Even though the IMF does not have positive expectations of the world economy and the Eurozone, its forecast of the emerging European countries, among them Romania, is optimistic. For the current year, the fund expects Romania to have an economic growth of almost 1%, while next year it is expected to stand at 2.5%. In 2013, Romania could overtake Poland for the first time since 2008, as Poland is the only country in the EU that did not go into recession during the crisis. The fund expects Poland to have only 2.1% growth. The fact that Romania’s economy could overtake that of Poland is largely owing to an economic slowdown reported in Poland recently due to the sovereign debt crisis in the Eurozone and austerity measures taken by Warsaw.

Romania reaches a peak inflation rate for the year

Romania’s annual inflation rate has reached its peak for this year, 5.33%, way over the desired National Bank target, after a price spike in September of 1.18%. The National Institute of Statistics announced that food prices went up 2.3%, while non-food prices rose only 0.6%. Prices for services went up only 0.4%. The foodstuffs reporting the highest price hike were vegetables, fruits and eggs. Gas and fuel prices also soared significantly. The National Bank of Romania estimated an inflation rate of 3.2% for this year.

Good news for Romanian workers in France

France announced it would extend free access for Romanian and Bulgarian workers to its labor market, especially in the sectors where employers have a hard time finding workers. The number of jobs they are allowed to apply for has been almost doubled by the authorities, their number reaching almost 300. The list covers mostly areas such as constructions, hospitality, farming, fishing, the retail sector and IT. Access restrictions to the French labor market will be completely lifted for Romanian and Bulgarian workers by the end of 2013. UK ambassador to Bucharest Martin Harris said that Britain would follow suit. He said that after statements made by British Home Secretary Theresa May, who expressed concern with respect to a new immigrant wave if labor restrictions were lifted, reason for which the British government is considering reintroducing visas. Ambassador Harris said, however, that the secretary’s statement did not accurately reflect the position of the London government. The Romanian foreign ministry said that it had received assurances from the British side that labor market restrictions for Romanians would not extend past January 1, 2014.

The Romanian foreign minister tours the Middle East

Romanian Foreign Minister Titus Corlatean went on a three-day tour of the Middle East, which included Israel, the Palestinian territories and Jordan. He met with Israeli president Shimon Perez, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, and King Abdullah II of Jordan. He also met economy ministers, business people and members of the Romanian community. Talks focused on the healthy political relations and the joint interest in developing partnerships in the economy, health, agriculture and education. The tense situation in the region was also a topical issue tackled by the Romanian diplomat with officials in Jerusalem, Ramallah and Amman. Corlatean said that Romania would continue to support to its fullest capacity the Israeli-Palestinian dialogue, considering the good relations that Bucharest holds with both sides. In Amman, Corlatea told King Abdullah that Romania would provide Jordan with aid worth 130,000 dollars for Syrian refugees to that country. Corlatean thanked the authorities in Amman for the help granted by Jordan in repatriating its citizens from Syria.

Romania’s president visits Turkmenistan

Romanian President Traian Basescu paid on Thursday and Friday an official visit to Turkmenistan, one of the countries in Central Asia with some of the richest deposits of oil and natural gas. After meeting his counterpart in Ashabad, Basescu said that Romania could act as a gateway for Turkmenistan’s economy in its relation to Europe. The two heads of state discussed cooperation in natural gas transportation, as well as in twinning the port of Constanta on the Black Sea and the Port of Turkembashi on the Caspian Sea, linking Turkmenistan to Europe. Basescu added that Romanian companies were interested in energy and IT, but also in securing Turkmenistan’s border with Afghanistan after the ISAF pull out in 2014. Turkmenistan’s president invited Romanian tourism and construction businesses to contribute to the building of the Avaza resort on the Caspian Sea Coast.