Romania’s third largest city by the number of inhabitants (about 350,000), Constanta, the main gate of the country to the Black Sea and to the Danube by the means of navigable channel inaugurated in 1984, is the holiday and entertainment capital of Romania, especially during the summer season when the population is doubled.
Constanta is the Romanian city with the most booming financial development, and they seem to build everywhere, also in the port area. Shipping yards, cargo centrals and oil supply services have been mushrooming with foreign money.
Constanta is an international city, colorful, vibrant and busy. Constanta is the city of contrasts. Constanta attracts by the harmony between ebullient business world and intense cultural life. The main gate of the country to the Black Sea and to the Danube - by means of the navigable canal inaugurated in 1984 - Constanta is also a place of call for the main cruisers.
The economy of Constanta County has an industrial, agricultural and a tourist profile. Its agriculture and maritime transport is well represented and engaged in the reform and privatization process. As part of the machine engineering industry, the shipyards from Constanta, Mangalia and Midia make ships of great weight of up to 200.000 dwt. They also build ferryboats and repair docks and ships, being one of the modern shipyards in the world.
The chemical industry is mainly represented by “PETROMIDIA” Company, which has the most modern installations and can process up to 3.5 million tons of crude oil each year. This industry is also represented by “FERTILCHIM” in Navodari, that yields sulphuric acid, chemical fertilizers for internal consumption and exports, by “Energia” in Constanta, specialized in technological equipment, technical items of rubber, injected and extended plastics items.
The electric and thermal energy is achieved through the power of Stations in Constanta, Ovidiu, Navodari and in the year 1996 – the first group of 700 MW has been started at the Cernavoda Nuclear Plant, which will produce around 900 mil. kW/h each year.
The essential place in the county’s transporting routes is occupied by the maritime transport, with the Constanta, Mangalia and Midia harbours. Constanta county, is the centre of foreign trade (absorbs the imports and assures a part of Romania’s exports) and has a diversified activity of services, especially thanks to the Constanta harbour. The maritime transport is possible on the Danube River, between Ostrov, Cernavoda, and Hirsova, with a connection towards the North Sea through the Danube – Main – Rhine canal.
Constanta harbour offers exceptional possibilities for manufacturing the transit wares trade, facilities given by the Danube – Black Sea canal, which ends in Constanta harbour. After a powerful decrease between 1989 – 1993, the harbour traffic is now rising again and will soon reach the volume recorded before 1989. The constant lack of founds since 1991 has been stopping the finalization of the harbour protection works (the dykes of North and South).
Concerning the hope of great investments and the role of Constanta harbour that is played in the European transportation network (TEN), financing (without expanding) the harbour protection projects to prevent the collapse of the whole harbour has been proved economically justifiable.
The Romanian Government has initiated a rehabilitation project for the Harbour, with a total value of 70 million Euro. This project is co-financed by the European Bank of Investments – 3.5 million Euro – and by the PHARE program – 17.5 million Euro.
The Loaning Agreement with the European Bank was signed in December 1995, and the Financial Memorandum with the UE – PHARE program – in September 1996. 9.7 million Euro have already been used to repair the two breaches before 1998. This represents a part of Romania’s contribution to this project.
The Rhine-Maine Danube Canal has created a true European navigation corridor, and Constanta harbour is at the south-eastern extremity of it. The navigable distance between Rotterdam and Constanta is about 3000 km. Because of its geographical position, Romania and its main maritime gate, Constanta, will play a key role in the realization of an economical cooperation area of the Black Sea.
Continuing the harbour, towards South, the Constanta Free Zone has been conceived, and this occupies 144.5 ha and benefits by 935 meters of landing quays. This Free Zone is connected to all internal and international means of transport: roads, rivers, and aerial. New production, stocking and manufacturing capacities will be set here. Exhibits, stock, financial and bank operations will be organized, and also all the facilities usually fronted to the Free Zones.
In the context of this economical infrastructure, the implementation of span strategies or the attraction of investors capable of galvanizing present economical situation is imposing. It is necessary that the local authorities interfere in order to isolate the essential economical aspects under the shape of business opportunities.