Transcript Romania
Romania ~Alison Abraham~ ~Steve Koreck~ ~Thomas Maruszewski~ There’s more to Romania than just: DRACULA!!!! History - Timeline • • • • • • • 13th Century – Walachian/Moldavian principalities emerge 14th – 19th century – Region aligned with Hungary & Ottoman Empire 1878 – Treaty of Berlin recognizes Romania’s independence 1881 – Kingdom of Romania formally proclaimed 1945 – Communist-dominated government installed 1967 – Ceausescu becomes President of the Council of State 1989 – Countrywide protests begin in Timisoara • Ceausecu and wife are executed • National Salvation Front takes over government • 1990 – National Elections Held Life in Romania Geography Government People Communication Economy Geography IT in Romania Yesterday & Today • • • • • 1997 – Approx. 25,000 Internet Users 1999 – Approx. 650,000 Internet Users 2003 – Over 1 Million Internet Users 1999 – 28 Internet Service Providers (ISP) 2003 – Over 100 ISP’s Comparison • In 2002 – Over 50% of Population has Cell Phone • Less Than 5% have Personal Computer (PC) • 1997 Price of PC More than Half a Year’s Salary • 2000 Price of PC was Nearly $800 (USD) • Internet Access: $25-$60/month (dial-up access) • Plus $2/hour Local Call Television • • • • Cable TV is Booming in Romania 50% of Population has TV 48% have Cable High Speed Internet (Cable Modem) – Kappa (ISP) Telephones • Existing Lines are Poor in Quality • But… Romania Laying Groundwork for Fiber Optic Lines Laying Groundwork in Other Ways… EOS Educating for an Open Society Today in Romania • Many Internet Services that offer Business Solutions in IT World • Romania Encourages External Investment • 130 Countries have Invested in Romania Is Romania a Good Place to Invest in IT?? • • • • • Environmental Parameters Economic Stability IT Infrastructure Industrial Policy The Master Plan Environmental Parameters • Political/Social – Premier Adrian Nastase (elected Nov, 2000) – Bureaucracy/Corruption Still Affects Efficiency – Widespread Poverty • Economic – 3rd Year of Stable Economic Development – GDP Grew by 5% in 2003, Forecast More Growth 2004 – October, 2003 expected to sign 1st Joint Program with IMF IT Infrastructure Industrial Policy • Long-Term Telecommunication Development Program 1991-2005 – – – – Extension of Analogue Networks Intro to Digital Technology Digital Microwave Links/Fiber Optic Cables High Speed Data Transmission Network Industrial Policy Con’t • National Broadcast Council – Independent Regulatory Body – Issues Licenses for Broadcasting companies • Ministry of Communications (Technical Authorizations) • General Communications Inspectorate (GCI) – Enforces/Monitors Regulations – Similar to FCC The Master Plan • Intensive Development of Telecommunications Sector • Quantitative Targets for 2005: – Main Line Penetration of 30 lines per 100 Inhabitants – Nearly 7 Million Lines – Full Completion of Network Digitalization Reasons Against Investment • High Poverty Rate (44.5%) • 40% of Labor Force is Agricultural • Major Industries: – Mining, Timber, Metallurgy • Limited Access • Under-Developed Infrastructure Reasons for Investment • • • • • • • Developing Country (Access is Improving) Sound Economic Policies Nastase’s Focus on Foreign Investment 98.4% Literacy Rate Gini Index 31.1 (vs. 40.8 for USA) Involvement with the IMF Many Potential Opportunities Should We Invest?? YES! Resources • • • • • • http://www.cia.gov/ http://www.students.missouri.edu/~romsa/romania http://memory.loc.gov/frd/cs/rotoc.html http://www.ici.ro/romania http://www.romania.com http://www.FT.com