Valcea County

       Valcea County lays in the central southern part of Romania; it stretches alongside the middle basin of river Olt, surrounded by Cozia Mountain in the east and Culmea Capatinii in the west.
       The climate is temperate-continental, with slight Mediterranean influences.
the county covers 5,765 sq. km - 2.4% of the total area of the country and has a population of 413.570 inhabitants;
       The capital of the county is Ramnicu Valcea Municipium, which lays at the confluence of Olt and Olanesti Rivers, at the bottom of Capela, Petrisor and Cetatuia hills.

• A considerable potential that strengthens the region's competitive edge;
  
  
• Highly qualified workforce;
  


• Tourist attraction;
  


• Efficient infrastructure;
  


• A dynamic economic location;
  


• Cultural landscape

       Local authorities are constituted in accordance with the Law of public administration and with the Law of local elections.
       Local government consists of a non-hierarchical two-tier structure:

       Upper tier - 41 counties
       Local tier -2,800 communes, 280 towns, and 86 Municipiums.

       Almost 60% belongs to the age groups considered productives(15-59 years for men and 15-54 years for women).
       Number of population: 413.570 habitants
Of which:
       161.755 in towns;
       251.815 in villages.

The evolution between 1966-2002

       Vâlcea County has        
       - 164 kilometres of railways,
       - 2,028 kilometres of public roads
of  which 550 km of national roads.
       There are 7  main national roads that cross the county. The most important is the European Road No. 81 , which connects Vâlcea County with Arges and Sibiu Counties .
       The county roads amount almost 1538.48 kilometers and include 389 bridges, with a total lenght of 10,135 metres.

       Natural gas supplies:
       9 localities, with 259.2 km of distribution pipe networks.

       Drinking water supplies:
       72 localities, of which 8 towns;
Total lengths of the the distribution pipes networks: 546.3 km; a regional drinking water supply from Bradisor source (over 50 km).

       The industrial  profile of the county is mainly based on upon
              Chemical Industry
              Food  and beverage Industry
              Oil, coal and salt extraction
              Wood processing
              Heavy industry
              Textiles
              Others

       Fruit tree growing and viticulture
Number of fruit trees:                      4,544,394
of which:
plum trees                                         3,096,547
apple trees                                        1,126,986
pear trees                                               84,682
Total fruit production:                           45,534 tons
of which -private sector:                       42,351 tons
Vineyards (total area);                           4,094 ha
Total grape production:                     229,893 tons
       The area of Valcea County has a potential and conditions for viticulture, the wines obtained here, being recognized,  appreciated  and reworded at European level of over 100 years.

                                         No. of schools          No. of students
                                                  732                           86,798
of which:
kindergartens:                          356                           12,618
primary schools:                       338                           46,873
high schools:                               23                           14,232
National colleges                         3                             4,700
Art colleges                                  1                             4,405
Faculties                                       9                             5,738

       Phare 2004 - 2006 Programme, Economic and Social Cohesion - Regional Infrastructure Development
       Project  "North Oltenia Conventions and Exhibitions Centre 
Amount : 7,467.000 euro, of which  Phare: 5,000,000 euro, National Fund : 1,667,000 euro 
       Project " Integrate Development of Baile Olanesti Spa"  
Amount : 3,369,358 euro, of which   Phare: 2,271,790 euro, National Fund : 757.263 euro
       Phare 2002 Programme- Modernization Fund for the Development of local public administration "
       16 projects for the development of the administration at local level in the localities of Valcea County: Rm. Valcea, Dragasani, Calimanesti, Horezu, Dragoesti, Fauresti, Francesti, Galicea, Glavile, Gradistea, Ladesti, Maciuca, Orlesti, Popesti, Stoilesti, Sirineasa.
Amount: 280,124 Euro
       Phare Ro/2003/005-551.01.02  Educational access for disadvantaged  groups
       "All different All equals " - Educational access for disadvantaged  groups from Valcea County.
Amount : 525,551 euro, of which  Phare 494,681 euro
       ISPA -   "Integrated waste management within Valcea Municipium- Ecological store house in Feteni"
Amount : 18,200,000 Euro, of which  ISPA funds: 11,040,000 Euro, State Budget  : 2,500,000 Euro
       ISPA -  Rehabilitation of water la  supply system, sewerage  system and of waste water treatment station from Rm . Valcea.
Amount : 31,500, 000 Euro, of which ISPA funds: 23,625,000 Euro