Swedish telecommunications group Ericsson is contemplating developing its business in Romania, currently seeking a location where to build a 200-job development centre, daily Ziarul financiar quotes Communications and Information Society Minister Gabriel Sandu as saying on Wednesday. The minister mentions having discussed with officials of large companies who assured him of their intention to carry out development projects in Romania. “I had separate conversations with Nokia, Ericsson and Hewlett-Packard officials.

They have all voiced interest in developing business in Romania. Ericsson is currently opening a new outlet and is on the lookout for a location for a research centre that will employ at least 200 staff,” daily Evenimentul zilei quotes the minister as saying. One of the possible locations is the central city of Cluj-Napoca, which, according to a recent survey by KPMG, is among 30 world cities sought for IT services outsourcing.

“Although many Romanian cities provide good opportunities, Cluj-Napoca is ranked in the survey for other reasons as well. It is a province city that has recorded a significant growth of late, but which infrastructure has not reached the same pressure level as did the infrastructure of the capital city,” says KPMG Romania IT Advisory Manager Cristian Itu.

Finnish Nokia group owns a handheld factory close to Cluj-Napoca which last spring reported its one millionth mobile device, just three months into business. Back then, Nokia factory director John Guerry said the beginning of Nokia production in Romania was fruitful and Nokia customers all around Europe are satisfied.