Bucharest has long been inscribed on the favorite map of foreign investors. The many business opportunities offered by the Romanian Capital have opened the way for foreign projects that have migrated to our country and have written success stories. In all the active fields at local level there are foreign investors, but the medical sector seems to be among the preferred ones, managing to attract significant financial funds.
Harris Palaondas, managing director of a company with a presence in the Romanian market for over 25 years, is part of a group that established 25 years ago a business in the country. Since then, the company operates in Bucharest, the place where it develops step by step.
Harris tells us that today he is no longer considered a foreigner in Romania, being of the opinion that the long period spent with us in the country allowed him to enter among the locals. In fact, he knows the Romanian language very well, this being the greatest proof of respect for the country of adoption.
Born in Cyprus, Harris Palaondas has held long leading positions in large companies active in the markets of Romania, Hungary, Greece, but also in his native country.
The positions held allowed him to build a very clear picture of how Bucharest has evolved over time and about the changes that the city has undergone. “We have been doing business in Romania since 1994. At that time the conditions were not very friendly with foreign investors. But today, we at SofMedica consider ourselves locals. We are not strangers, because our heritage and headquarters are in Bucharest,” says Harris.
The investor is of the opinion that Bucharest has undergone a huge transformation from all points of view over the last 25 years. We see this transformation also in the living standards of the inhabitants. “There is still a need to improve the quality of the infrastructure. I mean the subway, the airports. Also, several initiatives in the field of social assistance are required”, shows the managing director of the medical company.
Bucharest sets the tone for business
Being the most important city in Romania, but also the capital of the country, Bucharest is the city that sets the tone in business. And this is also known by foreign investors who choose to develop businesses in this part of Europe.
Harris Palaondas tells us that, from his point of view, Bucharest enjoys all the economic advantages possible to attract foreign direct investments. „Bucharest is a center of multinationals. It is a city that provides quality, well-educated human resources to the economic environment. The capital of Romania is a place where the expat life is decent. In addition, Bucharest is a city that hosts many international events. In 1994, when we decided to invest in Romania, we saw the opportunity to improve the access of patients from this country to innovative medical services, access that was lacking compared to other states in the region,” explains the Cypriot businessman.
Referring to the city that adopted him, the investor presents it as one of the safest capitals, in which you live surrounded by historical buildings and where cultural events abound.
In the Romanian capital he especially loves people, because they are warm and welcoming. There are educated people, open to the new, many of them speaking English, which shows that Bucharest is a city perfectly integrated into the international landscape.
He doesn’t like traffic, but he hopes things will get better in this chapter.
When it comes to favorite places in Bucharest, Harris Palaondas, like all the foreigners I talked to, indicates the parks. In his case, the favorite is King Michael I Park of Romania, a place dominated by Herastrau Lake.
He also likes Victory Avenue, an area that exhibits many historical monument buildings. And the social life in Bucharest is to Harris’s liking. Outings at the mall are part of the relaxation modes you take when you have free time. Also, he loves to discover, every time he has the opportunity, the diverse culinary offer that the restaurants in Bucharest have.
Author: Ștefania Enache
Photo: Corina Gheorghe
