Panda Security Enters Romanian Market

Panda Security, one of the leading developers of computer security systems in Europe, has opened an office in Bucharest and plans to reach a 35% market share in the following five years. Concurrently, Panda Security signed two distribution contracts with Flamingo Distribution Center and Scop Computers, totaling over 400 stores countrywide. The inauguration of the office coincides with the introduction of the latest generation of Panda software in Romania: Panda Antivirus 2008, Panda Antivirus + Firewall 2008 and Panda Internet Security 2008. Panda products are retailed in over 200 countries in 23 languages.

73 Lending Institutions Notify Direct Service Provision To BNR

So far, 73 lending institutions registered in the EU have notified the National Bank of Romania (BNR) as to the direct provision of their services in Romania. As Romania is a member of the EU, bank registered in the EU can offer their products directly to Romanian customers without opening a local branch, provided that they notify the National Bank in this respect.

The following banks submitted such notifications in July and August: Aareal Bank, BNP Paribas, Barclays Bank, Abbey National Treasury Services, Allianz Investmentbank AG, Anglo Irish Bank Corporation PLC, Bank Leumi UK, Bank of London&The Middle East, Caja de Ahorros y Monte de Piedad de Madrid, Coutts & Company, ELLA Elso Lakáshitel Kereskedelmi Bank Zrt. (ELLA First Mortgage Bank Ltd), HCBS Bank Plc, Hypo Investmentbank AG, INVESTKREDIT BANK AG PLC, MediCapital Bank plc, Micos Banca spa, The Bank and Company of the Bank of Scotland.

Bank of London & The Middle East, registered in the UK, is the first lending institution that may operate in Romania in accordance with the Islamic law of Sharia, which forbids the collection of interest on lent money. The leading shareholder in Bank of London & The Middle East is Boubyan Bank (Kuwait) with 20%.