Aspects Regarding The Integration Of Romania To The UE From The Point Of View Of The Romanian Electronic Industry

The main purpose of APREL is: “The launch of the productive activity of the branch”

That is because the electronic, electrotechnic and the fine mechanic industry represents for any modern economy a vital industrial sector, without which no human activity can be imagined.

Most of this sector’s activities are being placed in the final area of the productive chains and generates( through the intense incorporation of services with industrial character) a gross value-added per/employ superior to other economic activities, that is the reason way the companies and executives pay a special attention to this branch of the economy.

One may say that the electro-technic , electronic and fine mechanic industry absorbs and supplies in the same time , in the most dynamic way, technical and technological novelties, being an essential element in the technical progress of the current society.

*** This kind of industry has changed its industrial structures due to some internal and also external factors.***

I. INTERNAL FACTORS

The low demand on the internal market determined by the specific economic situation for the countries in transition (the low investments, the poor purchasing power, the increasing rate of inflation). This particularly influenced the production of:

  • Machines and equipment for home use
  • Electrical equipment
  • Different measurement and checking machines
  • The liberalization of the internal market due to which the over-dated Romanian products from the 90’s, could no longer compete.

II. EXTERNAL FACTORS

  • The disappearance of the CAER market, where Romania used to sell 50-60% of its production. This export was supported by conventions of specialization, barter contracts with row materials or different commercial agreements.
  • The increasing competition on the international market due to the liberalization of the local and international commerce

III. MAJOR CHANGES IN THE ECONOMY

  • In these conditions, the economic agents have orientated to other products which are demanded on the local and international market.
  • Some of the production branches disappeared: black & white cinemascop tubes, batteries, radio receivers, black & white TV
  • Other production branches reduced a great deal their production of: lighting bulbs, hydraulic equipment, periferic equipment for the computer industry, electronic components.
  • The telecommunication equipment has developed a great deal due to the massive investments and technology supplied by the foreign investors.
  • 320 production capacities have modernized
  • Important investments for the protection of the environmental had been made
  • In the last years new companies with foreign capital have appeared and they have a great importance to the continues growing of the exports

IV. LAWS

In the last years had been adopted the main European reglementations regarding the liberalization of goods, the energetically and environmental efficiency regarding the electrothechnic , electronic and fine mechanic industry. Some of these laws refer to:

  • The security of the users of electric equipment
  • The conditions in which the electronic equipment can be sold on the market from the point of view of electromagnetic compatibility and also of the noise released in the air
  • Requests regarding the labeling and the energetic efficiency of the frigorific equipment, of the washing machines, electric lamp for home use
  • The safety of the toys users

V. STRATEGIES

Strategies regarding the development of industrial branches and the national strategy of export had been elaborated.

By these strategies was created the support for:

  • The ending of the harmonization process with the European Union legislation
  • The accomplishment of some investment programs for the technological modernization
  • The increase of competition
  • The increase of exports and of the competition capacity on the external market

VI. COMPETITIVE AND COMPARATIVE ADVANTAGES OF THE BRANCH

  • The tradition and experience of some economic agents
  • The human resources with a high degree of qualification and experience
  • The added value superior to other economic sectors from the industry
  • Electrotechnical industry is a complementary one to that in the UE
  • The existence of sources for the raw materials
  • The existence of multifunctional industrial spaces, well preserved which can be the support of a future development

VII. COMPETITIVE SECTORS AND POSSIBLE COMPETITIVE SECTORS

The so far accomplished economic results, the competitive and comparative advantages and also the existence of an internal and external market point the to the following competitive sectors:

1. Telecommunication equipment

  • It has developed based on the investments and solutions provided by the foreign investors
  • Modernization programs of the infrastructure and the development of communications

2. Electronic components:

  • The increasing demand especially for the export to assemble electronic components
  • The trend of making all the products work electronic will demand the increase of the electronic components production

3. Engines, generators and electric transformars:

  • This industrial branch has important production capacities, partly modernized
  • The significant demand for the local and external market

VIII. POTENTIALLY COMPETITIVE SECTORS

Machines and equipment for home use:

  • Increasing export
  • The developing local market
  • Has benefit of restructures and modernization in the past years

Equipment and instruments for measurements, checking and control:

  • Flexible production capacities
  • An increasing local demand

IX. PREDICTABLE EVOLUTIONS IN 2006/2008

Political- economical and commercial evolutions in the UE:

1. CAEN 297 The industry of machines and home use equipment:

  • The actual trend on international scale is to reduce the time for preparing the food, the development and the modernization of this aspect led to an increase in:
  • The development of a large ray of products for multiple functions
  • The use of the ecological fern at the refrigerators and air-conditioners
  • The increase of the product and interior designers

2. CAEN 30 The IT industry:

The implementation of digital technology in Europe and the insurance of the necessary competencies in order to use them at large scale – the document launched by EU “ eEuropa-an informational society for all”

It is the key element to modernize the European economy.

By adopting the two action plans eEurope 2002 and eEurope 2005 it is meant to implement a few key elements, like:

  • To insurance the communication on-line for each social home, company and public administration institution
  • To create the digital and entrepreneurial culture of Europe

3. CAEN 31 The electric machines and equipment industry:

It is a very consolidated field in Europe. The massive and quality offer found clients both on the internal and the external market, new markets are to be found in Eastern Europe, Asia, Latin America and Eastern Asia.

4. CAEN 32 The industry of equipment, radio, TV and communications.

The main characteristics of this field are:

  • The dynamic growth of the market
  • The globalization of commerce
  • New companies and the trend of concentration of these new companies
  • The intensification of the process of absorbing new technology

5. CAEN 33 The medical and optical instruments and equipment industry:

The profile companies are located in Germany, Italy, France, England and Austria and are characterized by a profound specialization.

On European level this branch presents the following characteristics:

  • The powerful competition of USA and Japan
  • Important changes resulted as an integration of the Eastern European Companies

X. THE CONTINUATION OF THE RESTRUCTURING PROCESS

As our country is about to enter UE and considering the fact that the growth of the import with products from the electronic industry, the continuation of the restructuring process becomes a necesity.

Key objectives of the industrial branch:

  • The development and consolidation of the productive structures
  • The growth of the competitive capacity of the local companies
  • The increase of local export with IT products

XI. THE POST INTEGRATION INDUSTRY

1. Joining to the UE doesn’t mean only the joining to a unique market but also to a sistem of values, rules and social aspirations. The integration itself is a challenge for the companies to change their mentality and organizational culture. Romania has lots of strong point like: qualified labor force, entrepreneurial spirit) but must go on with its efforts to restructuring and adaptation of the economic sistem.

2. The accomplish this national goal will lead to:

  • The insurance of the proper conditions necessary to stimulate the imports and exports
  • The free access on any of the European Countries
  • The continues growth of the number of new societies
  • The increase of foreign investments
  • This industrial branch will grow in the structure of the national industry

3. By respecting the proposed programs it is estimated that the electrotechnical industry will have the next performances in the 2010 comparing with 2005:

  • The industrial production will grow with 90%
  • The export will increase with 125%
  • The value added will be with 135% higher
  • The number of places of work will grow with 30%