The Romanian Agency for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises and Cooperatives and the Osterreichischer Gewerbeverein, from now reffered to as the Parties,

by their wish of consolidating and developing the economical cooperation, of supporting and also developing small and medium sized enterprises (from now reffered to as the SMEs),

fully aware of the importance of the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) role inside the economical development of the two States (the Parties),

being sure about this co-operation that shall create special opportunities for economical development and also for the amplification of contacts between Romania and Austria,

recognizing one to the other the necessity of extending and consolidating the co-operation between the small and medium sized enterprises of the two States called Parties,

according to the regulations of the law, applicable, in the specified domain, between Romania and Austria,

are therefore agreed upon the following:

ART. 1

Objectives

Parties shall promote supporting each other, the objectives as follows:

1. Defining the projects, the implements and also the methods for creating new enterprises as well as developing/consolidating the existing ones;

2. Identifying any possible actions or implements for improving the process of technological and SMEs organizational renewal, according to the international standards;

3. Promoting the integration of the SMEs in the specific machinery of the economy of market;

4. Identifying and developing the human resorts, their potential and their professional abilities as well;

5. Identifyng any possibilities of financial support for the development of the SMEs;

6. Researching the means of using the opportunities offeres by the European Union's program to achieve the development of the SMEs;

7. Stimulating the focus of this sort of national companies in direction of international commerce and co-operation, by placing at their disposal: information, support in concluding as well as in developing contracting facilities; also opportunities of commercial delegations, international fairs, seminars, congresses, as well as participating at symposiums.

ART. 2

Forms of collaboration

Targeting to mark the goals of present Protocol, the collaboration between the two Parties shall be realized in the following manners:

1. The permanent exchange of information, concerning the business environment and the strategy of development the domain of the SMEs from the both countries;

2. Mutual support in organizing as well as operating the projects for the SMEs development;

3. Participating, drawing up and settling analytic materials for mutual advantage;

4. Facilitating the co-operation of SMEs as joint research methods, technological transfer, marketing co-operation and also creating business partnerships;

5. Mutual support in training the human resources for the domain of the SMEs, by developing training programs for the enterprising persons as well as for the governmental officials involved in the SMEs development and support;

6. Business consultancy supply as well as support for the enterprising persons of the both Parties;

7. Official calls, as well, as exchanges of experience and also exchange of information concerning the effective legal regulations applicable in the two countries, pointing out settling up as well as activity and development regarding the SMEs.

8. Jointly participating at national and international events.

ART. 3

Connections with the relevant agencies

Regarding facilitating the synalagmatic co-operation, the Parties shall involve, ar far as it-s necessary, complimentary achievement of agreements between the governmental agencies, between the research organizations and the enterprises of the two countries, specifying the terms and the conditions of the co-operation projects of programs, ans also the procedure to be follow or other necessary provisions.

ART. 4

Co-operation and performance procedures

1. Co-operations between the two Parties has to be developed on a groung of the certain programs of action which shall stipulate the domains of co-operation, the definite activities and the manners to achieve them.

2. Development of the herein Protocol shall be coordinated by the appointed persons of the two Parties, who shall act as reliable connection means for their inland authorities, responsible in the same time to coordinate the development of the activities stipulated by the programs of action, under of the paragraph no. (1).

ART. 5

Mutual admittance

For all results obtained under the provisions of this Protocol, especially those regarding the trainings, drawing up materials, settling up activities through the SMEs, contribution of each Part shall be recognized each to the other, in relation to the national organizations, and to the international.

ART. 6

Amendaments

The herein Protocol shall be modified anytime, with the mutual agreement of the Parties. The amendaments shall to be concluded in a written form, as well as shall follow the procedure stipulated under the provision of the Article 8, paragraph (1).

ART. 7

Disputed issues

Any disputed issues arisen between the Parties regarding interpretation and exploitation of this Protocol, shall to be resolve by amiably agreements of mutual negotiations and consultations between the Parties.

ART. 8

Coming into force, duration, as well as ceasing the Protocol

1. The herein Protocol is coming into it's force at the date of receiving the last notification, which concern mutual informing the Parties regarding the fulfillment of the inland procedures necessary to avail the Protocol, the validity period of this Protocol is lasting for two years.

2. The validity of this Protocol shall be automatically extended with further two years periods.

3. Each Part is able to revoke the present Protocol, by preliminary written notification to the other Party, with of a minimum of 6 months before the expiring date.

4. The obligations between Parties shall remain valid even the co-operation Protocol is ceased, until the implementation of the programs of action, stipulated under the Article 4, paragraph (1) are fulfilled.

We, the undersigned, have being faithfully signed the hereinbefore Protocol,

Undersigned in Vienna, at the date of 19 of January 2004, in two original copies, in Romanian as well as in English language, both with an equal value.