Microsoft closes deal with Romanian authorities. Oracle comes next

World’s top two software developers Microsoft and Oracle have included Romania on the priority agenda of their top-management teams lately.

While Microsoft’s CEO Steve Ballmer was closing a strategic partnership with the Romanian Government represented by Communications minister Dan Nica in Rome, rival Oracle had sent a special envoy to Bucharest, i.e. executive vice-president Mike Rocha who reports directly to the famous Larry Ellison.

Oracle officials highlighted the executive vice-president Mike Rocha’s presence in Romania, as he is the highest-ranking Oracle officials visiting Bucharest. They did not rule out the possibility of Rocha being sent on a “recon” mission in Bucharest by Larry Ellison, Oracle CEO, who has preparing for a visit in Romania.

While in Romania, Mike Rocha said, “It is still difficult to make initial investments in Romania, considering it has hardly been done so far. It is risky. This is why we want a partnership with the Government, so that we could start investments.”

Another Oracle official, i.e. Alfonso di Ianni, senior vice president European Union Enlargement Region, in his turn said, “Only after this partnership is defined will we be able to see whether Romania is more attractive to us than any other emerging market.” However, he specified Oracle’s strategy for the ten countries to join the EU in 2004 also covered Romania.

Stefan Cojanu, managing director Oracle Romania was cautious in his statements, as well, saying it was hard to provide figures (on the future investments), as it was up to the Government’s response to Oracle’s initiatives.

The same day Oracle was surveying the Romanian market in Bucharest, Steve Ballmer, Microsoft CEO, was signing along with Minister Dan Nica the letter of intent for the strategic partnership between the Romanian Government and Microsoft Corporation. The partnership is intended to help the Government capitalise on the domestic market potential and stimulate the development of an IT sector in Romania that will allow the country to become one of Europe’s leading software developers, according to releases issued by both parties.