REGIONAL ANALYISIS OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF PHOTOVOLTAIC PARKS IN ROMANIA. A SOWCASE OF WEST DEVELOPMENT REGION

Electricity production has the greatest impact on socio-economic development in Romania. However, it is also responsible for the cumulative (often negative) environmental effects. In order to meet the energy demand, while achieving the Energy and Climate Change goals, Renewable Energy has become an important alternative, especially during 2010-2013 period when substantial funding has been allocated. Renewable energy sources available in Romania (hydro, solar, geothermal, wind and biomass) have the capacity to reduce greenhouse gases and improve population health by producing energy without using fossil fuels. The current study focuses on the examination of environmental and socio-economic impact of photovoltaic (PV) energy in the West Development Region (WDR). The area is located in the western part of Romania, covering 32,028 km2 (13.4% of the country's surface) and gathering 1,828 million inhabitants (9.4% of the country's population). It includes four counties: Timiș, Arad, Caraş-Severin and Hunedoara. For the current study, 35 photovoltaic parks were identified, mapped and analysed, based on which several indicators were computed in order to highlight the environmental and socio-economic consequences: share of PV parks/land use category/main soil type; distance to forests, waters, Natura 2000; no. of jobs created during the construction/operation of the PV parks; the value of PV parks investment; the impact on the local budget. The total analyzed area covers 177.76 ha.

Aspects of Compatibility and Convergence of The Accounting Information Comprised in The Balance Sheet in The DKMT Euroregion (Danube-Criş-Mureş-Tisa)

In order to study the compatibility and convergence of accounting information between the Autonomous Region Vojvodina and the West Development Region of Romania and implicitly between Vojvodina and Hungarian counties of DKMT, it is necessary to study the compatibility and possible convergence between the Vojvodina Balance Sheet (Bilans Stanja) and the Romanian Abridged Balance Sheet. In order to reach the set goal we opted for the detailed presentation of the Bilans Stanja, with the highlighting of correspondences, indicators’ manner of calculation (when necessary) and the highlight of differences and complementarities.

Strategic Marketing Communication: The Case For SMME Development

Strategic marketing communication is imperative for the successful implementation of projects of developmental corporations. Business development in the North West Province, South Africa however, seems to be hampered by the lack of effective marketing communication from the NWDC regarding its support services and the lack of feedback from the registered SMMEs regarding their satisfaction with services rendered. This study was aimed at determining whether effective strategic marketing communication exists between the North West Development Corporation (NWDC) and all their registered Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) in the North West Province. The study adopted qualitative and quantitative research approaches (mixed method). A non-probability, convenience sample of 82 participants were used from a population of 140 SMMEs. For the quantitative part of the study, semi-structured interviews were conducted by the researcher in order to gather information about the support services that the North West Development Corporation offers. SMMEs indicated uncertainty about being aware of the support services offered by NWDC. The findings of the study show that the marketing of the NWDC is not reaching the targeted audience at an acceptable level. The study can conclude that a significant number of the SMMEs do not have the required awareness of the NWDCs support services. It is recommended from the study that good strategic marketing communication will encourage organisational sustainability which will also be beneficial to future SMME entrepreneurs and the economic development of the region.

Coordinative and Harmonious Promotion of the Urban Redevelopment of Western Shandong

With the fast processing of West Development, the urban redevelopment and renewing of western Shandong has become the focus of the social concern today. However, in the actual implement of the act, there’s a lack of the basic principle of “being coordinative and harmonious” in dealing with all kinds of contradictions, resulting in many problems. According to the features of western Shandong areas, we are to apply the basic principle of “being coordinative and harmonious” to the urban redevelopment so as to settle the problems concerned.