian Calling code: +387 Currency: Convertible mark (BAM) Internet TLD: .ba Government: Federal democratic republic
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BULGARIA AMERICAN UNIVERSITY IN BULGARIA In 1991, the American University in Bulgaria (AUBG) was established to make a difference in a rapidly changing region by developing leaders in South East Europe. The AUBG is in the unique position of being accredited both in the United States and in Bulgaria. Today, AUBG is the leading university for career success in Bulgaria, according to 2010 results from the university ranking system launched by the Bulgarian Ministry of Education. More than 3,000 graduates are making their mark in business, government, journalism and technology positions both in the region and around the world. AUBG’s mission and tradition of excellence expanded in 2003 to include an Executive MBA (EMBA) programme, which quickly established itself as a premier programme in all American University of South East Europe. EMBA in Bulgaria graduates assume senior 1,UniversityPark St.
Cyrus Reed Provost
Studentskigrad Sofia1700,Bulgaria Т(+3592) 960 7917 aivanova@aubg.bg www.aubg.bg
leadership roles or move up within their industries shortly after completing the programme. The EMBA programme is a sixteen-month degree programme to help professionals refine their management style and prepare them for increasingly responsible positions. It follows an American curriculum and integrates the fundamentals of business with contemporary perspectives and tools. The international faculty, drawn from the United States, Europe and Asia, bring diverse perspectives to emerging key issues in business. Each EMBA class includes experienced professionals from a variety of industries and functional areas and entrepreneurs from the country ESTABLISHED and the region who have demonstrated unusual talent. This diversity ensures exposure to the overall business environment. Business simulations, team research projects, individual and ACADEMIC STAFF group presentations, and the development of business plans give students invaluable experience that carries over immediately from the classroom to the workplace.
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Education news Historical overview of the education system The Bulgarian education system has deep roots and a rich history. In the 10th century, Bulgaria reached the “golden age of Bulgarian literature and culture,” when Kliment Ohridski established the first Bulgarian school. Today the Bulgarian educational system falls within the continental European tradition. The main types of secondary schools are: general education, vocational, language schools and foreign schools. Private schools are also being established and they are beginning to compete successfully with state schools. The number of private schools increased 10 fold during the 1990s. Bulgaria’s higher education system was fully reorganised in the mid-1990s. Between 1995 and 2002, the number of university graduates increased from 33,000 to 50,000. In 2002, some 42 institutions of higher learning were in operation, and 215,700 students were enrolled. Today, there are 51 higher educational institutions in Bulgaria offering degrees at undergraduate and graduate levels.
Statistics
INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY COLLEGE International University College is an independent higher education private business school with campuses in Varna, Sofia and Dobrich. It is specialised in hospitality management, business administration, and international economics & information systems.The capacity of IUC has quadrupled during the last three years, primarily due to the increasing popularity of the college, its highly skilled lecturers, the unmatched level of practical education and the rapidly growing number of international students and professors. Today more than 1,100 students study at International University College, of which 8 percent are foreign students coming from more than 30 countries - among them, the UK, Russia, Norway, Romania, Finland, Germany, Portugal, the Netherlands, International Turkey, Albania, Nigeria, University College Ukraine, Spain. The accredi3 Bulgaria Street tation awarded to Interna9300 Dobrich tional University College by Bugaria T.+35958 655 620 +35958 655 638 +35958 655 630 marketing@vumk.eu www.vumk.eu
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Cardiff Metropolitan University (UWIC), UK, establishes us as their strategic partner in Eastern Europe. At IUC Bulgaria one can study the prestigious UWIC’s MBA programme that provides students with a comprehensive background in all aspects of business and management, while also providing the opportunity to focus on a specialist area of strategic management, managerial accounting and global marketing.UWIC is a British university with over 200 years of history. Its Management Faculty is the biggest MBA faculty in ESTABLISHED Britain. IUC is the only accredited Bulgarian institution of higher education that can provide the UWIC MBA programme.The programme is designed for working STUDENTS people and therefore studies take place during the weekends, thereby facilitating travel and accommodation.
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According to the National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria, in 2011/2012 the number of Bulgarian citizens in universities and specialised higher schools amounted to 253,200. The number of newly enrolled students acquiring Bachelor and Master degrees after completing secondary education was 52,500. The number of students continuing their education in Master programmes after completing a Bachelor degree was 24,500. In 2011, 55,900 students graduated with Bachelor and Master degrees, of whom 54,200 were Bulgarian citizens. The largest percentage of students graduated in the fields of Business and Administration – 30.6 percent. Private universities accounted for 13.1 percent of all Bachelor and Master Degree graduates.
Country ID BULGARIA Population: 7,364,570 Area: 110,994 km2 Capital: Sofia Official language: Bulgarian Calling code: +359 Currency: Lev (BGN) Internet TLD: .bg Government: Unitary parliamentary republic
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CROATIA COtrUGlI Business school COtrUGlI Business School is the fastest growing business school in se europe with headquarters in Zagreb, Belgrade and ljubljana, specialised in education of top and middle management and is accredited by the association of MBas. the vision of the cotruGli Business school is to train and develop a new breed of managers who are able to assimilate the changes that are taking place, and to use their global and regional knowledge to build solutions to ride the wave of change. cotruGli’s key programmes are internationally accredited executive MBa and MBa programs, but the school also delivers tailor made in-house training for reputable corporate clients, offers assessment and advisory services, and organises various conferences and open enrolment events. until now, cotruGli is recognised as a centre for continuous professional and personal development among more than 10,000 reCOTRUGLI gional business leaders who Business School have participated in the Domobranska b.b 10,000 Zagreb T:+385 13706270 F: +385 1 3706224 info@cotrugli.eu www.cotrugli.eu
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school’s various events. the curriculum for the MBa program has been created to meet the needs of junior and middle-managers. a unique ‘blended learning’ formula ensures minimum absence from work since contact modules take place over nine separate weeks in several european locations. executive MBa programme the executive MBa programme is oriented towards highly motivated and action driven senior executives striving for modern-day knowledge and experience that they can put into practice right away. this two-year program assures minimum absence from work since the modules take place one prolonged weekend per month. HEADQUARTERS the eMBa programme can be attended on our campuses either in Zagreb or in Belgrade. e/MBa open enrolment optionsapart from participating in INDIVIDUALS PARTICIthe whole eMBa or MBa pro- PATED gramme, there is also the opportunity to separately attend selected e/MBa modules. there are alternative locations and dates available for attend- PARTICIPANTS IN 2011
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Graduate Business school ZaGreB
Zlatan Fröhlich International Graduate Business School Zagreb dean
(IGBS Zagreb) is designed to meet the region’s need for conveniently located, high quality management education. it represents an unique project to bring closer top- rate professors and highly motivated students in the emerging markets.in the period from 2004 to 2012 six generations of students from a variety of business sectors in croatia and abroad have attended the international MBa Program at iGBs Zagreb delivered in partnership with indiana university’s Kelley school of Business. iinternational Graduate Business school Zagreb (iGBs GBS Zagreb Zagreb) offers a dual degree Trg J.F.Kennedya 7 M.B.a./M.sc. Programme in 10 000 Zagreb Croatia T+385 1 2314 990 F+385 1 2335 165 mba@igbs.hr www.igbs.hr
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strategic Management delivered in partnership with Kelley school of Business, indiana university. Professors or adjunct faculty from the Kelley school of Business make up 80 percent of the teaching faculty. all classes take place in Zagreb. Graduates receive a Bologna-compliant degree from the top MBa program in croatia, in addition to an aacsB accredited M.sc. degree in strategic Management from a top 20 us busi- ESTABLISHED ness school according to Business Week’s ranking. croatian research centre the institute of economics, Za- GENERATIONS OF STUgreb, established iGBs Zagreb DENTS in 2003 with a support grant from the us state department. admissions are currently taking place for the seventh generation of students with classes scheduled to APPLICATION DEADLINE begin on october 29. FOR DUAL MBA/M.Sc.
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Education news Overview of the education system the croatian higher education system has a long educational tradition. the university of Zadar was the first university in croatia, founded in 1396. it remained active until 1807, when other higher education institutions took over the activities of the university until the foundation of the renewed university of Zadar in 2002. the university of Zagreb, founded in 1669, is the oldest continuously operating university in south east europe. Most croatian universities are public institutions. however, private university education has recently started to develop in croatia. the croatian higher education system comprises 10 universities (consisting of 70 faculties, art academies and schools of professional higher education), 15 polytechnics and 32 colleges of applied sciences).
Accession of Croatia to the EU croatia is set to become the 28th member state of the european union on 1 July 2013. From the moment the republic of croatia becomes a full member of the european union, students who are citizens of eu member states will have the same rights pursuant to the scientific activity and higher education act and will be able to enroll in studies under same conditions as croatian citizens. Many faculties hold classes in english, something which occurs more often in postgraduate studies.
Open and multi-lingual environment despite being a country of relatively small size, the croatian people are not only welcoming but are also multi-lingual. according to a survey ordered by the european commission, 49 percent of people in croatia speak english, 34 percent German, 14 percent italian, 4 percent French, 4 percent russian and 2 percent spanish. Multilingualism may help foreign students adjust quickly and make the most of their study experience.
Country ID CROATIA Population: 4,290,612 Area: 56,594 km2 Capital: Zagreb Official language: Croatian Calling code: +385 Currency: Kuna (HRK) Internet TLD: .hr Government: Unitary parliamentary constitutional republic
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CYPRUS unIversIty of NiCosiA The university of Nicosia is the largest private university in Cyprus, combining a dynamic student-oriented learning environment with quality standards and an international philosophy.the university of nicosia emerged in 2007, following changes in the relevant local legislation and a comprehensive accreditation process.this was the culmination of an ongoing journey, which began over 30 years ago, and has since established the university of nicosia as a leading tertiary education provider in Cyprus – in line with the enduring motto of the institution: “excellence in education”. the university of nicosia pursues excellence in education through its four schools: (i) Business; (ii) sciences; (iii) education; (iv) Humanities, social sciUniversity ences and law. through of Nicosia these, the university offers a 46Makedonitissas Av range of academic proP.O.Box 24005 1700 Nicosia,Cyprus T.+357 22841500 F.+357 22357481 info@unic.ac.cy www.unic.ac.cy Anthi Tziakoura InternationalAdmissions Counsellor
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grammes of study, leading to Bachelor (four years), Master (18 months - two years) and PhD Degrees – modelled on european and American higher education, and continually reviewed and updated in order to keep pace with changing trends.the Master degree in Business Administration (MBA) can be completed in 18 months to two years. the language of instruction is english and the entry requirement is an accredited Bachelor degree. through our MBA program at the university of nicosia, students will be exposed to a plethora of challenges and great opportunities to enhance their personal and ESTABLISHED career horizons.
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our MBA program has six different specialisations: Management, Marketing, Finance, Management information systems, Human resource Management and oil, Gas, Energy Management
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European university Cyprus european university Cyprus is one of the largest universities in Cyprus, with its campus based in nicosia. until september 2007, it was known as Cyprus College. the university has approximately 4,000 students enrolled. the MBA programme is academic, but also equips students with labour market skills and knowledge, and prepares them as managers for today’s increasingly complex and multidimensional work environment. It includes a strong focus on leadership, teamwork and integrated management activities. www.euc.ac.cy
university of Cyprus
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Cyprus InternAtIonAl InstItute of MAnAgeMent 10 The Cyprus international institute of Management (CiiM) is a non-profit public purpose institution, recognised internationally as a centre of excellence in postgraduate management education and research. CIIM employs a unique and highly flexible modular system, which facilitates regular visits of distinguished professors from renowned foreign universities, in addition to the high-calibre resident faculty. the guest professors at CIIM come from Harvard, Wharton, Kellogg, oxford, Cambridge, Cranfield, london Business s c h o o l , C o l u m b i a , M I t, ΙnseAD, HeC, esseC, Warwick and many other distinguished institutions in the us and europe. the CIIM MBA aims to produce general managers able to operate successfully in an international environment. the Cyprus Int.Inst. courses are designed to comof Management bine theory with practice. P.O Box 20378Class lectures are accompa2151Aglandjia nied by case studies as well Nicosia,Cyprus T.+357 2246 2246 F.+357 2233 1121 ciim@ciim.ac.cy www.ciim.ac.cy
MBA
as “live” projects that enable students to apply the latest management techniques to real companies. CIIM is accredited by the world‘s leading accrediting agencies, including the european ePAs and the Britain-based AMBA, as well as the accrediting body of the Cyprus government. the CIIM MBA programme is aimed at: young professionals from diverse educational backgrounds who ESTABLISHED wish to focus on a future career in management.Middle managers of high potential who require the additional capabilities provided by an MBA STUDENTS FROM OVER to undertake increased respon35 COUNTRIES sibility within their companies.young entrepreneurs who wish to acquire the additional skills they need to manage a growing business.Managers and specialists who wish to EUROS change career direction. TUITION FEES
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the university of Cyprus is a public coeducational university established by the republic of Cyprus in 1989. It was the first university to be established in Cyprus. the Department of Public and Business Administration offers professional and full-time MBA programmes and is looking to take on board individuals with promising leadership potential and excellent academic credentials, who will share knowledge and ideas, actively contribute to the programme, and shape the future of business practice. the students, an innovative programme supported by a world-recognised faculty and an academic environment that fosters research form the pillars of the leading MBA programme in the region. www.ucy.ac.cy
Cyprus institute of Marketing the Cyprus Institute of Marketing was established in 1978 and is situated in nicosia and limassol. It is the first business school to be established in Cyprus and is one of the older tertiary education providers in the country. the Cyprus Institute of Marketing MBA programme is action-oriented and designed to accelerate the managerial and leadership development process of students. the specific focus of the programme is on enabf today. www.cima.ac.cy www.cima.ac.cy
Country ID CYPRUS Population: 838,897 Area: 9,251 km2 Capital: Nicosia Official language: Greek, Turkish Calling code: +357 Currency: Euro (EUR) Internet TLD: .cy Government: Unitary presidential constitutional republic
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GREECE INTERNATIONAL HELLENIC UNIVERSITY 11 Nicolas Moussiopoulos Despite the hard times that the world Profesor faces, it is education that can provide hope and contribute to the effort to overcome the crisis. At the same time it is widely recognised that the mode of operation of Higher Education has been rendered outdated by developments and our institutions are struggling to serve the needs of our society and compete at an international level.Indicative of this situation is the low percentage of international students that choose the SE European countries as a destination for higher education. Established in 2005 and with the commencement of its first postgraduate programme of study in 2008, Greece’s first Englishspeaking public university, the International Hellenic IHU University (IHU) proves that 14 km Thessalonikithe implementation of a difMoudania ferent model is not only posThermi Thessaloniki
sible but can be successful in a very short period of time and in spite of the economic crisis.The IHU has tried to put the focus back on the learning process and to create an academic environment and the necessary conditions to be efficient and pursue excellence in research and teaching. Among other aspects, the International Hellenic University has successfully incorporated into its mode of operation the following: internationalisation focus , introduction of clear and transparent evaluation processes, establishment of links between universities and civil society. The Executive MBA offers both Greek and international students the opportunity to learn more than just business fundamentals. A rigorous core curriculum and a rich selection of elective modules offer global business knowledge and the analytical tools and skills which can have a significant effect on a business executive’s career path, repositioning him or her within an industry. The multicultural environment of the International Hellenic University is a guarantee for exchange of ideas and cooperation among students with different cultural backgrounds. Studying in a collaborative environment with the guidance of renowned visiting faculty and together with an international student body enables our graduates to explore new ways of thinking about problems. Maybe, now is the time to think about higher education Institutions in a new way.
57001 Greece T.+30 2310 807 528 www.ihu.edu.gr infoseba@ihu.edu.gr
ATHENS UNIVERSITY of Economics and Business 12 The Athens University of Economics & Business (AUEB) is one of the leading business schools in Europe, and the most prestigious university of its kind in Greece. The AUEB was originally founded in 1920 under the name Athens School of Commercial Studies. It is the third oldest University in Greece and the oldest one in the general fields of Economics and Business. The AUEB MBA International is officially recognised by the Greek state and the European Union and has Athens University received full international acof Business creditation from the Associa47A Evelpidon 113 tion of MBAs (AMBA).MBA 62,Athens, Greece T.+30 210 82 03 677 F.+30 210 88 28 078 imba@aueb.gr www.imba.aueb.gr Dr.George Ioannou Director MBA International Programme
International is a world-class programme particularly suited to the global, dynamically changing, and technology-driven business environment. It is offered exclusively in English and attracts students from more than 20 countries.A rich, constantly evolving academic programme allows students to customise the curriculum to fit their personal and professional needs and interests, while a number of extracurricular activities (e.g. networking activities, company days, career days, business games and competitions, athletic events etc.) help them adopt an international perspective, strengthen their interpersonal and managerial skills, and cultivate their entrepreneurial capabilities. Students and alumni are strongly supported by the Career Office of the Programme that provides them with state-of-theart tools and resources to manage their career lifetime, while acting as a liaison between the programme and leading employers globally.If your goals match our vision, we warmly invite you to join us at the “Most Innovative Business School in Southern Europe” (“European CEO” Global Business Education Awards).
MBA news
Dr Dimitris Kavakas
The Amercan College of Thessaloniki
ACT is a non-for-profit educational institution, the tertiary division of Anatolia College, an institution that was founded 125 years ago. ACT is located in Thessaloniki, a safe and lively city. The principal focus of ACT is to be the first choice and also the affordable choice for the education of students from the Balkan region. ACT possesses a well structured financial aid program which ensures that no student can be deprived of the opportunity to study because of financial difficulties.One of the greatest achievements of ACT is its accreditation by NEASC, the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. NEASC accredits universities and colleges in the northeastern part of the US, including institutions such as Harvard, MIT and Yale. Actually, ACT is one of only eight institutions accredited by NEASC that have operations outside the US. ACT offers an MBA with concentrations in management, marketing, banking and finance and entrepreneurship. The College maintains good links with the business world in the region, offering the possibility to students and graduates to network for career advancement or to gain practical experience during or immediately after their studies. www.act.edu
ALBA GRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOL ALBA Graduate Business School in Athens prepares selected individuals for leadership in business, aiming to be a leading centre of research and teaching excellence in postgraduate business education in Europe. Currently, two MBA programmes are offered, MBA in Banking and MBA in Shipping. www.alba.edu.gr
Country ID GREECE
Population: 11,305,118 Area: 131,990 km2 Capital: Athens Official language: Greek Calling code: +30 Currency: Euro (EUR) Internet TLD: .gr Government: Unitary parliamentary republic
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MACEDONIA-FYR MONTENEGRO UaCS
- UniVerSiTY
aMeriCan COLLeGe SKOPJe
University american College Skopje (UaCS) was established in 2004. UACS considers itself a third-generation university – a university, independent from government support, mainly teaching in the english language and operational in a regional or global market. The university is an institution for higher education that combines the best of American and european educational experiences.UACS is designed to provide the community with higher education, professional support to industry and government, and most notably, well-trained young individuals prepared to enter the workforce with professional and exceptional knowledge.The University has invested heavily in technology, furniture and other supporting infrastructure to enable smooth operation of the plant to foster and learning amongst the students. Univ.American The Master in Business AdCollege Skopje ministration (MBA) proTreta Makedonska gramme is the flagship of the Brigada 60,Skopje
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UACS graduate programs. It is designed to meet the needs of professionals and managers and to serve as a powerful boost in the career paths of the graduates. The programme enhances participants’ skills necessary to do business successfully in the 21st century, overcoming the challenges of modern business such as globalisation and constant change. UACS MBA programme is delivered through the Participant Centred Learning mode developed and mastered by Harvard Business School. In entails discussion, case study analysis, role plays, individual and team projects and interactive teaching.MBA courses are con- ESTABLISHED ducted by foreign and domestic lecturers and experienced practitioners.The programme offers two possibilities for a deCAMPUS gree: Master of Business Administration, as a general programme, or Master of Business Administration with concentration in marketing/finance and bankSTUDENTS ing/human resources.
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1000,Mac/FYR +003892-246-3156 info@uacs.edu.mk www.uacs.edu.mk
UnIveRSITY “MediTerranean” 14 The University Mediterranean is the first private university established Montenegro. It was founded on 30 May 2006 and consisted of four organisational units: Faculty of Tourism, Hotel and Trade Management Bar, Faculty of Business Studies ‘Montenegro Business School’, Faculty of visual Arts and Faculty of Information Technology.Later on, two more faculties joined the University: Faculty of Foreign Languages and Faculty of Law. The Faculty of Business Studies ‘Montenegro Business School’ is the first faculty in Montenegro which provides education to future business people in the field of marketing and business finance. The advantage of the Faculty is reflected in University the fact that it trains speMediterranean cialist staff in the fields of PodgoricaVaka International Marketing, Đurovića bb 81000 Public Relations, Banking Podgorica Montenegro P: 020 409 200 F: 020 409 232 www.unimediteran.net office@unimediteran.net
and Insurance, Accounting and Auditing and Small Business. This type of specialist professional education is unique in the Montenegrin system of higher education. From the 2012/2013 academic year the Faculty is going to launch a new study programme in english – MBA (Master of Business Administration) in Management, Finance and Agribusiness. The study programme with its characteristics meets the requirements of the International MBA network (AGRIMBA) and since UNIVERSITY UNITS at least 20% of lectures will be provided by the lecturers from the institutions of the International MBA network, it opens a great opportunity for the mobility of students, not only within STUDY PROGRAMMES Montenegro but also abroad. Moreover, the AGRIMBA network encourages regular exchange and joint teaching in the form of case studies at universi- STUDENTS ties in different countries.
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Msc and Specialists statistics According to data from the State Statistical Office of Macedonia-FYR, in 2011, the total number of masters of science and specialists was 1,294, of whom 1,097 people, or 84.8 percent, were masters of science and 197 people, or 15.2 percent, were specialists. Compared with 2010, the 2011 data show an increase of 87.3 percent.The proportion of women in the total number of masters of science in 2011 was 53.7 percent.In 2011, the majority of master’s theses, 587, or 53.5 percent, were in the field of social sciences, while 20 percent were in the field of technical and technological sciences. The remainder were in the fields of humanities, natural sciences, mathematics, biotechnical and medical sciences.
Types of tertiary education institutions The University of Montenegro is the only public higher education institution in Montenegro. The University of Montenegro comprises 19 faculties and 3 scientificresearch institutes. Those 19 faculties offer 79 study programmes. The first private university is the ‘Mediterranean’ University established in 2006. In 2010, the second private university ‘ Donja Gorica’ was awarded a license. Apart from the private universities, there are also 7 individual private faculties, at which around 2400 students are studying.
Country ID MACEDONIA-FYR Population: 2,055,004 Area: 25,713 km2 Capital: Skopje Official language: Macedonian Calling code: +389 Currency: Macedonian denar (MKD) Internet TLD: .mk Government: Parliamentary republic
MONTENEGRO
Population: 625,266 Area: 13,812 km2 Capital: Podgorica Official language(s): Montenegrin, Serbian, Bosnian, Albanian and Croatian Calling code: +382 Currency: Euro (EUR) Internet TLD: .me Government: Parliamentary republic
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ROMANIA BUChArEST SChOOL OF MANAGEMENT 15 Education news Bucharest School of Management (BSM) is a business school, part of Bucharest’s Academy of Economic Studies. The Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies is the oldest university of economics and business studies in Romania. It was founded in 1913. Since 1967 it is known as the Academy of Economic Studies and has become one of the largest higher education institutes in both Romania and South Eastern Europe. BSM offers the Romanian-Canadian MBA programme. The School has set the following objectives: To facilitate the quality of education in the field of management.To focus on the knowledge, attitude and required abilities in order to succeed in the current competitive business environment.To offer the most rigorous MBA programme in Romania and to have its graduates acknowledged as the best in their field of activity.For 17 years now, the Romanian-Canadian MBA programme, organised in Bucharest School partnership with the Uniof Management versity of Ottawa,Telfer Calea Grivitei 2-2A
School of Management from Canada, has prepared over 800 specialists -the majority of them now top managers in important companies.The faculty includes 38 Romanian and Canadian professors and 10 lecturers with extended experience in the business environment.The Romanian-Canadian MBA is concentrated around study applied on the Romanian business environment specificities.Romanian-Canadian MBA programme offers its students, in an organised and professional way, courses for development,giving them huge opportunities after they graduate.After graduation, students gain:Valuable business ALUMNI knowledge.Leadership abilities. Social networking. Professional advantages - the MBA programme transforms the graduate into a more organised person, a person who is capable of multi- PROFESSORS plying efforts to do things better, including the structure of their career.Professional improvement.
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EUROS TUITION FEES
3rd Fl. district 1 Bucharest, Romania T/F +40 21 312 97 24office@bsm-mba.ro www.bsm-mba.ro
MAASTrIChT SChOOL OF MANAGEMENT 16 Oliver Olson Dean
Maastricht School of Management(MSM) was founded in the Netherlands in 1952.It has been delivering its EMBA programme in Romania since 2010.The 20month part-time MSM Romania EMBA programme provides state-of-the-art postgraduate education in business administration to mid-career professionals with the aim of advancing their knowledge and practice of management and to train them to lead in a dynamic global business environment. We recognise in each student the inner spark, we then provide knowledge and reMaastricht School inforce character by of Management bringing the students toRomania gether with professors Putul lui Zamfir 36 Bucharest Romania Tel: +40213101248 www.msmro.org
and peers who share our values, so in the end the graduates become agents of change in our businesses and community environments. This school brings together people who share the same values: integrity, the openness to self-reflect, the constant need to self-develop, respect for society, proactive optimism, and the courage to challenge the status-quo. The programme is facili- GRADUATES tated by a faculty of professors from 10 different countries on four continents and staff who have successfully managed and taught in recognised business STUDENTS schools around the world during CURRENTLY the previous decade. The Dutch ENROLLED degree conferred upon successful participants is awarded by the Maastricht School of ManageEUROS ment.
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UB-Tiffin Executive MBA During its 145 years of existence, the University of Bucharest (UB) has gained solid national and international prestige, becoming the first Romanian academic institution in the top 600 universities in the world. It comprises 19 faculties, with over 30,000 full-time students of whom 1,000 are foreign students. The Faculty of Business Administration in partnership with Tiffin University (Ohio, USA) is offering the Executive MBA programme. The programme is widely recognised by various institutions and corporations as providing students with a level of skills and knowledge that enables them to assume positions of greater responsibility and reward. www.tiffinmba.ro
UNESCO MBA The UNESCO Department within the University of Bucharest is offering interdisciplinary Master programmes organised in collaboration with prestigious academic institutions from Switzerland, Germany and the United States. Among these programmes are MA in Intercultural Communication, MA in Intercultural Management and Business Administration (MBA). Upon completing their studies, students present a dissertation paper on a theme discussed during the courses. This exam leads to an MA diploma in one of the three specialisations. For courses sustained in partnership, the institutions involved offer competence certificates. www.interculturel.org
Interesting facts & figures The first institutes of higher education established in Romania were Academia Vasiliana, founded by Prince Vasile Lupu in Iasi in 1640 as a “higher school for Latin and Slavonic languages,” and the Academy of Bucharest, which was opened at the end of the 17th century by Prince Constantin Brancoveanu.As of 2011 over three million students were enrolled in the educational system.According to a report by UNICEF, the drop-out rate tripled in Romania in the 2000-2009 period, with 20 percent of children giving up school. In 2009, almost 12 percent of the population aged 25 or more had received higher education, up from 8.3 percent in 2000.
Country ID ROMANIA Population: 19,042,936 Area: 238,391 km2 Capital: Bucharest Official language: Romanian Calling code: +40 Currency: Romanian leu (RON) Internet TLD: .ro Government: Unitary semi-presidential republic
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SERBIA MEGAtrEND UNIVERSITY Megatrend University is a private university located in Belgrade. It was founded in 1989 and is organised into 19 institutions. The first institute of the university was Megatrend Business School. The Graduate School of Business Studies is conceived as a faculty that offers a new approach to studying economics, using a ‘vertical’ rather than ‘horizontal’ approach. This means that a student, instead of being familiar with individual disciplines and areas that are important for the business economy, gets an insight into the whole picture depending on their position within the organisation or company - from the lowest to the highest level of decision making. This method has the advantage of offering integrated study of the subject, as opposed to the partial approach that has so far dominated education. In March 2011, Megatrend Megatrend Un. University signed a coopGrad.School B.Studies eration agreement with Goce Delceva 8,
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Franklin University in the US state of Ohio. The cooperation consists of a joint Master of Business Administration programme, taking place in Belgrade, at the end of which students are granted a diploma identical to the diploma acquired by their colleagues studying at the university in America.The Graduate School proudly emphasises the fact that its graduate students, currently over 3,000 of them, are employed. All of them value the knowledge they gained and have used it to develop successESTABLISHED ful careers. Today, they work in both Serbian and international companies. Megatrend University has been setting the highest standards of education in the region for 22 years and the center ADMIN. STAFF of it are students.
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11070 Belgrade Serbia T +381 11 220 30 29 +381 11 220 30 24 infofps@megatrend.edu.rs www.megatrend.edu.rs
SINGIDUNUM UNIVERSITY Singidunum University is a private university in Belgrade. The first of the faculties, the integral part of the university, was founded in 1999 while the university itself was established in 2005.Singidunum University is innovative, with great ambitions and notable potential.The university’s faculties cover a vast range of disciplines, such as: financial management & insurance; informatics & computing; tourism & hospitality management;engineering management; economics, finance &administration; media & communication; European legal & political studies; and studies of applied ecology. The academic staff consist of professors who earned their academic titles and degrees mostly at esteemed higher education institutions in Serbia and abroad.Starting October 2012, the university will offer an MBA programme in Singidunum UN. cooperation with IMC UniDanijelova 32,Beograd P+381113093206, F:+381113093206 dpe@singidunum.ac.r www.eng.singidunum.ac.rs
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versity of Applied Sciences, Krems, Austria, leading to a Double Degree MBA.*The aim of this MBA is to combine academic theory and practical experience, and to incorporate important inputs from business and industry. In an age of rapidly changing, competitive global markets, prospective managers have to contend with a constant flow of new challenges. Thanks to an effective combination of business administration, accounting, management, ESTABLISHED marketing, e-business, legal and English skills, students are offered comprehensive theoretical training with a strong practical element.As a result of this, a graduate can be STUDENTS expected to have advanced expertise in business administration and be able to competently solve probEUROS lems and innovatively use his or her critical understanding of theories MASTER STUDY PROand methods.*Subject to approval GRAMMES by authorities. ANNUAL TUITION FEE
2005
10.000 1500
Ninth International MBA Fair The ninth edition of the MBA Fair will take place at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Belgrade, Serbia on Thursday, 20 September 2012. MBA Fair is the only international education exhibition in the western Balkans where business schools and universities that offer MBA and MSc programmes showcase their executive management educational offerings in order to attract best-qualified up and coming young professionals and managers. The focus is on more seasoned managers seeking to gain modern management skills that should enable them to solve challenging problems in the South East European business environment.www.mbafair.net
English School of Business Beograd English School of Business (ESB) is a privately owned educational centre founded in 2000. ESB is approved by Heriot-Watt University, and appointed by Edinburgh Business School (EBS) to provide a range of academic and administrative support services for MBA students on an exclusive basis in Serbia and Montenegro. The Heriot-Watt University / Edinburgh Business School Master of Business Administration Degree is a highly successful programme preferred by employefit with personal and career objectives. www.esb.edu.rs
London School of Commerce Belgrade London School of Commerce is an internationally recognised business school from London, with campuses in London, Belgrade, Kuala Lumpur, Dhaka, Nairobi and Sri Lanka. LSC Belgrade offers British MBA, postgraduate and undergraduate degree courses in business and management.On successful completion of the programme, students will gain an MBA degree from Cardiff Metropolitan University. www.lsc.edu.rs
Country ID SERBIA Population: 7,120,666 Area: 88,361 km2 Capital: Belgrade Official language: Serbian Calling code: +381 Currency: Serbian dinar (RSD) Internet TLD: .rs Government: Parliamentary republic
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SLOVENIA IEDC-BLED SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT The Executive MBA of IEDC-Bled School of Management is designed for practicing managers, with a minimum of three years of relevant managerial experience, looking to enhance their career and develop stronger leadership and managerial skills. Our typical students are 27-35 years of age, representing a variety of functions and industries, including middle and senior managers, experts, consultants and business owners.The programme consists of 17 weeks, organised into short modules, spread over one or two years time, and starts in February each year.The programme allows participants to complete an MBA without leaving their jobs for the whole year, but does require presence in Bled for studies.The Executive MBA programme at IEDC is accredited by the Association of MBAs (AMBA),International Quality Accreditation (CEEMAN) and IEDC-Bled School is a Bologna-level profesof Management sional masters degree.There Presernova cesta 33 4260 Bled, Slovenia Tel +38645792515 emba@iedc.si www.iedc.si
Vera Pasynkova Admission officer
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are several advantages of the programme to take into account: the part-time format, a world-renowned visiting faculty from the best European and overseas schools, the strong practiceoriented general management focus of the programme, an innovative curriculum, an in-depth knowledge of Central and Eastern European businesses, as well as Western European realities, and a vast alumni network. Since the launch of the programme in 1991, more than 1,000 participants have graduated from the EMBA and currently hold senior positions in ESTABLISHED an array of companies and organisations from various industries. The IEDC–Bled School of Management is one of the first management development insti- MANAGEMENT tutions in Central and Eastern SCHOOL IN CE EUEurope and in 25 years it has grown into one of the most inno- ROPE vative international business schools in Europe, attracting managers from all over the world.
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Education news Interesting numbers Number of tertiary education establishments (2011/12): 107 .Total number of students in tertiary education: 107,134. Number of graduates in tertiary education (2009/10): 19,694. Number of students enrolled for postgraduatstudy: 13,300 Source: Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport, Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia
Tuition Fees Over the last 15 years higher education in Slovenia has undergone several legislative and structural changes, rapid institutional development and a significant increase in student numbers. After entering the EU in 2004, Slovenia also became an interesting and desirable option for many foreign students. In public higher education institutions students from EU member states, just like Slovenian students, pay tuition fees for first and second cycle part-time studies, while full-time studies are free. Foreigners from non-EU member countries pay tuition fees regardless of the mode of studies. Students in private higher education institutions also pay tuition fees.
University of Ljubljana MBA
GEA COLLEGE-FACULTY OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP GEA College-Faculty of Entrepreneurship is the leading private business school in Slovenia with 20 years of experience in the provision of courses focused on entrepreneurship. The institution’s vision is to become the leading school of training and education of dynamic entrepreneurs in the Central and Eastern Europe. The institution provides high-quality, practically-oriented undergraduate and postgraduate courses. It utilises modern teaching methods employed by the best and the most acknowledged universities and higher education institutions in Europe and the US.Coursework and activities are designed to suit small study groups and promote both individuality and interactivity. All programmes have been accredited by the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Slovenia, thus the deGEA College grees are recognisedinterDunajska 156 nationally.The institution is 1000 Ljubljana also a full member of variSlovenia P. +386 1 5881 300 F. +386 1 5881 333 info@gea-college.si www.gea-college.si
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ous leading international associations of business and managements schools.MBA in Social EntrepreneurshipKey facts aboutthe programme TeachingMethods:Combined learning in the classroom and e-learning.TeachingLanguage: Slovene and English. Minimum Level of attendance to be admitted to each exam: 70% Duration of the study: Two/three years, part-time.Minimum Number of Students per group: 25. Who should apply for this programme?Entrepreneurs and social entrepreneurs.Potential co-founders of social enterprises. Members of ESTABLISHED NGOs.Members of foundations.Members of non-profit organisation. Members of family businesses oriented to social impact.Public offi- EDUCATIONAL cials.Managers from large and medium companies.Mem- PROGRAMMES bers of government agencies. Operators of social enterprises.Leaders and members of entrepreneurial associations.Leaders and members of YEARLY NUMBER cooperative associations. OF STUDENTS
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The University of Ljubljana is the oldest and largest university in Slovenia. With over 63,000 enrolled undergraduate and graduate students, it is one of the largest universities in Europe. Holders of honorary doctorates from the University of Ljubljana include the linguist Noam Chomsky, the semiotician Umberto Eco and many others. The Faculty of Economics Ljubljana University (FELU), with over 6,000 students and 250 employees, is one of the largest business schools in the region. The FELU MBA programme is offered to those individuals who already have relevant work experience and wish to upgrade their managerial skills and knowledge and also acquire the important features of a successful leader. www.ef.uni-lj.si/mba
Country ID SLOVENIA Population: 2,050,189 Area: 20,273 km2 Capital: Ljubljana Official language: Slovene Calling code: +386 Currency: Euro (EUR) Internet TLD: .si Government: Unitary parliamentary constitutional republic
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BEST People from the Balkans are world famous for their hospitality. South East Europe, the Balkan Peninsula or just the Balkans. The region took its name from the Balkan Mountains which run through the centre of Bulgaria to Serbia. The name “Balkan” itself is of Turkish origin and means “a chain of wooded mountains.” The ancient Greek name for the Balkan Peninsula was the “Peninsula of Haemus.” The Balkan Peninsula can be defined as an area of South East Europe surrounded by water on three sides: the Adriatic Sea to the west, the Mediterranean Sea (including the Ionian and Aegean seas) to the south and the Black Sea to the east.
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hile in recent years the very word Balkans may conjure up images of ethnic strife and civil war due to the headlines of the last decade of 20th century, the Balkans, with its rich, though often turbulent, history and wonderful nature offers much more than that. Ancient fortresses, hidden deep in the forest, monasteries, typical medieval villages and charming multicultural towns are all waiting to be explored. The climate and the landscape make the region attractive for all kinds of visitors. It is warm enough during the summer to swim in the warm waters of Mediterranean, Adriatic and the Black Sea and cold enough in the winter to grab a snowboard or ski, or trek any of the many mountain tracks. Large green forests cover the mountain slopes with endless crop fields in between. Wonderful views, beautiful waterfalls, magnificent cliff structures, lakes, rivers and canyons in addition to the countless sandy beaches: there is a little of everything. From Croatia’s city of Split with its ancient Roman palace of the Emperor Diocletian on the Dalmatian coast to the Danube Delta in Romania, the second-largest in Europe and the best preserved on the continent; or from to the city of Ohrid in Macedonia-FYR, nestled between high mountains of up to 2,800 metres and Lake Ohrid, to Meteora, one of the largest and most important complexes of Eastern Orthodox monasteries in Greece, South East Europe boasts some of the richest cultures and most epic ruins from both the Roman and Ottoman Empires, combined with magnificent natural beauty and vibrant modern cities. People from the Balkans are world famous for their hospitality. They are glad to meet guests and you will have the pleasure to learn more about these remarkable places while enjoying local cuisine. The Balkans is a region of many cultural, religious and national influences. Consequently it is a gourmet’s paradise. If you want to spend your vacation visiting a wonderfully diverse region, with beautiful landscapes, a wealth of traditions and a unique cultural heritage, the following pages will provide you with all the information you need and attractions you shouldn’t miss. BuildPress encourages travellers to look a little closer at this rapidly rising part of Europe!
Summer 2012 forecast for SE Europe According to experts from “AccuWeeather.com”, much of Europe will be slightly warmer than normal this summer with the core of summer heat across southeast Europe into Ukraine. Eastern Europe will see longer and more intense spells of heat with notable heat waves from late June and into August. The ridge near the Black Sea will likely limit rainfall across South East Europe
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ALBANIA New Mediterranean Love In the heart of the Mediterranean, on the Adriatic and Ionian Seas, Albania is fast becoming one of the world’s most interesting getaways. Still relatively unspoiled by globalisation, tourists will notice an inspiring mix of civilizations and cultures - making this European country truly unique. Albanian history and culture is fascinating. Butrint, one of the world’s archaeological wonders - and a UNESCO World Heritage site - in the south of Albania provides a glimpse of Mediterranean civilization from the Bronze Age through the Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Venetian and Ottoman periods. Albania boasts blue and turquoise seas, beautiful beaches, snow-capped mountains, rivers, lakes and forests. Home of Mother Theresa, Albania today offers not only beach and mountain holidays, but also a vibrant city life which you can discover in Tirana, Durres, Berat, Elbasan, Gjirokaster, Korce, Sarande or Shkodra.
Get In Tirana’s “Mother Teresa” International Airport is located just 15 minutes away from the city. A new, larger and modern terminal was opened in 2007. Talk Albanian is the official language. Other useful languages include Italian and English. English is understood in Tirana and to a lesser extent in popular tourist cities. Buy The national currency is the lek (ALL). Hundreds of new ATMs have been installed in most major cities. The ATMs accept most international VISA and Mastercard credit/debit cards. Albanian shops are usually open 09:00-20:00, and until 22:00 in summer. Most shops stay open on Sunday. Eat Byrek - a type of savory pie is common, and is made in different ways. One way is with spinach and feta cheese. Another is with ground meat and onion. Sleep In cities, hotels are abundant and prices per night start as low as €15. They are clean and staff in major cities generally speak English and/or Italian. See Dajti Mountain, a popular sight in Tirana allows you to get a whole green view of the capital. A walk around southern cities like Butrint, a UNESCO world heritage site, is always ideal and memorable. Butrint is home to many ancient ruins. Albanian Riviera: Himara is the only city, but there are a lot of small, picturesque villages mostly located on the overlooking mountains like Palasa, Dhermi, Ilias, Vuno, Potam, Llaman, Jal, Bunec, Borsh, Qeparo, Pilur, Spille, Sasaj, Piqeras, Nivice and Shen Vasil, each with several excellent beach areas. Castles: There is Petrela Castle near Tirana, Rozafa castle in Shkodra, the inhabited castle of Berat, and Skanderbeg Castle in Kruje, Berat — Thought to be one of the oldest towns in Albania, it is a new member of the UNESCO world heritage list. Berat has long been known as the “city of 1,001 windows”
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because of its unique Ottoman/Albanian architecture. It has a well preserved castle with residents still live inside its protective walls. Gjirokastër — Another UNESCO city, located in the south is known for its unique Ottoman period architecture. There is a large castle on the hill in the middle of the city National Agency of Albanian Tourism www.albaniantourism.com
BOSNIA The Heart of SE Europe Open space, fresh air, pristine nature, stimulating cultural events and exciting activities make Bosnia and Herzegovina one of the hottest new destinations. Travellers can count on great food, a lively Sarajevo art scene and life-changing experiences. Whether it’s hiking over one of the country’s trekking routes, a visit to Mostar or Lukomir, one of the last medieval villages in Europe, rafting on the Una River, or mixing with celebrities at the Sarajevo Film Festival, this country has a lot to offer. It is here that eastern and western civilizations met, sometimes clashed, but more often enriched and reinforced each other throughout its long and fascinating history. And as the old cliché goes ‘people make the place’ – and Bosnia Herzegovina prides itself on its hospitality and treating guests as if they were family members.
Get In Sarajevo Airport is in the suburb of Butmir and is relatively close to the city centre. Mostar, Tuzla and Banja Luka also have international airports. Talk The official languages in the Bosnia and Herzegovina are Bosnian, Serbian and Croatian, all three known as SerboCroatian as they are practically the same language. A lot of Bosnians, especially the younger generation will speak English. Buy The official currency is the konvertibilna marka (convertible mark) at a fixed rate of 1.95 to the euro. Credit cards are not widely accepted - ATMs are available in most cities (VISA and Maestro). Visoko and the central Bosnia region are well known for their leather work. Eat The most widely available food in Sarajevo is Cevapi, the Balkan kebab. Whatever you eat in Bosnia, you will notice the richness of the flavours, even among foods you thought you knew. Sleep You can choose from a great number of hotels, hostels, motels and pensions. In the seaside town of Neum you can book hotels from two to four stars. In other cities many hotels are three stars, four stars and some of them are five stars. See Banja Luka The country’s second-largest city and the administrative capital of the Republika Srpska, Banja Luka is home to the well-preserved Tvrdjava Fortress. The famous Rakitnica canyon of the Rakitnica river, tribu-
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tary of the Neretva river, offers great canyoning adventure. Mostar Visit Mostar to see the elegant Ottoman bridge that links the two sides of the town across the Neretva River. Sutjeska National Park Witness the wildlife and the unspoiled beauty of Sutjeska National Park. It contains Maglic Mountain, which, at 2,368m (7,769ft), is the highest point in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Perucica Forest, one of the last remaining primeval forests in Europe. Tourism association of Bosnia-Herzegovina www.bhtourism.ba
BULGARIA The Land of Roses The land of roses, Bulgaria, is a small country of ancient culture, scenic beauty, friendly people, hospitality and warmth. It is a beautiful mountainous country, with tourism opportunities being one of its biggest assets. Bulgaria possesses beautiful landscapes and beaches, and is becoming a real resort paradise. The Black Sea Coast in the east is famous for fine-sand beaches, and perfect water and air temperatures. In addition, Bulgaria has around 600 natural mineral springs, with water temperatures ranging from 20 to 60 degrees centigrade, making its baths and health spas world famous. Bulgaria’s cities are often overlooked highlights, from dynamic, cosmopolitan Sofia with its lovely parks and fascinating museums, to the National Revival architectural treasures and Roman remains of Plovdiv.
Get In There are four international airports: Sofia, Varna, Bourgas and Plovdiv. There are a lot of charter and last-minute flight offers to Varna or Bourgas from Western Europe. Talk Bulgarian is a southern Slavic language closely related to Serbo-Croatian, Slovene and Russian. If you know any of these you shouldn’t have much problem getting by. Buy The Bulgarian unit of currency is the lev. In recent years the ATM network in Bulgaria has grown considerably, making it relatively easy to obtain cash from the numerous ATMs in Sofia, as well as in all other major cities and resorts. Eat As a main course you can have gyuvetch, sarmi (rolls with vine or cabbage leaves), drob sarma (lamb liver and lung with rice), kavarma (minced meat with tomatoes), mishmash (fried peppers, onion and eggs). Don’t miss the native Bulgarian kiselo mlyako (yoghurt). Sleep Finding accommodation in Bulgaria is very easy, for any price. You can find everything, from hostels in Sofia and Plovdiv and very cheap boarding houses along the coast to inexpensive hotels in all cities and luxury hotels in large cities. See The Aladzha monastery near Varna: an old cave monastery built within chalk cliffs surrounded by a forest. Dated around the fifth century. The capital, Sofia, with over 250 historic landmarks and ar-
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chitectural monuments, and a great deal of cultural places of interest. It is one of the oldest cities in Europe. Sunny Beach — The country’s largest beach resort with more than 800 hotels in a strip along the Black Sea Coast. Veliko Tarnovo — Picturesque university city near the Yantra river that was the capital of the medieval Bulgarian Empire. Official tourism portal of Bulgaria http://bulgariatravel.org
CROATIA The Mediterranean as it Once Was Explore and discover the heart of Europe, the region where the primary European cultures converge in a provocative Italic, Austrian and Slavic mosaic of art, architecture, music, cuisine, wine and history. Croatia is as diverse as its landscapes, stretching from the slopes of the Alps and deep into the Pannonian Valley to the banks of the Danube and Drava rivers. The Adriatic, with one of the most indented coastlines in Europe with its 1,185 islands and islets, of which only 66 are inhabited, is undoubtedly the most popular tourist destination. Continental Croatia, however, also abounds in beauty: it is a land of forests, rivers rich in fish, swift mountain streams and deep gorges Further south, Dalmatia, is the apogee of the Mediterranean, bursting with colours, fragrances and shapes. It is a region of long beaches, pine woods and the ancient towns of Zadar, Sibenik, Split, Trogir, Omis and Dubrovnik.
Get In Zagreb Airport, also known as Pleso Airport after the nearby suburb of Pleso, is the main international airport of Croatia. Located 10 km from Zagreb Central Station, it served 2,319,098 passengers in 2011 and is the primary hub for Croatian flag carrier Croatia Airlines. Talk Croatian is not an easy language to learn, but people appreciate it when foreign travellers use it for basic things such as greetings and saying thanks. Many Croatians speak English as their second language, but German and Italian are very popular as well. Buy Croatia’s official currency is the kuna. Prices are around 10% to 20% lower than most EU countries. Touristic destinations and souvenirs are much more expensive. ATMs are readily available and accept various European bank cards and credit cards. Eat Croatian cuisine is quite diverse so it is hard to say which meal is most typically Croatian. Spicy sausage such as kulen or kulenova seka is a must-try. Probably the most famous dessert is the delicious creamy cake called kremšnite. Sleep In Croatia there are four main types of accommodation: apartments, small private hotels, two and three star hotel resorts for mass tourism, and five-star luxury hotels. In addition, Croatia has 11 lighthouses you can rent along the Adriatic coast at Savudrija, Sv. Ivan, Rt Zub, Porer, Veli Rat, Prisnjak, Sv. Petar, Plocica, Susac, Struga and Palagruza. See
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Split, with 2,800 hours of sunlight each year locals call it the “Mediterranean flower.” Must see is the Diocletian’s Palace (UNESCO heritage site): the historic centre of Split is built around the remains of this Roman palace. Another coastal city, Dubrovnik is nicknamed “Pearl of the Adriatic” and has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979. Pula, a town with a history of 3,000 years, was built by the Illyrians. It features a Roman arena, the sixth-largest surviving Roman amphitheatre in the world. Hvar Island and especially Hvar town is one of the most popular destinations in the Adriatic. Hvar is known for its lavender, which you can see blooming in the summer over large areas. Croatian National Tourist Board http://croatia.hr
CYPRUS Welcome to the Year-Round Island Cyprus lies at the crossroads of three continents, where East meets West and a new experience awaits you under the sun every day. Cyprus is proudly reclaiming its ancient honour of being the birthplace of the goddess Aphrodite - travellers throughout antiquity came here just to pay her tribute. There are so many wonderful places to see in Cyprus, and here we name just a few: Paphos Harbour & Castle, originally built as a Byzantine fort to protect the harbour. Kolossi Castle, a crusader stronghold a few kilometres outside the city of Limassol. Larnaca Salt Lake, a complex network of four salt lakes (three of them interconnected) of different sizes. Agia Napa and Protaras, popular tourist destinations famous for their nightlife. Panayia tou Araka, one of 10 painted churches on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list. Lefkara, home of Lefkara lace, one of Cyprus’ most famous exports.
Get In Cyprus’ main airport is Larnaca International Airport (LCA), located on the outskirts of Larnaka. There are flight connections with most major European cities and many Eastern European countries. Talk The official languages of Cyprus are Greek and Turkish. English is very widely spoken by locals of all ages. Other common languages spoken on the island are French, German and Russian. Buy Cyprus has the euro (EUR, €) as its currency. Buy Cypriot wine - the iconic local variety known as Commandaria is strong and sweet. Eat Halloumi is a uniquely Cypriot cheese, made from a mix of cow’s and sheep’s milk. Hard and salty when raw, it mellows and softens when cooked and is hence often served grilled. Sleep There are countless hotels of varying degrees of luxury. Some of them are: Holiday Inn, Le Meridien, Hilton. Alternative self-catering accommodation is offered in restored traditional houses in picturesque villages all over Cyprus
through the government agrotourism initiative. See Nicosia - Take a walking tour of the capital Nicosia and visit the Cyprus Museum, a goldmine of the island’s archaeological treasures Kourion - In the ancient city of Kourion discover a GraecoRoman theatre, where concerts and Shakespearean plays are performed in summer. Kykkos Monastery - The largest and most famous monastery in Cyprus. Founded in AD1100 by the Byzantine emperor Alexios Komnenos, the monastery is dedicated to the Virgin Mary and is home to one of the three surviving icons painted by the Apostle Luke. Kouklia - Visit the ruins of ancient Palaia Pafos and the Temple of Aphrodite. Petra Tou Romiou (Rock of the Greek), or Aphrodite’s Rock, is a sea outcrop in Pafos. Its status in mythology as the birth place of Aphrodite makes it a popular tourist location. Cyprus Tourism Organisation www.visitcyprus.com
GREECE The Ancient Times Are Alive Greece is a country of breathtaking landscapes, amazing islands and seascapes, paradise beaches, mountains of unparalleled natural beauty, and cultural sites of global prominence, such as the Acropolis in Athens, the amphitheatre of Epidaurus, and the reconstructed palace at Knossos among the best known. But Greece is much more: it offers age-old spectacular natural sights, for instance - from Santorini’s caldera to the gray pinnacles of rock of the Meteora - and modern diversions ranging from elegant museums to luxury resorts. Among the most-visited regions of Greece is that of Central Macedonia in northern Greece, near some of the most popular attractions in the country such as Halkidiki, Mount Athos, Mount Olympus, Pella, the birthplace of Alexander the Great, and Greece’s second-largest city, Thessaloniki. The country boasts a long tradition of un-
rivalled hospitality. Get In Athens’ Elefthérios Venizélos International Airport, near the Athens suburb of Spáta, is the country’s largest, busiest airport. Other major international airports are Heraklion (Crete), Thessaloniki, Rhodes and Corfu. Talk Greece boasts a very long history, with the Greek language being spoken in the country for nearly 4,000 years. Greek is the national official language but English is the most widely studied and understood foreign language in Greece, followed by French, Italian and German. Buy Greece has the euro (EUR, €) as its currency. Mastercard, Visa, and Eurocard are widely accepted across the country. ATM machines are present almost everywhere. Don’t leave the country without buying famous Greek wines, Kalamata olives, natural sponges and genuine leather sandals.
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Eat The traditional Greek diet is Mediterranean, espousing vegetables, herbs and olive oil. With its extensive coastline and islands, Greece has excellent seafood. Try the grilled octopus. For meat lovers paidakia, grilled lamb chops, are also popular. Try also sahanaki, fried semi-hard cheese. Sleep There are many different types of accommodation appropriate for different sorts of holidays and budgets, from mountain refuges and campsites to five-star luxury hotels and resorts. See Few countries can pride themselves on a heritage as important to Western civilization as Greece. World famous are the iconic Parthenon in the bustling capital Athens and the splendid site of Delphi. The archaeological site of Olympia is the birthplace of our modern Olympic Games.The many Eastern Orthodox monasteries of Meteora are stunning to look at, built high on natural sandstone rock pillars. In the small town of Vergina the ancient site of Agai was found, and many valuable artifacts were discovered in several untouched tombs, one of them being the tomb of Philip II of Macedon, father of Alexander the Great. The large island of Crete is a very popular tourist destination. Hellenic Tourism Organisation www.visitgreece.gr
Macedonia- FYR The Tiny Country with Big Promises With natural scenery and ancient historical sites to explore, Macedonia-FYR offers the visitor a wide choice of landscapes and destinations. Tourism revolves around its mountains, lakes and rivers as well as its historical cities. Situated on the shore of Lake Orhid, the town of Orhid is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that boasts a Roman amphitheatre from the third century BC, the country’s National Museum and many other historic buildings. The Sveti Naum monastery, located near the Albanian border, was built in the year 900 by Saint Naum, a famous Slavic scholar and teacher, and sits on a cliff over the lake. Krusevo is a small historic town located high in the mountains in the west part of the country that houses several important churches as well as the gallery of Nikola Martinovski, one of the country’s most famous contemporary painters.
Get In The country has two international airports, the main airport in the capital Skopje (SKP) and another in Ohrid (OHD). There are around 150 flights a week from different European cities to Skopje. Talk Macedonian is the official language. While many young people speak English, many do not, so a phrasebook is handy. Speakers of Bulgarian, Serbo-Croatian and Slovene should have no problem getting by. Buy The official currency is the denar. Most cities have ATMs where you can withdraw money with cheap rates of com-
TRAVEL & TOURISM
mission.Ohrid is famous for its pearls and there are dozens of jewellers in the old town that will offer good products at decent prices. Eat Try one of the skara (grill) places and accompany your meat dish with shopska salata a mixed salad of cucumbers, tomatoes and grated sirenje. Sirenje is a white cheese similar to feta cheese. Another local speciality is ajvar, a red paste made from roasted peppers and tomatoes, which is either used as an appetiser or as a side dish. Sleep Being the national tourist attraction, Ohrid is obviously more expensive than any other destination. Note: finding suitable accommodation in July and August is not easy, so try and book through a travel agent in advance. See Skopje, the nation’s capital, is home to many historic landmarks and architectural monuments, and a great deal of cultural places of interest. Ohrid, a lakeside resort and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Bitola, the second largest city, is the country’s most “European” town. It has it all: an ancient city, Ottoman monuments, a lovely shopping promenade, great nightlife, and more. Kumanovo, the third-largest city, boasts many churches, ancient settlements, and more. National Tourism Organisation www.exploringmacedonia.com
MontenegRo The Pearl of the Environment Montenegro is a small country with rich architectural and cultural heritage, diversity of landscapes and climates, and well preserved natural environment. Naturally well-suited for development of all kinds of tourism, Montenegro is considered one of the fastest-growing tourism destinations. The Montenegrin Adriatic coast is 295 km long, with 72 km of beaches, and with many well-preserved ancient towns. The main attractions along the north coast are: the old Town of Herceg Novi; the old town of Kotor, listed as a UNESCO world heritage site; Boka Kotorska (Bay of Kotor), with the ancient small town of Perast; Porto Montenegro, the luxury yacht marina in Tivat; Budva, a well-preserved old town; and Sveti Stefan, a small island hamlet turned into a luxury hotel.
Get In Podgorica airport is Montenegro’s main international airport. It is located 12km (7.5 miles) south of Podgorica. It is a hub for Montenegro’s national carrier, Montenegro Airlines. Talk The official language is Montenegrin. It is essentially the same language as Serbian, Croatian and Bosnian. In Podgorica and coastal areas many people can speak some English. Buy Montenegro has the euro (EUR, €) as its currency. Hundreds of new ATMs have been installed in most major cities. The
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ATMs accept most international VISA and Mastercard credit/debit cards. Don’t forget to buy vranac, the national red wine. Eat Cold hors-d’oeuvres include the famous njeguški pršut (smoked ham) and njeguški cheese, pljevaljski cheese, mushrooms and donuts. A selection of traditional recipes from central and coastal regions includes kastradina (dried mutton), and smoked and fresh carp (from Skadar lake). Sleep There are many motels, hotels, apartments and villas to choose from. See Podgorica — The capital and biggest city in Montenegro, which has experienced a huge architectural boom in recent years. Budva — The most popular resort with great beaches and vibrant nightlife. Kotor — An ancient fortified town located deep down the Boka Kotorska bay: a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Durmitor National Park — Rafting through the Tara Canyon, the deepest canyon in Europe, is one of the most popular activities in Montenegro. Skadar Lake National Park — The largest lake on the Balkans and the natural habitat of very diverse flora and fauna. Mount Ostrog — The amazing monastery situated on the almost vertical cliff of Mount Ostrog. National Tourism Organisation www.visitmontenegro.com
RoMania The Country with a Lot of Promises to Come Authentic, natural and cultural are the words that best capture the essence of Romania, a dynamic country rich in history, arts and scenic beauty. Romania offers countless unique travel experiences that are waiting to be discovered. A journey of a few hours by car or train can take you from the Danube River to a beautiful, intact, medieval town in Transylvania; from Bucharest - Romania’s capital city - to the Black Sea; from southern Transylvania to Bucovina or Maramures. Take a step back in time as you visit one of the
world’s famous painted monasteries in Bucovina, the ancient, hilltop citadel in Sighisoara or an authentic, centuriesold, folkloric village in Maramures. Get In Romania has 17 public airports, of which 12 are currently served by scheduled international flights. Bucharest‘s Henri Coanda (Otopeni) Airport is the largest and busiest, it has flights to nearly all major cities in Europe, a few to Middle Eastern capitals and to all other Romanian cities. Talk The official language is Romanian which is a Romance language. French used to be the second most well known lan-
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guage in Romania, since it used to be compulsory in every school, however, it has now mostly been replaced by English. Most educated Romanians may be able to make some sense of other Romance languages such as Spanish and Italian. Buy The national currency of Romania is the leu (plural lei), which, literally translated, also means lion in Romanian. Bucharest, as with every capital in the world, is more expensive than the national norm, particularly in the city centre. Many shops will have a “non-stop” sign - meaning they are open 24 hours, 7 days a week. Eat The local dishes are the delicious sarmale, mamaliga (polenta), friptura (steak), salata boef, zacusca (a tasty, rich salsa-like dip produced in the fall), ciorba de burta (white sour tripe soup), and mici (spicy meatpatties in the shape of sausages). Sleep Finding accommodation in Romania is very easy for any price. You can find everything from luxury business hotels to rural guesthouses. See Constanca — Romania’s main Black Sea port and one of the major commercial hubs in the region. The northernmost district, Mamaia, is one of the best Black Sea resorts. Sighişoara — The city’s downtown area, the Sighisoara Citadel, is the last inhabited medieval citadel in Europe and one of the best preserved. The Painted Monasteries — Located in southern Bucovina in northern Romania, most of the monasteries have been nominated as World Heritage sites by UNESCO Maramureş — The northern-most region, best known for its timeless villages, traditional wooden churches and beautiful mountain landscapes. In this region (specifically in the village of Sapanta) is located the Merry Cemetery. It is famous for its colourful tombstones with naïve paintings describing, in an original and poetic manner, the persons that are buried there as well as scenes from their lives. Danube Delta — The second largest in Europe and the best preserved on the continent. Romania Tourism Organisation www.romaniatourism.com
SERBIA Open to All, All Year Round Serbia is a country open for tourism all year round. The variety of scenery and cultural and historical monuments, curative spas, hunting grounds and fishing areas form the basis for Serbia’s tourism. There’s something for everyone’s taste. Statistically, the most-visited tourist destinations are the cities of Belgrade (capital) and Novi Sad (home to the world-famous Exit music festival), the mountains of
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Kopaonik and Zlatibor and the spa towns of Vrnjačka Banja and Sokobanja. The medieval monasteries of Manasija, Sopoćani and Studenica remain the keepers of Serbian faith and Byzantine art, while Drvengrad (Emir Kusturica’s selfdesignedt ethno-village) located in the Zlatibor District near the city of Užice, 200 km southwest of Serbia‘s capital is not to be missed. It does not take long for foreign visitors to Ser-
bia to discover the hospitality, kindness, openness and warmth of the country’s residents. Get In The main airport of Serbia is Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport (BEG), just a few kilometres from downtown Belgrade. Major European airlines fly to Belgrade. Serbia’s second international airport is in Niš (INI). Talk The official Serbian language is similar to Croatian and Bosnian. English is commonly spoken throughout Serbia and the younger people tend to have excellent command. Buy Serbia uses the dinar. The banknotes, at least in Belgrade, tend to be more common than the coins, so be prepared to carry around a large number of banknotes in varying conditions. Eat Serbian cuisine is a reflection of historical influences in this area, where Oriental and Slavic tastes are dominant. Local favourites are ćevapčići (small rolls of mixed minced meat), pljeskavica (minced meat sprinkled with spices and grilled like beef steak), gibanica (pastry leaves mixed with eggs, cheese and then baked), and proja (corn bread). Sleep Deluxe hotels are almost completely confined to Belgrade. Most major highways have motels along the way, and nearly all resorts and towns offer inns, self-catering apartments, villas and youth hostels. There are, in addition, camp sites across the country. See Kalemegdan Fortress was built, restored and rebuilt by Celts, Romans, Byzantines, Serbs, Austrians and Turks over more than 2,000 years. Once an important military fortification, it now serves as the central park of Belgrade with beautiful views, especially during sunset. Smederevo is a town about 50 km from Belgrade. It is con-
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sidered the unofficial rock ‘n’ roll capitol of Serbia because of its many rock musicians and bands who live there or were born there. Novi Sad is the second largest city (after Belgrade). It features the Petrovaradin Fortress (one of the greatest and best preserved XVIII century fortresses in Europe) as it’s main sight. Niš is the third largest city in Serbia and the birthplace of Constantine the Great, whose summer residence can be visited. Vrnjačka Banja is the largest and most popular spa resort in Serbia and traditionally a very attractive tourist resort for rest and recreation. It’s the only mineral spa with a water temperature to match that of the human body, 36.5 degrees centigrade. National Tourism Organisation www.serbia.travel
www.visit-tran sylvania.us
+40 264 313112 +40 364 405642
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Airline industry:
EU emissions trading scheme could risk trade war Tony Tyler, CEO of IATA
The International Air Transport Association, which represents 240 airlines worldwide, reiterated its call for the EU to drop its "unilateral and extra-territorial" scheme, which is opposed by several major powers, some of whom have hinted at retaliatory measures.Tony Tyler, the chief executive of Iata, said the emissions trading scheme (ETS) was "not a stepping stone" to meeting global environmental targets. "It's a polarising obstacle that is preventing real progress."Peter Hartman, the chairman Iata and chief executive of KLM, said: "We call upon European institutions to act quickly to avoid an unnecessary trade war.
Business...Economy...Labour...Finance...Legislation...CEOs...Bnews
Labour Force Growth
in Focus
For investment look East by Andrew Eatwell
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reece, South East Europe’s largest economy, is in disarray. West European banks are pulling capital out of the region in order to shore up balance sheets back home. Exports have fallen and unemployment is high in many countries. Four years into the global economic crisis, the business climate in South East Europe is still gloomy. But even within the clouds of the economic malaise, there are glimmers of light – several in fact, and they are coming from the East. China, Turkey and Gulf states are all investing or looking to invest in projects in a wide range of sectors in South East Europe. In May, Bulgaria, Turkey and Qatar agreed to start a joint four-year project to build a highway through Bulgaria, linking the city of Ruse, on the border with Romania, with Svilengrad near the border of Greece and Turkey. The estimated cost of the project is €777 million, and will be implemented under a public-private partnership.
Infographics by BuildPress
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World Labour Force trends for 2012-16
gainst labour market challenges, the outlook for global job creation has been worsening. The baseline projection shows no change in the global unemployment rate between now and 2016, remaining at 6 per cent of the global labour force. This would lead to an additional 3 million unemployed around the world in 2012, or a total of 200 million, rising to 206 million by 2016. If downside risks materialize and global growth falls to below 2 per cent in 2012, global unemployment would rise more rapidly to more than 204 million in 2012, at least 4 million more than under the baseline scenario, with a further increase to 209 million in 2013, 6 million more than under the baseline scenario. Alternatively, under a more benign scenario – which assumes a quick resolution of the euro debt crisis – global unemployment would be around 1 million lower than under the baseline scenario in 2012, and 1.7 million ower in 2013. This would still not be sufficient to significantly alter the trajectory of the global unemployment rate, which is projected to remain stuck at around 6 per cent Youth are particularly hard hit by the crisis In 2011, 74.8 million youth aged 15–24 were unemployed, an increase of more than 4 million since 2007. The global youth unemployment rate, at 12.7 per cent, remains a full percentage point higher than the pre-crisis level. Globally, young people are nearly three times as likely as adults to be unemployed. In addition, an estimated 6.4 million young people have given up hope of finding a job and have dropped out of the labour market altogether. Even those young people who are employed are increasingly likely to find themselves in part-time employment and often on temporary contracts. In developing countries, youth are disproportionately among the working poor. As the number and share of unemployed youth is projected to remain essentially unchanged in 2012, and as the share of young people withdrawing from the labour market altogether continues to rise, on the present course there is little hope for a substantial improvement in near-term employment prospects for young people.
Meanwhile, Chinese shipping giant Cosco has started talks on investing up to $1 billion in developing Croatia’s Adriatic port of Rijeka. In February, production started at China’s first EU car factory – Great Wall Motors’ plant at Bahovitsa, near Lovech in northern Bulgaria. And last year, China’ s Guangdong Nuclear Power Group entered into talks on the development of the Cernavoda nuclear power plant in Romania, while two other Chinese firms, CEE and SEC, concluded agreements for the development of the Nikola Tesla power plant and the modernisation of a coal mine in Serbia.With Western European companies, which dominated investment in South East Europe for two decades, fighting fires at home, it is little surprise that cash reserve-rich China, and to a lesser extent Turkey and the Gulf states, have seized the opportunity to establish a foothold in Europe. Eastern investors have been welcomed more enthusiastically here than in Western Europe and there is plenty to attract them. Low taxes, well-educated but low-cost labour forces, and access to the EU single market make South East Europe a prime location to establish bridgeheads into Europe, particularly for manufacturing and distribution.Even between countries in the region, new areas of investment opportunity are emerging. With the Greek economy in meltdown, many Greek companies are looking to their neighbours as alternative markets where they can escape uncertainty and instability at home. More than a quarter of the 2,800 Greek-owned companies now operating in Bulgaria were registered last year, while the number of Greek-owned companies in Romania has risen 12 percent since 2009 to more than 5,200. Cyprus, with strong cultural ties to Greece and a stronger economy, is also benefitting: 1,500 Greek companies moved headquarters there in the 20 months leading up to August 2011. Even Albania and Serbia have attracted more Greekowned businesses lately.
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CENT. BALKANS: Central Balkan governments must consolidate their public finances and reduce debt to avoid funding problems as their economies slow, the World Bank said.The economies of Serbia, Albania, BosniaHerzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro and Macedonia-FYR can expect an average expansion of 1.1. percent this year and 2.6 percent next year, according to the report.
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BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA.
Mostar Airport is recording one of its best years on record. In the first half of 2012 it welcomed 32.402 passengers, almost the same amount it handled for the whole of 2011. The growth is driven by numerous charters operating to the city.
SHIPPING
Posidonia 2012
the world’s biggest shipping trade event
D
escribed by its organisers as a unique blend of business and networking at the heart of shipping, Posidonia is the most eagerly anticipated biennial maritime forum and is always well attended by senior shipping executives. One of Posidonia’s main attractions for the world’s biggest shipping companies is the strong links between the event and the representatives of Greece’s shipowners who collectively operate the world’s largest commercial fleet. A total of 3,325 ships of a 227 million deadweight tonnage combined capacity and an average age of 10,5 years in Greek hands today making Greek shipowners a major influencer in the critical sea transportation sector as well as a coveted marketing target for the full spectrum of the diverse maritime industry. “This is the best and biggest Posidonia ever with more than 1,800 exhibitors from almost 90 countries. The event’s success and global appeal sends a strong message to the Greek and international communities that Greece was, is and will always be the homeport of global shipping, which in turn provides the platform for the most important mode of transport for worldwide trade,” stated T. Veniamis, President of the Union of Greek Shipowners. “Shipping is the healthiest national economic activity and like Posidonia the thoroughbred achievement of the private and proprietary entrepreneurial business model. This event has grown from strength to strength since its inception more than 40 years ago and it has contributed to the very positive image Greek shipping enjoys all over the world,” said former UGS president Ioannis Lyras who is also the Chairman of the Posidonia Coordinating Committee. UGS Vice President Michael Chandris also expressed his admiration for Posidonia describing it as a globally renowned institution for the world’s seafaring nations. Greece may be in its fifth year of recession,but the country's shipping industry is still second to none, with Greek firms controlling 16.2 percent of the world's "deadweight tonnage" shipping capacity, followed by Japan with 15.8 percent,a UN report for 2011 showed. For Greece, the industry accounts for around six percent of the country's economioutput.
EU
EU. More than 60% of Euro-
peans believed that corruption was widely spread in the business of their countries in 2011 says a recent study conducted by Gallup International.
TRANSPORTATION
High-speed railroad in Bulgaria
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ll trains serving the railroad line between the second largest city of Plovdiv and the town of Dimitrovgrad in southern Bulgaria can now travel with speeds up to 160 km/h. The line between Plovdiv and Dimitrovgrad is part of the project“Reconstruction and Modernization of the Plovdiv – Svilengrad (Greek and Turkish Border) Railroad.” It is expected that the section Svilengrad –Turkish Border will be completed by the end of 2012, while the section Dimitrovgrad – Svilengrad is divided in two lots. The news was announced by Transport Minister, Ivaylo Moskovski, during the official opening of the railway section.The ceremony was also attended by Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov, the European Commissioner for Regional Policy Johannes Hahn,President, Rosen Plevneliev,Regional Development Minister, Lilyana Pavlova,and Agriculture Minister, Miroslav Naydenov.High-speed rail is emerging in Europe as an increasingly popular and efficient means of transport. Europe was introduced to high speed rail when the LGV Sud-Est from Paris to Lyon opened in 1981 and TGV started passenger service. Since then, France has continued to build an extensive network, with lines extending in every direction from Paris. France has the second longest highspeed network in E u r o p e w i t h 2,037 km (as of December 011)of operative HSR lines, only behindSpain’s 2,665 km.
Costs of extreme weather
Results from a new EU-funded project show that extreme weather conditions cost the EU’s transport system at least EUR 15 billion every year. The project results, presented in a report titled ‘The costs of extreme weather for the European transport systems’, show that road traffic is the part of the transport system that is most vulnerable to extreme weather and that road accidents currently result in the greatest cost increases: whether it be through spending on repairs to associated material damage or through psychological services costs for victims.On the roads it is freight traffic that bears the brunt of time-related costs. In the EU freight carrier customers lose EUR 6 billion each year in time-related costs. Where other types of traffic are concerned it is not accidents that pose the biggest threat, but
rather time-related costs in the event of delays, for example, with aviation being particularly prone to such costs in extreme weather. The mode of transport least affected by extreme weather is sea traffic. However, transport by sea is certainly not a solution to the time-related costs problem experienced by other modes of transport in Europe as cost efficiency remains the deciding factor when choosing a mode of transport. Bulk freight tends to be transported by rail or waterways, with their lower average speeds but better guarantees against the risks posed by the weather. High-priced freight, sensitive to schedule disruptions, is transported by road and air which, although faster, remain vulnerable to the unpredictable nature of extreme European weather.
Address: Dubrovacka 3/3, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia Telephone: +381 11 4123 788 Fax: +381 11 2631 511 office@symbolproperties.com http://www.symbolproperties.com
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BUSINESS INTERVIEW
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Andreea Rosca
YES Now We Can! We have enough business leaders in Romania to affect change in the country
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roviding news and information about entrepreneurs, companies and business activities across the South EastEurope region is one of the key focuses of BuildPress. The goal is to introduce readers to views, opinions and ideas from other countries and nationalities in an effort to develop a more fertile and productive economic environment that will benefit and contribute to the development of new cooperative international enterprises at many levels. In this issue we host an interview with one of the founding members of the Romanian Business Leaders Foundation Mrs Andreea Rosca who is also a journalist and runs her own communication consulting business. edited by
BP. We know you are one of the founders of the Romanian Business Leaders Foundation and a reputable journalist in business media. Can you describe for us the mission, vision and objectives of the Foundation and how it operates? Would you also like to tell us, from a journalist’s point of view, how friendly the business environment is in Romania today for new initiatives like the RBLF? A.R. We started by observing that, in Romania, the business community – and especially entrepreneurs – does not have either the voice or the respect you would expect if you look at its contribution to the economy. This is happening in part because there is a huge lack of communication and understanding from the administration’s part as far as the business and the real economy is concerned. On the other hand, with some CSR (corporate social responsibility) exceptions, the business community was not seriously involved in the life of Romanian society. We think that we have enough business leaders in Romania to affect change in the country in the most important areas. Our mission is to make Romania a country which is good for business, by making it a better country for its citizens. RBLF is an action-oriented organisation, so our approach is based on building concrete change projects led by business leaders from the RBL community. The Foundation acts as a catalyst and a support for the projects. We do not own or fund them. The projects belong to the community. Currently, we manage more than 10 projects in six major areas: education, entrepreneurship, good governance, local capital, community building, and national strategy. In general, we are concerned regarding the deterioration of the business environment. Romania fell nine places in the global Doing Business index. But that’s the reason we think it is a good time for initiatives such as ours. BP. Why did you choose to set up a foundation rather than another legal form (association or company)? Does it serve better the goals you wish to accomplish? What are those goals? A.R. We chose the foundation because it served our purpose – we are an idea-led organisation and we do not seek to make a financial profit. Our main goal is to build a community which is able to lead change in the country. Specific goals include our annual Summit with business leaders, having a number of implemented projects each year and putting some major subjects on the public agenda. We started by gathering about 200 business leaders for our first Summit, in February 2012. Our first projects were born there. In May 2012 we published the first comprehensive research regarding the future of the country, as seen by business leaders. There are four major trends for Romania in the next 12 months: we will face a serious workforce problem (availability of workers and skills), a financing problem for Romanian companies (cost and availability), the business environment is deteriorating (with corruption being a major concern) and we will have to deal with a shrinking market (local and European). BP. Does the Foundation operate at a national or international level? What strategies are you developing for cooper-
Kyriaki Balkoudi
ation, in particular in the SE Europe region? A.R. The Foundation has its events and main activity in Bucharest. But we already had two meetings (round tables) with business leaders in Timisoara and Cluj-Napoca. We want to continue to talk and meet with the business community outside Bucharest, because we know there are a lot of remarkable business people in the country, people who have made an important contribution to their local communities. For the next Summit, in February 2013, we would like to develop a number of partnerships with business leaders and organisations from the SE Region but we do not have a strategy in place at the moment. BP. You organised the Romanian Business Leaders Summit in February. What would you describe as the main focus, accomplishments and outcomes of the event? What will the focus be in the next Summit and what is the expected level of participation? A.R As I said earlier, for our first Summit we focused on creating the environment for our leaders to work together and build trust. We accomplished that, people felt and understood that they are not alone. As an outcome, the 13 projects that emerged from the two days are proof of the teamwork inside our community. BP. How do you view young entrepreneurs in Romania? Are they mature enough to face the highly competitive international business environment that demands knowledge and experience? How can the Foundation benefit them and help them achieve results? A.R. Young entrepreneurs are the future lifeblood of the economy. Some of them, especially those with technology companies, already have vast experience in working with foreign partners, in international financing mechanisms, in merger and acquisitions and so on. They are truly global and could easily sit at a table with any other entrepreneurs from the United States or Europe. The Foundation – at the level of our Team Leaders - is already
SIVE EXCLU iew
Interv
Andreea Rosca An Open University MBA graduate, licensed in Insurance, Andreea Rosca started her career in 1992 with “Capital” magazine. She pioneered several media projects in Romania. From 2010 she runs her communication consulting business. She is one of the four founding m embers of the Romanian Busi ness Leaders Foundation.
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working to develop projects that will educate and support young entrepreneurs. BP. There is a contradiction in Romania: it is one of the poorest countries in the EU but, according to many reports, thousands of its citizens are millionaires. How do you explain that situation and how can the Foundation grow in this imbalanced environment and create a new business mindset for the good of the country? A.R. First of all, we can only guess how many millionaires Romania has. As a former journalist and project manager for the first ranking of Romanian Richest People I can tell you we do not have official estimations. Second, having a company valued at 20 million does not mean you actually have the money in cash. Most of the entrepreneurs reinvest everything in the future of their companies. This is something Romanians have yet to understand. Thirdly, as any other country in transition, Romania had its share of unfair capitalism: people who benefited from public money, from corrupt business relations with politicians, from state assets and so on. On the other hand, a whole class of young and educated entrepreneurs have emerged in recent years. It is normal; Romania is developing into a European country with a vibrant business environment. It does not mean we do not have a lot of work to do. The Foundation is exactly about that young and driven business class, with a sense of purpose and a desire to contribute. We have to bring them together to have a powerful voice and lead by example. BP. Does the Romanian state, through various government institutions, for example, support initiatives like RBLF and how? A.R. No. As I said, government leaders do not necessarily understand - or have the desire to understand – what is happening in the real economy. This lack of interest and understanding is keeping the Romanian economy stuck in low growth rates. We would like to see a contribution to changing this reality. BP. There are numerous educational institutions in Romania. Are graduates from business schools - with their management competencies, problemsolving skills and knowledge - equipped to lead organisations and meet local and international challenges and demands? A.R. No. This is another major problem – the gap between the educational system and the economic and social reality of the country. We have the highest unemployment rate among young graduates and one of the major problems in companies is that they cannot find the right skills and education. Recent statistics show that we have 70 percent more graduates than 10 years ago (almost 200,000), but most of them are in areas where there is no demand anymore: economics, law, and marketing. At the other end, we do not produce enough engineers. It is sad that Romania spends so much money to get such a poor result. BP. Are Romanian entrepreneurs ready to compete not only in terms of production but also in terms of innovation in the global market, especially amid such difficult times for the world economy? If so, can you cite some examples? A.R. It depends on the industry and on what we understand by innovation. In the technology sector, we have quite a few outstanding entrepreneurs in the global arena: Radu Georgescu from Avangate or Florin Talpes from BitDefender are just two examples. If by innovation we mean research and development, Romania is one of the development hubs for technology or production multinationals, such as Oracle or Renault. They help to develop local entrepreneurs who are global competitors in their areas. On the other hand, in terms of creative industries – architecture is one of them – we have good examples of Romanian innovation, such as the project
for the highest tower in Taiwan, designed by Dorin Stefan. At a macro level, the reality is that Romania is lagging behind, having the smallest amount spent on R&D in the EU. B.P. On the top of the Foundation’s agenda is establishing projects that contribute to the common good beyond strict business interests and have an impact on the community and society. Can you please describe which project RBLF is currently undertaking and how does it fit in with that goal? A.R. To mention just a few: We are developing a project aimed at improving vocational education for teenagers. We have an initiative dedicated at putting Romania on the European map for ecologic agriculture. We are working to create new vehicles to finance Romanian companies and start-ups. One of the projects is aimed at building a “zero corruption business environment.”The team working in the entrepreneurship field is developing a mentoring and learning programme for young entrepreneurs.
We have the highest unemployment rate among young graduates and one of the major problems in companies is that they cannot find the right skills and education. Recent statistics show that we have 70 percent more graduates than 10 years ago
ROMANIAN BUSINESS LEADERS FOUNDATION The Romanian Business Leaders Foundation was founded in July 2011. Its objective is to connect leaders from the private sector in a productive manner, to make Romania a better country for business by making it a better country for all its citizens. The Romanian Business Leaders (RBL) community consists of visionary and action men and women who put passion in everything they do. The leaders in the community are motivated from within and committed to carry through projects with tangible and measurable positive impact on economy and society. The Foundation is managed by a board which includes: Ioana Filipescu (managing director of Raiffeisen Investment Romania), Anca Harasim (executive director of the American Chamber of Commerce in Romania), Mihaela Perianu (entrepreneur, CEO of AIMS Human Capital Bucharest and Dale Carnegie Training), Andreea Rosca (former journalist, consultant in communication), Brindusa Fidanza (associate director for Initiative on Environment at World Economic Forum), Sorin Axinte (senior partnet at GLUE Bucharest, consultancy in communication strategy), Lucian Butnaru (entrepreneur, CEO ZebraPay, ex-CEO of TechTeam, software developer), Catalin Dima (entrepreneur, former director of Corporate Affairs of RomTelecom), Dragos Dinu (entrepreneur, partner Link Resource, ex-CEO of AD Pharma, production and distribution of pharmaceuticals), Mihai Marcu (entrepreneur, president of MedLife, private health company) and Dan Pascariu (economist, President of the Surveillance Council of UniCredit Tiriac Bank Romania)
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Job Crisis
The global youth unemployment rate has proved sticky, and remained close to its crisis peak. At 12.6 per cent in 2011 and projected at 12.7 per cent in 2012, the global youth unemployment rate remains at least a full percentage point above its level in 2007. Nearly 75 million young people are unemployed around the world, an increase of more than 4 million since 2007.
S Andrew J.Eatwell Freelance journalist Specialises in European business
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oaring unemployment is changing the labour landscape, with young people invariably bearing the brunt. Many have given up looking for jobs, while others are emigrating or staying on in the education system.
Europe’s unemployment crisis
Take a walk through many European cities and you will all but certainly see the effects of the economic crisis. Boarded-up shops, company closures and lines outside unemployment offices can be found almost anywhere. In Europe’s economic heartland, the symptoms of the malaise are less visible - and in some places, such as Germany, they are almost non-existent - but on the periphery they can’t be missed. From Spain to Lithuania and from Ireland to Greece, unemployment rates have rocketed in recent years, throwing millions of people out of work, straining social security systems and deepening the economic downturn. Since 2008, unemployment in the EU27 has risen from less than 7 percent to more than 10 percent. Within South East Europe, the picture is little different. The starkest example in the region, and indeed one of the starkest in Europe, is Greece. Amid one of the worst recessions in post-war European history, more than one in five Greeks have lost their jobs. In the past year alone, the number of Greeks out of work has soared by 42 percent. Budget cuts and other austerity measures imposed since Greece’s 2010 EU-backed bailout, which led to a wave of corporate closures and bankruptcies, are being blamed for the employment crisis, resulting in an upsurge in support for anti-austerity, anti-euro and anti-EU parties. But while Greeks are suffering the bane of joblessness today, neighbouring countries have been suffering from chronic unemployment for years. In Macedonia-FYR, unemployment, at around 30 percent, has long been one of the highest in the world. In Bosnia-Herzegovina it is 27 percent and in Serbia 24 percent. In other countries, seemingly low official unemployment rates mask large gray economies where people are working with no protection or rights. In Romania, for example, where the official unemployment rate is 7.5 percent, the government recently acknowledged that one in three Romanian employees are working illegally despite the introduction of a new Labour Code last year. It said tax evasion resulting from unpaid taxes and social contributions costs the Romanian economy more than €2.7 billion per year. In Albania, both the Finance Ministry and the IMF have estimated that the informal economy could be worth as much as 40 percent more than its official counterpart.
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Joblessness hits young workers hardest Invariably, the hardest hit by unemployment are the
young. In many countries across South East Europe, more than half of all people under the age of 25 are out of work. And so far government initiatives - from entrepreneurship grants in Serbia to new professional training programmes in Bulgaria - to help young people find jobs have had little impact. “The youth unemployment crisis can be beaten but only if job creation for young people becomes a key priority in policy-making and private sector investment picks up significantly,” argues José Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs, Executive Director of the International Labour Organisation Employment Sector. “This includes measures such as offering tax and other incentives to enterprises who hire young people, efforts to reduce the skills mismatch among youth, entrepreneurship programmes that integrate skills training, mentoring and access to capital, and the improvement of social protection for the young.” Across the region, analysts and international bodies have long called for education reforms to better prepare young people for the labour market. But education is no guarantee of employment.
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Graduating into unemployment
A recent study by the Romanian trade union BNS, for example, found that more than half of Romanian university graduates become unemployed or inactive after graduating. The union argues that the figures highlight a widening skills gap in the labour market because the educational system does not efficiently prepare graduates for work. In Greece, one in three graduates is without work and unemployment among postgraduates has doubled since the onset of the crisis. With few prospects at home, in many countries university graduates are increasingly looking to emigrate to find work, fuelling fears of a brain drain. For example, a recent survey by the US Agency for International Development (USAID), found that 63 percent of Serbian university students would like to leave the country. Research from 2010 suggests that nearly 85 percent of Greeks studying abroad were not planning to return. Even within the South East Europe region, unemployment is leading increasing numbers of people, especially the young, to move in search of jobs. The five-year recession in Greece has led some Greeks to move to Bulgaria, reversing traditional economic migration flows. And some Greek companies are following suit, attracted by low taxes, wages and an economy that expanded by 1.7 percent last year.
Youth Unemployment (under 25 years old) in Europe In April 2012, 5.462 million young people (under 25) were unemployed in the EU-27, of whom 3.358 in the euro area. Compared with April 2011, youth unemployment increased by 268.000 in the EU-27 and by 214.000 in the euro area. The lowest rates were observed in Germany (7.9 %), Austria (8.9 %) and the Netherlands (9.4 %), and the highest in Greece (52.7 % in February 2012) and Spain (51.5 %).
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10 Things Colleges Don't Tell Young Entrepreneurs at Graduation Adam Toren is a serial entrepreneur, mentor, investor and co-founder of YoungEntrepreneur.com. Starting a business just out of school? Take notes, as there are a few things you should know about entrepreneurship that college simply won't prepare you for. Here are 10 things your university won't teach you: 1. "Hope you liked living like a college student." when you’re working for yourself, personal overhead can kill your business before it starts. The more money you spend on yourself and your lifestyle, the less you'll have to invest in your business. 2. "There are no right answers." The problems you tackle in school are designed to have both right and wrong answers. When you start a business you can get good advice from experts, but every business is different and you may not know whether you're right until your business flourishes or founders. 3. "Cramming won't help you succeed." Skills such as memorizing information and following a professor’s directions won’t get your business off the ground. It’s time to break out of the good-student mode and take chances. Stop meeting expectations and start exceeding them. 4. "Average is never good enough." You may have been able to pass a class by just earning Bs and Cs, but if your business isn’t scoring As, the competition will destroy you. 5. "It’s finals week all the time." Plan on doing plenty of hard work and withstanding long hours. Starting a business means sleep may take precedence over going out and partying with your friends. For entrepreneurs, there are never enough hours in a day. 6. "Your degree doesn't matter." It's true that some schools take more time preparing young entrepreneurs for the start-up world, and the contacts you'll make can help you down the road. But generally, where you
BY ADAM TOREN
graduate from won't matter to venture funders or other entrepreneurs. 7. "You're on your own." In college, you have the advantage of learning from and questioning faculty who often have insights that help you understand a class. With your own business, it’s important to find mentors to talk you through obstacles. 8. "Say goodbye to your old friends." Maybe you chose your friends based on shared interests such as liking the same kinds of movies. You’ll still want to have relationships, but your criteria will change.Look for people like you. 9."You can't skip work." To succeed as an entrepreneur, you must be present. You need to be there, committed and willing to work hard, every single day. 10. "Failure is OK." One F won’t ruin a college career, and one failure -- or more -- doesn’t mean that your next idea won’t take off. Keep working your hardest, modify your business or start another one, and you may graduate from this demanding school of business with a company you can be proud of.
European countries are global leaders in making the best use of information and communication technology to boost business innovation, entrepreneurship and social well-being, according to a significant new survey. Meanwhile emerging nations such as Brazil, India and China continue to lag behind both Europe and hi-tech Asian economies including Singapore and South KoreaThe World Economic Forum's Global Information Technology Report 2012 ranked 142 nations in a 'networked readiness index' – The study described the Nordic region of Europe as "leading the ICT revolution".a ninth.tical participation and social cohesion."
Textile exports on the rise Despite the ongoing crisis in the eurozone and turmoil in the global economy, the textile and clothing industry in the 27 member states of the European Union (EU) achieved a 4.1% rise in year-on-year turnover in 2011.Figures released by Euratex, the European Apparel and Textile Confederation, show the combined turnover of the man-made fibre, textile and clothing sectors reached EUR179bn (US$227bn) in 2011, up from EUR172bn the year before.But the performance still lags behind the turnover of EUR205.3bn achieved in 2007, before the global economic recession took hold.
TEXTILE
Leads way in digital 'revolution' INDUSTRY
COMMERCE
The regulatory framework in Europe is still a barrier for growth for e-commerce, says Marc Lolivier.Marc Lolivier is Vice President of public affairs at E-commerce Europe, a trade association representing online retailers, products and services."E-commerce has given consumers access goods and There are, however, still barriers to further growth. One of these barriers is the regulatory framework in Europe. Europe is still a patchwork of national markets and the absence of a truly harmonised regulatory framework in Europe hinders the further development of (cross-border) e-commerce and undermines consumer trust.
Slovenia DoubleRecall,
is a company that might as well save the printing industry. The internet made information more accessible, and people are willing to pay less and less for it. Banner ads don't generate enough revenue for online editions, so newspapers are trying other options, specially content paywalls and tablet editions. In the mean time, DoubleRecall "invented" a new type of ad, where you have to type-in in a few words to access the article. High recollection of something you read and type make this type of ad very effective, and advertisers are willing to pay a lot for it.
Croatia Hypershpere, is a startup R&D company from Za-
EUROPEAN UNION NEWS
E-Commerce inEurope is a patchwork
NEW START- UPS
greb, Croatia, developing state of art autonomous stratospheric platform which will replace satellites and airplanes in the Remote sensing industry .The platform is “an eye in the sky” that can continuously monitor Earth on particular geographical spot, beating satellites and airplanes in both price and performance. The desire is to keep the project in the civilian domain, and change the world we are living in many different ways.
The END of 'roaming rip-offs' in the EU
U
sing internet to access
maps, videos, photos, social networks and email will be cheaper while travelling in other EU member states from 1 July, European Commission announced.The new EU regulation establishes that, for the first time, there will be a maximum charge for "data roaming", which means savings of over €1,000 per year for a typical businessperson travelling in the EU.The new rules will also cut the maximum prices for voice calls and texts. Therefore, a family taking an annual holiday in another EU country can expect to save at least €200.Comparing with 2007 prices, this regulation will deliver consumers savings of 75% across a range of mobile roaming services, around €15 billion."Price caps on data mean we have roaming for the smart phone generation. This ends the roaming rip-offs once and for all in the EU”, stated Commission Vice President Neelie Kroes. “I am delighted that year after year the European Union is putting money back in the pockets of citizens."To give an example of these lower prices, in July 2009 downloading data cost more than €4 per Megabyte from many operators, with the new rule it will cost 70 cents per Megabyte. By 2014, as prices are cut further, the maximum cost of downloading data will be just 20 cents per Megabyt.The maximum prices act as a safeguard and operators are free to offer cheaper rates.Besides, also coming into effect on 1 July, people travelling outside the EU will get a warning text message, email or pop-up window when they are nearing €50 of data downloads, or their pre-agreed level.Is expected than on 1 July 2014, consumers will be allowed to choose a separate roaming contract before they travel or a provider at their destination, similar to the way they choose a Wi-Fi network.
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REAL ESTATE & BUILDING New EU law for mortgages
PROJECTS ON
Proposed new rules for European home buyers New EU rules by the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee ensure home buyers are now properly informed before taking on a mortgage. These rules also ensure buyers are offered mortgages that are tailored to their needs and that their creditworthiness is properly assessed. Buyers who fail to repay a loan would be better protected against seizure of their assets. To curb irresponsible
lending, mortgage lenders would be better supervised. Some of the legislation’s requirements will be adapted to reflect differences among European Union member states’ national mortgage and property markets, but the basic rules would apply EU wide and information for buyers would have to be presented in a consistent format across the EU.
Timeshare property in Romania T
he new Civil Code that entered into effect on October 1, 2011, introduced a novelty to the real estate laws of Romania. A familiar concept to Western investors, timeshare property is now recognised for the first time in articles 687 to 692 of the Civil Code of Romania. These default rules are applicable whenever several people hold an interest in a property, in a sequential and reiterated manner, at previously determined time intervals which may be regular or irregular. The timeshare Lawyer arrangement is established by a conoffice@ganj.ro tract to which the rules of public registration apply.In Romania, real estate rights can be transferred exclusively by public registration but only after all cadastral works in an administrative unit are completed and each property is opened a land book. Until then, public registration serves the aim of ensuring the binding nature of the agreement against third parties. This is especially important in timeshare agreements where owners are directly interested in having their time-limited ownership free of legal challenges, including from other owners who may have contracted separately for the same property. Taking into consideration the special nature of timeshares, the Civil Code establishes that any act of administration or disposition of another’s timeshare is not binding against the owner of that timeshare and that even acts concluded with a good faith third party may be annulled if the other owner’s rights
Cristian Ganj
A familiar concept to Western investors, timeshare property is now recognised for the first time in articles 687 to 692 of the Civil Code of Romania which entered into force on October 1st 2011.
are disregarded. The Civil Code regulates timeshares as co-ownership schemes with several principles adopted from partnerships. Legal disposal of property may only be done by common accord of all owners. Each owner is obliged to preserve the property so that it would not impede or hinder the exercise of the rights of other owners. Separate agreements for property administration are possible and advisable. The time-limited owner has to deliver the property to the next owner in good condition at the expiry of his or her timelimited ownership. Failure to comply with owner’s obligations that result in a severe disturbance of the rights of other owners may lead to the exclusion of the defaulting owner by court decision. A two-step procedure is envisaged by the Civil Code in which the judge would first admit the possibility of exclusion and then sell the time-limited interest in the property either to another owner or to a third party. It is fundamental in a timeshare agreement for there to be more than one owner of the property and that each of them may enjoy the full benefits of the use of property within the ambit of his or her timeshare. They may conclude specific contracts to rent, lease, sell, mortgage or otherwise dispose of his or her interest in the property. Therefore, timeshare ownership is terminated through erasure from the land registry in the event that a single owner acquires all timeshares or when the law demands it. These new regulations do not exclude simple right-to-use timeshares as opposed to estate-based timeshares, nor do they limit developers and owners to agreeing on the best variant form of timeshares, including a combination of features, with floating or rotating periods, the creation of vacation clubs or special programs based on a customer points system.
New industrial park in Romania Barcelona-based real estate developer Graells & Llonch has started work on its second real estate project in Romania, a €200 million park in Turda city. The 545,780 m2 Industrial & Logistic Park Turda will include a wide range of warehouses for acquisition or lease including logistics and distribution warehouses, production facilities for light industry and manufacturing as well as made-to-order buildings to be delivered at the request of customers.
Bulgaria’s Planex enters Romania construction companies,Planex, has opened an office in Bucharest. It said the move “is in line with its development plans” and that it has entered negotiations for a number of projects in Romania due by the end of the year.
World’s biggest wind park in Greece The Regulatory Authority for Energy (RAE) approved a license for the construction of the world’s biggest offshore wind park, consisting of 81 turbines with a total capacity of 498.15 megawatts. City Electric, a subsidiary of RF Energy, will invest a total of 2 billion euros in the project, which will be located northeast of the island of Limnos, in the northern Aegean.
Number of people working in offices to fall
Weak global property price growth
Acquire property in Turkey now
The number of people working in office spaces will drop by 25% over the coming years, as alternative workspace strategies will become more and more popular, and the space allotted to an employee will increase by between 25% and 33%, according to a survey conducted by real estate consultancy firm Colliers.
Global property prices have seen their weakest annual performance since the depths of the recession in 2009, recording only 0.9% growth in the year to March 2012, according to the Global House Price Index from real estate group Knight Frank. Ireland has fared the worst with price falls of 16.3%, followed by Greece (9.8%) and Portugal (8.6%). The weakening sentiment is due to the eurozone’s malaise, lower GDP forecasts and a concern that the global economic recovery is struggling to gain any real traction, the report says.
Turkey has recently passed a new law that eases restrictions on property purchases by foreigners. The law opens the door to citizens from 62 countries to acquire property in Turkey, who were previously barred from doing so on reciprocity grounds. As a consequence of the new law, foreign interest is mounting in the country’s booming property sector.
Co 11 11 untries C in ities S
EE
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REAL ESTATE...buy...sell...rent...build...finance... MONTENEGRO
ROMANIA
Cristina Bercea PR Manager of BDOBC Business Center Bucharest, Romania office@bdobc.ro
www.bdobc.ro
SERBIA
Dragan Nikolić
Nela Zakula
Director of Imperija Real Estate Budva, Montenegro www.imperija.co.me
Director of Prime Real Estate, Belgrade, Serbia office@primerealestate.rs www.primerealestate.rs
imperijabudva@t-com.me.
We are satisfied The sector is with the performance of our exhibitors
slowly recovering this year
Real estate market
BuildPress was present at the National Real Estate Fair in Bucharest and had the opportunity to interview Ms. Cristina Bercea, PR Manager of BDOBC Business Center and organiser of the fair.
Montenegro is a very small country, but the possibilities for a successful business are very high. Since the country is heavily involved in tourism, most investments are in that sector. Being close to mountains and the sea makes it possible to stay and enjoy both the countryside and the beautiful clean beaches of the Adriatic Sea in a very short period of time.
What has happened in Serbia over the last few years can only be called a miracle. Suddenly, things look good for the country. But it was not long ago that Serbia was one of the last remaining socialist countries in Europe. Now it is a functioning democracy and an economic hot spot!
Warmth, hospitality and the friendly people of Montenegro contribute greatly to the fact that foreigners who come to our country often decide to purchase real estate and invest in that area. The most important thing is for customers go to reputable real estate agencies, where they can get the correct information. In our country, there is a great possibility for foreign nationals to rent out the properties they purchase or resell. The global economic crisis has affected much of the market, but this year the sector is slowly recovering. The crisis is reflected more in the older building segment. Foreigners are buying older buildings at an average price, and then renovating them to their own liking. Minimum property prices range from €1,000 m2 for residential space up to €5,000 m2. Essentially, for around €2,000 m2 you can buy good real estate in a very good location. Our banks will lend up to 50 percent of the purchase price of real estate for foreigners in attractive locations.
Reportage
BUiLD PRESS INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
BP. How many years have you been organising the National Real Estate Fair in Romania and what are the main factors that make you successful in this field? Do you organise other fairs as well? If yes, which ones? C.B. In 2005, BDOBC Business Center took on a new challenge by launching the first real estate show in Romania – Targul National Imobiliar TNI (Romanian National Real Estate Fair TNI). Seven years later, besides the fact that TNI has become a traditional event held every spring and fall, it is an event that has managed to develop from edition to edition - it is a fast-growing brand. Starting from a space of 1,000 square metres, TNI has reached an exhibition area of 4,000 square metres, and it has gone from having 40 companies exhibiting to a peak of 198 (in 2008), while the number of media partners has grown from 20 to 60. The period of promotion has also increased. For any economic entity, the National Real Estate Fair is an effective public relations platform that pays attention to media relations, sales representatives, competitors and consumers. The last edition of TNI 2012 will be held 28-30 of September this year. The location situated in the centre of Bucharest - Parliament House - which is renowned both nationally and internationally. BP. Compared to the last couple of years how was the fair this year in terms of participation of exhibitors, visitors and deals/transactions? Did foreign visitors, buyers and companies participate? C.B. The 15th edition of the TNI was a success. As organisers of the event, we are satisfied with the performance of our exhibitors, who have created special offers during the fair to face the direct competition. In brief,the TNI edition 25-27 May:Number of exhibitors 86 from Romania, real estate agents 13, developers 68, financial institutions 5, visitors to the exhibition: 6,428 The lowest priced property at the exhibition €17,000 VAT included (Villa Poiana Campina),Lowest price in Bucharest: €21,000 VAT (fully furnished apartment plus parking place Confort Urban).The highest price in the exhibition €4.2 million including VAT (5 star hotel Predeal)With this edition of the TNI we can say that there are visible signs of a revival in the property market, and that prices have become very close to the real possibilities of the potential customers who visited.
is growing quickly and is rapidly expanding.
Being a country in transition, Serbia is an attractive location for buying relatively cheap property as a form of investment. Prices in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, are the highest in the country, with prices in the larger regional cities around 60 percent of the value of comparable properties in Belgrade. Prices for apartments in the new, larger apartment buildings on the main New Belgrade boulevards range from €1,500 to €3,000 per square metre, depending on the size of the apartment and the construction stage in which the transaction takes place. New apartments in downtown districts (city centre, Vracar, Dedinje and Senjak) vary more, ranging from €1,800 to €4,000 per square metre, depending on the exact location, the quality of the interior finishes and other amenities. Because of population migrations on both a micro and macro level and the overall development of the country, it is expected that demand for properties will steadily grow over the coming years. Additional support has arrived in the various forms, such as: 10 percent corporate profit tax rate – among the lowest in Europe. 10-year corporate profit tax holiday for large investments. Tax credits up to 80 percent of the amount invested in fixed assets.Five-year corporate profit tax holiday for concessions. Serbia’s real estate market is growing quickly and is rapidly expanding. All of this is a success story that 10 years ago no one could have predicted. So the time to invest in Serbia is now!
Build Press asked questions to various real estate agents, developers, contractors, fair organiseres and others from different countries in SE Europe about the current situation of the real estate market in their respective countries, the trends for every segment Residential, Office, Commercial, Industrial - and the position they hold compared to other countries in terms of attracting real estate investment. Here are their interesting views and opinions.
1.What is the current situation of the real estate market in your country in your opinion ? 2.What are the average prices for residential, commercial, office and industrial spaces compared to last year ? 3.Is your country an attractive real estate destination for foreign investors and what are the predictions for 2012-13 ? 4. Do the financial institutions give additional support to foreign real investors?
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EUROPEAN PROPERTIES CLASSIFIEDS MACEDONIA-FYR
Filipovska Donka General manager Bastion real estate Skopje, MK bastion1@t-home.mk www.bastion.com.mk
A shortage
of new and modern office space in the city The main points that are most important when you buy property in the R. of Macedonia are: The location Property building permission and other technical building documentation The property’s cadastral list of ownership Paid taxes Purchase price (first of all research the market) The price of real estate at the moment is very low. For foreign investors interested in buying properties - either residential or commercial buildings – the advantages are many, including good investment potential and low taxes for foreigners.We have already felt the impact of the crisis that spread from Europe, contributing to the lower prices for apartments and property in general. On average, prices have fallen 15-20 percent over the past year. Perhaps more interesting for buyers are newly built apartments and business premises, for which the difference in price with older property is very small. For example, a new apartment in the centre of Skopje costs around €1300-1400 per square metre, while a pre-owned apartment in the same area costs around €1200-1300 per square metre. At the moment there is interest in investing in business buildings (office space especially), because there is a shortage of new and modern office space in the city that meet the requirements of the many foreign companies investing here. In addition, there is a market for buyers who want to invest in second homes. At the moment the construction sector is faring well. There are a lot of investors in the middle of building different kinds of buildings, and sales are going well, particularly in the residential segment.There is the possibility to get additional support from some of the financial institutions: banks as well as financial support investment funds operated by the government. However, you first have to apply or make a contract and have an appointment to negotiate with the person responsible for the area. Unfortunately, nobody can predict the future of the real estate market, but based on my 17 years of experience in this market, I can say that this trend of lower prices will not last more than six more months, and that by next year the situation will be different. The prices of real estate will rise. Finally, you can conclude that investing in the real estate market in Macedonia is a very good opportunity to earn good returns on your money!
ALBANIA
BALKIMO REAL ESTATE
ALBANIA First Marina in Albania. Co-investor wanted. Experienced Swiss developer.Marina + commercial + 50 apartments. Untouched location less than 20km from Tirana International Airport. Develop (invest), sale (exit) and manage (takefees)model. marin@balkimo.com
TEL:+35542254760
ALBANIA Student Residence on Campus. Co-investor wanted. Experienced Swiss developer. 120 Student bedroom + commercial. 2’000 students on the campus. Develop (invest) and manage (take fees) model. Superior return.marin@balkimo.com
ALBANIA For sale seaside apartment from 60 to 80 sqm in Vlora. Sea view. Swimming pool. Rental revenue. Management services. Furnished or not. Fully registered. Visit: www.soleal.net anjola@balkimo.com
ALBANIA, For sale seaside apartment from 60 to 80 sqm in Vlora Sea view Swimming pool Rental revenue Management services. Furnished or not Fully registered. Visit www.soleal.net. Contact anjola@balkimo.com
GREECE: Apartment for sale in the center of Thessaloniki, located at the most commercial-business-entertainment area. 85m2, 2 bedrooms, 2 living rooms, fully equipped kitchen, 1 bathroom, 2 balconies, 3 air-condition units, safety door, recently renovated, 350m from the seafront, for residential or commercial use. 150.000 euros info@epeditions.eu
GREECE CRETALAND REAL ESTATES TEL:+302810241355 Crete–For sale west of Heraklion town, in Agia Pelagia on a unique position with breathtaking unobstructed views of the bay, luxury villa of 120 sqm with 3 bedrooms, detached guest house 70 sqm and 50 sqm house on a plot of 2.000 sq.m. In good price and the possibility of adjusting. info@kretaland.gr
BULGARIA
VIOLAN REAL ESTATES TEL:+35952630999
Varna For sale 2 Bedroom apartment 100 sq.m Sea view apartment with large terrace, in a top area, key-ready 76 000euro violan.eood@gmail.com
CYPRUS
Limassol
Varna
For sale 1 Bedroom apartment 65 sq.m, 5min.to the beach, fully furnished 46 000 euro violan.eood@gmail.com
FOX SMART ESTATES
Limassol Detached office building for sale centre of Limassol.Arranged over basement parking area, ground floor shop or office, reception area and plus a mezzanine level with en-suite office and three upper office floors. PRICE: €3.800.000 EU Tel.+357 96 650308
CYPRUS
Crete For sale 4 km from Heraklion city and just 3 km from the sea, new traditional stone house 280 sq.m on a plot of 500 sqm with panoramic view. 3 bedrooms,3 wc, large bathroom with jacuzzi, living room with fireplace, large attic and basement parking. All rooms have balconies, c.heating, a.c, solar, info@kretaland.gr.
Limassol Beautiful 3 bedroom apartment with fantastic sea views184 m2, it consists of 1 en-suite bedroom, spacious kitchen with lounge area, spacious living & dinning main bathroom,guest W.C., shower, indoor storage place,A/C units, parking. 430.000euro
FOX SMART ESTATES
Magnificent stone build villa of 4 bedrooms all en-suite with swimming pool, in a plot of land 1,100 m2 and cover areas 350 m2. Price: 750.000 Euro Tel: +357 96 650308
TEL:+35725871010
TEL:+35725871010
SKOPJE-MACEDONIA-FYR BASTION REAL ESTATE TEL/FAX: +3892124127
SKOPJE VILLA FOR SALE This villa is for sale in luxury residential complex St. John. The villa was built in 2001 and is located only 3km from the city centre of Skopje. It has an area of 470m2 on three levels. It’s a beautiful residence, with swimming pool, small ponds in the complex grounds, and is completely air-conditioned. Ninety percent of complex residents are foreigners.
Price €500,000.
SKOPJE VILLA FOR RENT This villa is for rent. It’s located in the most attractive area for foreigners, on Vodno mountain, a few minutes drive from the centre of Skopje. It has an area of 450 m2 on three levels, with swimming pool in the basement carefully connected with the backyard. It could be a very good residence for ambassadors or some other respected representative.
Price €5,000.
SKOPJE RENT A HOUSE House for rent in the residential area of Sopiste, 5km from the centre of Skopje. It has a surface area of 220 m2 and beautifully arranged garden of 1,600 m2.The house features a large living room with fireplace, three bedrooms, 3+1 bathrooms, many balconies with breathtaking views, a garage and parking for many vehicles, and video surveillance. The house is completely furnished with all needed equipment inside. Price €1,500 monthly.
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BUSINESS BUSINESS
BUiLD PRESS
REAL ESTATE...buy...sell...rent...build...finance....and HOTELS Zante-Greece
From windmills of yesterday to alternative hotels of today Looking for an unusual hotel? Why not stay in a windmill?The Potamitis family in the far northern region of Zante Zakynthos own and manage the beautiful Skinari Windmills, which were used in the past to grind wheat into flour.The two windmills now offer comfortable accommodation. One is made from stone and both are attractive buildings decorated to a very high standard, all contributing to a wonderful holiday.There is a private beach with decking where you can sunbathe, offering relaxation for the guests of our windmills and other visitors to the area. www.potamitisbros.gr
Ljubljana-Slonenia
Prisons & hotels come together Have you ever considered spending the night behind bars without getting arrested? Sleeping at Celica is more than just an ordinary accommodation experience. Welcome to one of the 20 artistically renovated prison cells, unique double or triple rooms offering you the comfort of high class hotel rooms. Each of them still with the original cell bars on doors and windows. Once a military prison, today it is a one-of-a-kind artistic hostel, The hostel offers plenty of activities and amenities, as well as a good base to explore Ljubljana. Common areas are in abundance. Several dining rooms merge into each other and then into a patio.The hostel offers full meals and the bar is open throughout the day. www.hostelcelica.com
RETAIL R.E
The new star
of Romanian malls Palas Iasi is the largest private investment in north-eastern Romania Romanian real estate developer Iulius Group, owned by businessman Iulian Dascalu, has opened a multifunctional commercial development called “Palas Iasi” in Iasi, the capital city of the Moldova region in north-eastern Romania. The Palas mall covers a total built area of approximately 270,000 m2 and involved an investment of €265 million. The project is built around the “lifestyle center” concept for the mixed-use development market in Romania. It integrates areas designed for retail, hotels, A-class offices, apartments and an underground parking lot with approximately 2,500 parking places, as well as an entertainment area. Conceived as a vast urban economic, social and cultural development project, “Palas Iasi” contributes to the development of Iasi by attracting foreign investors, while also aiding the reintegration of the city into the national and international tourist circuit, introducing at the same time original, innovative concepts to the Romanian business and retail market. The development has created 4,000 permanent jobs, with the mall now the largest real estate investment outside Bucharest. The whole project is the largest private investment ever made in north-eastern Romania. Iulian Dascalu owns a chain of shopping centers under the Iulius mall brand in Suceava, Cluj Napoca and Timisoara.
www.palasiasi.ro
1. Panoramic view of the ensemble Palas Iasi 2. Lobby area of Palas Iasi
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BUSINESS
BUiLD PRESS
BUSINESS ADS & CLASSSIFIEDS
MONTHLY FREE PRESS ABOUT COUNTRIES CITIES PEOPLE
THE ONLY B2B FREE PRESS DISTRIBUTED IN 12500 COPIES IN EUROPE
EUROPEAN BUSINESS CLASSIFIEDS SINTECNO S.A. a company with 30 years experience with advanced systems and solutions for the repair, reinforcement and protection of concrete & other structures, is seeking partners across Romania for the distribution of its products. www.sintecno.gr BOTZAKIS S.A. A Greek company involved in the production, packaging and export of Extra Virgin, PDO and Organic olive oil, located in Crete, is looking for collaborators importers, distributors Europe. cretaoil@her.forthnet.gr www.creta-oil.gr SONS E..PROTOGERAKIS. The Protogerakis Family has produced oil since 1930. Respect for Crete’s traditional diet and dedication to the fruit of the olive tree created the olive oil Liokarpi.Tel:+30289209139 5 +302892091078, info@oliveoil-kreta.com CRETA FARMS SA, a Hellenic multinational food company producing innovative and patented products in both the processed MEAT
& CHEESE industries, is looking to allocate EXCLUSIVE DISTRIBUTORS per country for SEE Tel.: +30210 6260255 ppetrou@cretafarm.gr, www.cretafarm.gr KALABOKIS S.A. “Sitian Mill,” the producer of a wide variety of Cretan traditional handmade cookies, organic biscuits and barley rusks, is looking to establish longterm collaboration with importers/distributors/wholesa lers in South East Europe. Tel:+302180371150, Fax:+302180371161, www.kalabokis.gr EVRIPIDIS S.A. continues the long tradition (more than 40 years) of family Melabianakis. Our company produces and standardises Cretan, Extra Virgin Olive Oil of high quality at our own facilities that include an olive mill and stylisation. OUR COMPANY IS CERTIFIED WITH EN-ISO 22000 AND IFS. NEW PRODUCT: BALSAMIC VINEGAR. We are looking for importers and distributors. Manolis Melabianakis Tel: +30 28920 71195
info@evripidis.com www.evripidis.com AGGELOS PREVELIANAKIS LTD CRETAN MYRON Our company is looking for importers in South East Europe for the following products: Extra Virgin Olive Oil bottled and Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Avgeniki, Crete +30-2810-792040 info@cretanmyron.gr KALOGERAKIS BROS S.A. is a family business that has been operating within the dairy sector in Crete since 1949. By maintaining our passion and with respect for Cretan tradition, over the years we have succeeded in becoming one of the largest dairies in Crete, with 100 milk-collection points and 550 cooperating farmers across the Cretan countryside. Heraklion Industrial Area, CRETE+30 2810330711-12 Fax: +30 2810346026 www.kalogeraki.gr EMELKO LTD is a high quality Cretan olive oil production company. With emphasis on high quality
products, high level service and big capacity we are able to meet any demand of our customers. EMELKO LTD is looking for long-term cooperation with importersdistributors from Central and East European countries. Tel.+30 2810742005 www.emelko.gr Kostas@emelko.gr STELMAN TRADE LTD is a Greek export company of high quality products (Food & Beverages) at the most competitive prices. Our company is looking for importers for Greek-Cretan products. TEL: +302810259346 FAX:+302810314723 www.stelmantrade.eu info@stelmantrade.eu EL. RENIERIS & CO. Greek export company certified with ISO and IFS, offers excellent quality Cretan extra virgin olive oil, conventional and organic.Private labeling and exclusive copyrighted attractive bottles (pet and glass) available.+302822031901 Fax +302822031900 www.renierisoliveoil.gr
Advertise your business for free exports@renierisoliveoil.gr DATAWAYS SA a Greek ICT company, is looking for an IT Reseller, capable to distribute the software communicationserver,iNODE,www.inode.gr. Contact LefterisTsakirides, Lefteris@dataways.gr www.dataways.gr
CHROMODOMI SAVVAS CHALIAMPALIAS GREEK PAINTSFACTORY Certificated thermal insulation system -ecological interior paints - exterior -industrial– enamel sova.www.chromodomi.gr info@chromodomi.gr MEDAL LINES GREECE International Transports-Customs Brokers 4, Venizelou street - 54624 Thessaloniki - Greece ,Looking for freight forwarders and/or Importers to utilise our groupage service from USA to Romania via Thessaloniki port.Tel.: +30 2310 272372 Fax: +30 2310 287033 medal@otenet.gr, www.medal.gr PALAPLAST S.A a Greek founded industry of plastic pipes & fittings, covering National & International ma
kets, seeks new cooperation with companies active in the field of irrigation, water supply&heating. www.palaplast.gr D. KAMARIS G. TRANTAFILLIDIS O.E.Acrilix Acrilix is looking for new partners – reresentatives in Balkan countries for its acrylic products. Tel: +30 2310796208/688 Fax: +302310797680 info@acrilix.gr www.acrilix.gr SOULTOGIANNIS G. & CO “PHARMACOSMETIC –DIAFARM” We are in search of an EXCLUSIVE DISTRIBUTOR in Romania for SEA WATER NASAL SPRAYS. bioplant@otenet.gr Tel:+30 2310486320 www.athomer.com DOMOTEL SA luxury hotels’ chain in Greece seeks for cooperation with travel agencies and advertising agencies also specialized in social media. Contact Mr. Miltos Katsaros m.katsaros@domotel.gr tel: +30 2310 647400 www.domotel.gr
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CREATIVE IDEAS
BUiLD PRESS
DESIGN...homes...inter
Drvengrad Welcome to Emir Kusturica's Green Ethnic Wooden Town
Postal Address Drvengrad Resavski put 10 31000 Užice Serbia
Drvengrad means Wooden Town. Also known as Küstendorf and Mećavnik it is a traditional village built by Serbian film director Emir Kusturica for his film Life Is a Miracle . Build Press showcases this oasis of tranquillity and originality located in the heart of the mountains, 4h driving from Belgrade in Serbia, close to Mokra Gora, not far from the Bosnian border.
Tel.: +381 31 800 686 Fax: +381 31 800 680 http:// www.mecavnik.info email: info@mecavnik.info
The idea “I lost my city [Sarajevo] during the war. That is why I wished to build my own village. It bears a German name Küstendorf. I will organise seminars there, for people who want to learn how to make cinema, concerts, ceramics, painting. It is the place where I will live and where some people will be able to come from time to time. There will be of course some other inhabitants who will work there.I dream of an open place with cultural diversity that stands up against globalisation.” Emir Kusturica, July 2004
The village Emir’s dream was to build a cinema school, to develop agro-tourism in the area, to give a second life to the many kilometres of railways built for his film. He achieved it and much more: a church, built following the Russian tradition of wooden churches, a hotel, restaurants, shops, a picture gallery, a library, cinemas and guest houses, for him, his family, his friends and anyone who wants to visit. The streets in the village bear the names of various individuals that Kusturica holds in high esteem or finds to be personally significant: Nicola Tesla, Ernesto “Che” Guevara, Diego Maradona, Federico Fellini, Joe Strummer and Ivo Andric after whom the main street is named.
Architectural Prize Drvengrad is an ethno village built in urban style. The whole complex was built under the sponsorship of UNICEF, whose ambassador is Kusturica. In addition to its educational, therapeutic and recreational aspects, this project is also an attempt to preserve national heritage and an appeal to return to nature, to return to one’s self.
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iors...furniture...and... One of the restaurants in Drvengrad
Drvengrad houses
Film and music festival
One of the cafes in Drvengrad
Since 2008, the village hosts the annual Küstendorf Film and Music Festival, which showcases films and music froml around the world. The winners are awarded with the Golden, Silver and Bronze Egg; the egg, according to Kusturica, symbolises the quintessence of the Cosmos. The festival is known for not having a red carpet as well as none of the popular Hollywood pomp and ceremony. In 2010, it was visited by the famous actor Johnny Depp. During his visit, a statue dedicated to him was unveiled. http://www.kustendorf-filmandmusicfestival.org/2012/
Beverages available at the cafes and restaurants
New village under construction Andrićgrad (also known as Kamengrad ) is another village build by Kusturica and located only several kilometers from Drvengrad . Construction of Andrićgrad, started on 28 June 2011, and the entire village will be completed by 2014. According to the project, more than 50 houses made of stone would be built, as well as a church, hotels, theater, shops and small dock for boats. Andrićgrad will be used as a filming location for the Emir’s upcoming work that will be based on the book “The Bridge on the Drina” , by Ivo Andric. The set could later serve as a tourist attraction.
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BUILD ARTS
WORLD CARTOONISTS
Ziraldo Z
iraldo Alves Pinto
was born on October 24, 1932, in Caratinga, a city in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. He started his career in the 1950s at major newspapers and magazines such as Jornal do Brasil, O Cruzeiro, Folha de Minas. In addition to being a graphic artist, he is a journalist, playwright, cartoonist, caricaturist and writer. Ziraldo became a household name in the 1960s when he launched the first Brazilian comic book produced by a single author: ‘A Turma do Perer’. During the years of the military regime (1964-1984) he worked with other humorists to found O Pasquim, a newspaper that generated a school of followers and is still greatly missed. His comics for adults, notably Superme and Mineirinho - o Comequieto, also have legions of fans. In 1969, Ziraldo published his first book for children, ‘FLICTS’, which earned him admirers all over the world. From 1979 onwards he started focusing his talent on the production of children’s books. In 1980, he published ‘The Nutty Boy’, one of the biggest editorial hits in Brazil of all time. The book has already been adapted for the theatre, comics, opera for children, video games, the internet and movies. His books have been translated into several languages including English, Spanish, German, French, Italian and Basque. Ziraldo’s works represent Brazilian talent and humour all over the world. Ziraldo is the father of film director Daniela Thomas and the Golden Globe Award-nominated film score composer Antonio Pinto.
Vlasakakis Stefanos
Most Expensive Comic Book Ever Sold A copy of Action Comics #1, previously owned by actor Nicolas Cage, has sold at auction for a record $2.16 million. Only around 100 copies of the famous first appearance of Superman still exist, and very few of them are in good condition. The Cage copy, graded at 9.0, is one of the best-preserved copies known to exist.The previous most expensive comic, another copy of Action Comics #1 graded 8.5, sold for $1.5 million in 2010.The Cage copy took an interesting path to auction. It was stolen from the actor’s home in 2000 and discovered by an anonymous person who purchased an abandoned storage unit.Although the comic’s previous owner is still unidentified, the company that sold it at auction, ComicConnect/Metropolis Collectibles, was apparently involved in its recovery.
Cartoonist
Jim Unger dies at 75 Jim Unger (January 21, 1937 – May 29, 2012) was a Canadian cartoonist, best known for his syndicated comic strip Herman which ran for 18 years in 600 newspapers in 25 countries. The best-selling creator sold millions of Herman book collections and was twice honoured by the National Cartoonists Society as Best Syndicated Panel. Born in London, Unger floated from job to job — including soldier, policeman, office clerk and repo man — before realising his phenomenal comedic and illustrative talent. Unger is survived by sisters Deborah in Saanich and Shirley in Ontario, as well as brother Steve in the United Kingdom.
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BUiLD PRESS
Justin Bilicki, Brooklyn, NY, USA
The
Future is here
Drawn by 5 cartoonists from around the world People have always been intrigued of what the future will look like. To be able to understand the future we must know the past. What has taken us to where we are today and what has changed along the way. Despite the progress of technology , medicine and other sciences, the communication possibilities, the economical and political systems, the human being remains trapped in the point X. How will we live tomorrow and how will we lead a life compatible with the huge progress we mentioned above? The planet has now reached 7 billion in population. The needs are huge, the resources are limited. We have to rethink, we have the knowledge not to repeat the mistakes of the past. We have to find smarter forms of survival because as Einstein said “The problems that exist in the world today, cannot be solved by the level of thinking that created them” The world is round. And now more than ever, we are all connected for good and bad. This means that we are all responsible for building the future for the next generations. Humans have great possibilities and are capable of great things. Maybe it’s time to remind that to ourselves and achieve great accomplishments for all mankind not just ourselves. 5Cartoonists from around the world are showing us the future David Horsey is a Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonist in the United States. His cartoons appeared in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer until December 2011 and in the Los Angeles Times currently and are syndicated to newspapers nationwide. Justin Bilicki based in Brooklyn, NY is an editorial cartoonist. His cartoons have appeared on the cover of Congressional Quarterly and inside.The Los Angeles Times,Metro, New YorkPress, San Francisco Examiner, Cincinnati Enquirer and hundreds of other publicaMark tions.
Lynch. Sydney, Australia
Mark Lynch from Sydney, Australia is the recipient of over thirty Australian and international cartoon awards for editorial, single gag and comic strips John Chase’s (from Yakima Wa s h i n g t o n area,USA) cartoon contributions include numerous magazines, trade journals, web sites, lecture files and textbooks, including Reader’s Digest, Punch (of London), The National Law Journal and others. Spiros Derveniotis was born in Athens, Greece. Since his first appearance in 1986 in the Greek satirical magazine “Para Pente”, he has been working non-stop as a political cartoonist and comics creator for a variety of local papers and magazines.
David Horsey, Seattle, USA
John Chase, Yakima, WA, USA
COMIC-CON INTERNATIONAL San Diego, USA 12-15/07/2012 Comic-Con International is traditionally a four-day event, showcasing comic books, science fiction/fantasy, and film/television and related popular arts. The convention is the largest in the Americas, and fourth largest in the world. It is an event that celebrates the historic and ongoing contribution of comics to art and culture.
Spiros Derveniotis, Greece
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THE COLOUR PAGE
Office Paint Colours
for Better Business Dealings Most people treat their offices as extremely professional spaces that lack colour and border on a boring look. They believe that an office is meant to be a place for business dealings; therefore, it certainly has to have a professional touch. However, an office can look professional in spite of having vibrant colours, and in fact, vibrancy encourages employees to get creative and productive. Below we have classified office paint colours on the basis of the areas that comprise an office. Reception & Waiting Area The office reception gives any visitor an overview of what to expect from the office. It sets the tone of formality in the office. So how you want to showcase your office to outsiders can be achieved by choosing the appropriate colours. For an office where creativity forms the basis of the profession, this combination of paint colours may look simply perfect.
Office Passages Leading you from one area of the office to another, passages or corridors also have a vital role to play when you want to decide what paint colour to choose for them. If you have large spans, light colours such as a beautiful light leaf green can be used. If you want to use brighter colours such as red, orange or the like, use them for shorter spans to give the entire passage a pop of colour.
Conference Rooms Whether you use your conference room to brainstorm, discuss targets or conduct board meetings, no one has said that it has to be extremely formal for it to create the right mood. Lighter and brighter colours lighten a sombre mood and calm the environment. A conference room with an orange ceiling gives a dash of colour in an otherwise boring room.
Office Cabins The gray cabin is a perfect example of classic office interiors and is sure to suit your taste if you aren’t someone who likes a burst of colour around all the time. Just add colour with the help of furniture or accessories. That way it becomes easier to introduce change without compromising on the overall professional look you desire.
Common Work Areas and Cubicles For a sleek, corporate look, try going with a black and white look with pops of light sea green in the common work area. Green is known to be a refreshing colour. Depending on the general mood of your work force and the nature of your profession, you may choose between these or similar colours.
General Tips 1.If you intend to make the office look bigger, it is suggested that you go in for bright and light colours. A white ceiling will also contribute toward making the office appear larger. If you have a substantial amount of office space, you can choose warmer or slightly dark colours. 2. How much lighting your office gets also has an impact on which colours would be suitable for it. If it receives a significant amount of natural light, you should not choose bright colours, as they would seem too bright. If the office receives a little amount of light, only then you can choose bright colour shades. 3. Go to your nearby paint store and obtain colour swatches and palettes. Choose the colour combination that you think will look good on the walls.
BUiLD PRESS
By Stephen Rampur Master’s in Personnel Management
4. Always envision a complete look with furniture, accessories and paint and then decide the colours you want to go for. A combination of too many colours can look as disastrous as the lack of a suitable amount.
Match the Colour to the Business Add character befitting your business to the walls with faux or specialty paints. Faux leather-look walls in deep red or rich brown add gravitas to a legal or financial office. If your business centres around the creative arts, echo that energy on your walls with a mural, stencilling or lettering. Greens and blues are calming and may help you focus.