• For 53 years in the field of milling and baking, Mircea Ureche is the second largest shareholder of the Boromir bakery group from Vâlcea, after the Boromiz family. He owns about a third of the group and is the general manager of the Cibin Mill in Sibiu.
• Beyond being a successful businessman, Mircea Ureche is particularly charismatic and genuine, fascinating with his presence and animated, open and honest dialogue.
1. Tell us how you would characterize the man Mircea Ureche in a few words?
A lucky man! Luck always accompanied me. Starting with childhood, spent in a free, natural and beautiful area, Ţara Loviștei. Then continuing with the Food Industry High School in Sibiu, Milling and Bakery section and with the Faculty, also in the same register, of Galati Food Industry, Milling and Bakery specialization.
Luck did not leave me even during the activity carried out, that of "miller on life" in Râmnicu-Vâlcea (IMP Vâlcea, BOROMIR Rm. Vâlcea) and in Sibiu ( CIBIN MILL– part of the BOROMIR group)
Just one remark I would make: I cultivated my luck and never kicked it. I worked a lot and a little! That's how it is that about 53 years have passed since I've been in the field, and I don't even know when they've passed.
2. How did you choose this field of activity? Or maybe he chose you? Starting a business can be perceived as an adventure that we remember with nostalgia. Now that you know what you've been through, would you start over?
The field chose me, for sure. Or, rather, this is how God guided me and, being a lucky person, the business was not an adventure, but came naturally and "glued" very good!
And even knowing what I've been through, I wouldn't choose another path. Life gave me everything I wanted, but maybe I didn't choose everything that was good around me. Only God knows that!
3. An influx of cheap grain from Ukraine floods the Romanian market. How does the current situation affect the milling and baking sector?
What is happening around us now is history, a history that writes itself. No one knows what's coming next... not even those who triggered this situation... we're just spectators, we can't influence anything. We just have to adapt and everyone can handle it as best they can.
Variants and solutions could be many, but "after the war many brave men show themselves"!
4. The milling and baking sector consists of about 7000 companies, employing over 60.000 employees, being the most important branch of the food industry. Do you think that the Romanian state is doing enough to support the milling and bakery sector?
The state is made up of people like us, maybe a little "more important", included in various institutions and functions. It's hard to believe that they will know better than us what to do!
It's just that they have the Power and the Decision... And, being human, everyone defends their own skin. Especially since the principle has disappeared "The right man at the right place".
Romanian society is now governed by some anomalies out of control. I can list a few, and each of us can add others. And so we will find that "I am without number, without number."
For example:
- there are over 65.000 normative acts that regulate the activity. Specialists say that about 11.000 should be known by any person, no matter what training he has! But if you ask 4 lawyers, you will get 7 different answers... So you don't know in whose hands your fate is.
- it gets big "bang bang" with many implications and enormously many costs, to vote in Parliament 500 de "representatives"... Who do not have the right to vote in reality! 500 people raise their hands as 5 people decide (otherwise they lose their warm seat). And then, I ask you, wouldn't it be normal to vote for only 5 people in Parliament? And should they have 300 specialists around them to put the legislation in order?
"Let's vote for only 5 people in Parliament"
- we hold tenders - eternally contested - to build the cheapest roads, but in reality we build the most expensive ones. And yet we all continue to be stuck in traffic for a long time. If they had the opportunity, surely every person stuck in traffic for an hour, two, three or even four hours would give 5-10 euros to pass quickly! Everyone would. And millions of euros would be collected, for a work of several hundred thousand. That should be the rule on the roads: the fastest and the best. Mandatory will also be the most expensive!
- one more and I'll leave it to you too: it is recognized at any level, that the decrease in the birth rate is a serious problem for Romania. But the poor people who dare to have another child don't have nurseries where they can take the child. It's loud in the sky, but even God has nothing to do with us!
To return to the question: In 2006, the answer of the Hungarian Minister of Agriculture to the question of how it will be after we enter the EU (we were to enter in 2007) was short and clear: "There will be another competition in the Union. Much stronger and tougher. If the State Institutions are not with you, you will be eaten!"… Unfortunately we are eaten!
5. You declared for BBC that for a European financing you had to sign 984 pages, while for the same thing in Spain only 30 pages are signed. Do you think that this is the only reason for the delays in granting European Funds to those who apply, the bureaucracy?
Unfortunately, what I stated for Ziarul Financiar, that's what happened. Fortunately, it ended well!
Romania no longer produces technology almost at all. Not even screws, or if they are produced here, they are produced by others, from outside!
Given that the technology is from them and the money is also from them, it is very difficult, without some simple and clear rules, for someone to assume any responsibility.
6. Our editors sent a set of questions 4 weeks ago Ministry of European Funds regarding the Support Measures promised by the governors for making investments, non-reimbursable funds that have not yet been released even to this date. Why do you think even communication at the government level is flawed? Do they have no explanation for these delays, or is it still a form of procrastination?
Exactly what I was telling you. No one assumes any responsibility. Even if it's just a simple answer, to say something or do something. If some of the specialists next to the 5 decision-making parliamentarians were to analyze how Poland managed to take all the money from the EU, the conclusions would be simple and clear!
7. Taking into account the situation of the last three years - pandemic, war, large increases in energy and gas prices - it is difficult for small and medium-sized companies to conceive longer-term investment plans. But what about a large company like Boromir? Is he able to make long-term plans?
With a lot of work, risk, commitment and luck, YES! Longer term plans can be made.
8. What does the Rotary club mean to you? It is important for business people to help, as is the motto of the Rotary Club "to serve above self" ? In Romania, does this way of thinking and acting exist?
Unfortunately, business people find themselves in the situation of "he should help himself". Otherwise they will no longer be able to maintain their status as businessmen!
Fortunately, there are a few who live up to the motto "to serve above self". But there are many more crooks! Those who succeeded said "God–help!" and they worked hard. Others have said "God give us!" and took their own.
Interview conducted by Gabriela Dan, Editor of Arta Albă
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