Tuborg boss: It's time to boost exports, but Romanian authorities should help us with infrastructure

22 aug 2010 Autor: Diana Tudor Stoica

Shachar Shaine, the chairman of United Romanian Breweries Bereprod, the brewer of Tuborg and Carlsberg, ranking fourth on the domestic beer market, maintains brewers should step up their exports as they are one of the few opportunities to bolster sales under the current economic circumstances.
"This year, we strengthened exports, which have now doubled in terms of volumes against the same period of last year, to 5% in volume sales from around 3% in 2009. The economic crisis has hurt Balkan countries more than Western Europe and this is why we need to export," Shaine stated.
He did not disclose the value of exports, but according to ZF estimates URBB is likely to reach sales of as much as five million euros on this segment this year.
Though rising exports are helping both the company boost turnover and the economy during this period, Shaine maintains there are also hurdles.
"The main problem is infrastructure. This is an aspect the government should focus on and for which it has done very little so far. It should accelerate tenders. Also, authorities need to bolster exports by reducing customs red tape and if they intensify checks these should be rapid and efficient".