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Nokia answers Dracula's call

Allan Hall, Evening Standard
29 May 2008


Nokia is the latest global player to relocate factories to Romania as the Cluj region of Dracula's homeland attracts Western companies by offering cheap land, labour and tax breaks.

More than 40 companies have moved there since 2005. Among them are Vodafone and Orange, as well as German and US software developers.

Three supply companies are also shifting to be near Nokia, which has pulled manufacturing operations out of over-taxed, overpriced and over-regulated Germany. Cluj's population has grown to half a million in recent years as newcomers have shown up because of the job opportunities.

A big attraction for companies is inexpensive labour - the average monthly wage is €200 (£160). The main question potential investors have when they tour Cluj is whether they can find enough workers to open up there.

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