September 13 (SeeNews) - Former Romanian minister of business, commerce and entrepreneurship Harry Ilan Laufer said that in October he will launch a $500 million (430 million euro) programme to support local companies' expansion to the United States market.
Through the Smart Start USA programme, three banks - Piraeus Bank Romania, BCR and Banca Transilvania - will extend loans to some 10,000 companies per year, Laufer said in a press release.
Smart Start USA is a private programme that aims to simplify the penetration of Romanian companies into international markets. The programme aims to establish direct contacts between companies and entrepreneurs in Romania and the USA, and the Romanian Chamber of Commerce subsidiary in Miami.
The launch of the sign-up platform will take place in early October and will be followed by promoting events in over 30 cities in the country.
($=0.8607 euro)