For three decades, the CCIB has been rewarding business excellence at the Top of Bucharest companies

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the City of Bucharest (CCIB) organized the XXXth edition of the TOP COMPANIES IN BUCHAREST, a reference event for the economic life in the city.

The awards ceremony was attended, along with managers of the best performing Bucharest companies, leading personalities from the economic space, but also representatives of the central and local administration. Among the personalities who honored the invitation of the Bucharest Chamber were:

• Ștefan-Radu Oprea, the Minister of Economy, Entrepreneurship and Tourism
• Ioan Lucian Rus, Secretary of State
• Dr. Rareș Burlacu, the president of the Romanian Agency for Investments and Foreign Trade (ARICE),
• Mihai Daraban, president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Romania (CCIR)
• Ovidiu Silaghi, secretary general of the National Chamber
• Alexandru Lazarov, director of the chancellery of the Institution of the Prefect of the Capital

“2023 is a special year for the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the City of Bucharest! We are celebrating 155 years of uninterrupted chamber activity and three decades since, every autumn, we award excellence in all its forms, within the Top Companies. Also, in this year full of significance for our team, after 14 years, we resumed the tradition of organizing the stage on the 6 sectors of the Capital. Although they come from different fields, from companies of all sizes, with decades of history or much younger, our awardees have conducted their work according to the same values and principles. They constantly stepped out of their comfort zone, broke down barriers and proactively managed atypical situations”, said Iuliu Stocklosa, the president of the Bucharest Chamber, at the opening of the Awards Gala.

According to the top methodology, of the 163,713 companies with headquarters in Bucharest that submitted the balance sheet for 2022, 63,631 companies met the eligibility criteria, an increase of 12% compared to the previous year. Of these, the Bucharest Chamber awarded 7,409 companies (+2.2%, compared to the previous edition), in seven sections: services, trade, industry, construction, research-development and high-tech, tourism and agriculture.

Following the analysis of the available data, it is noted that the degree of performance and efficiency of the awarded Bucharest companies has increased significantly. Thus, their cumulative turnover increased by 44% compared to the previous edition, reaching 137 billion euros, while the operating profit reached 14.2 billion euros (+48%).

“The Ministry of Economy, Entrepreneurship and Tourism’s main purpose is to come up with public policies, to talk about the vision, so that you can then calibrate your business plans, according to the challenges that we all see around us, generated of the transition to being more environmentally friendly, to the green deal, to the circular economy, but also to the challenges in the immediate vicinity. Any of these challenges can be turned into an opportunity”, declared Minister Ștefan-Radu Oprea, pointing out the special potential of Romania in the field of energy obtained from both renewable and nuclear sources, as well as the possibilities of horizontal development of the industry.

“Our agency has proven to be a true one-stop-shop for foreign investors, especially from the European Union, USA, Canada and Asia. You, the private environment, we are at your disposal at all times to support and promote you, especially those who have dared to enter new markets, seek business opportunities, internationalize their companies in different sectors, to respond thus the demand created on the international market”, stated Dr. Rareș Burlacu, congratulating the winners.

Mihai Daraban, the president of the CCIR, emphasized the need to reduce the trade balance deficit. In the opinion of the president of the National Chamber, it is necessary to focus on the production of consumer goods and on reducing dependence on imports. In this context, Mihai Daraban spoke about the impact that the “atomization” of businesses has on the competitiveness of the Romanian economy, exemplifying the situation in agriculture and the agri-food processing industry. An invitation to dialogue between the public and private environment also came from the prefect of the Capital, Rareș Hopincă.

In the message sent to the Gala participants by Alexandru Lazarov, the director of the chancellery, the importance of identifying, through dialogue, the problems faced by the business community, so that the Prefect’s Institution can be a support in overcoming the obstacles you face, was emphasized.

The last event in the series, the Gala dedicated to the laureates of sectors 2 and 5, will take place on Wednesday, November 1, in the Carol I Hall of the CCIB Palace.