Over 1,200 civil servants from five regions of the country have completed the national training program in sustainable development, coordinated by Goldbach Consulting, part of the Goldbach Group. Running from January to September 2025, the project is one of the most extensive professional training programs for public administration in Romania, carried out for the General Secretariat of the Government, through the Department for Sustainable Development, with the support of the University of Bucharest and Ascendis Consulting. The project had a total value of 5.3 million lei, fully funded by the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), and took place in five development regions: North-West, Centre, North-East, South-West Oltenia and West.

“For us, sustainable development is not just a concept, but a shared responsibility. Through this
program, we have managed to bring together people from the public administration who have
chosen to invest in their own training in order to bring about real change in the communities in
which we live. The graduates are proof that Romania has the human resources necessary to
build a more balanced and responsible future,” says Celestina Dumitrescu, General Manager of
Goldbach Consulting.

Participants in the program acquired applied skills that can transform the way public
administration interacts with citizens and plans local policies. Trainees learned to integrate
sustainability principles into public strategies and decisions, communicate more effectively with
communities, and actively involve them in the development process. They were also trained to
assess the real impact of measures on the environment, economy, and society and to identify
concrete solutions for reducing inequalities, thus building projects that bring sustainable
benefits to the people they represent. The program ended with regional celebration events for
each area of implementation.

A national program for sustainable development
The training program was implemented by Goldbach Consulting in partnership with the
University of Bucharest and Ascendis Consulting. The courses, each lasting eight weeks, combined theoretical sessions and practical workshops, organized both in person and online.
Participants were civil servants or contract staff from local, regional, and central government
who chose to invest in their own training and in the future of the communities they represent.

The courses were designed to be practical, so that participants could learn how to bring
sustainability into local and regional public policies, communicate better with citizens, and
assess the real impact of decisions on the environment, the economy, and the community. The
program was aligned with the Sustainable Development Expert occupational standard (COR
242232).

Over the past five years, Goldbach Consulting has attracted over €14 million in more than 40
projects in the field of non-reimbursable funds through various financing programs—POCU,
POR, POC, POIM, PNDR, POAT, Norwegian Funds, and PNRR.

Goldbach Group, strategic investments in people, communities, and sustainability
The sustainable development expert training program is an essential part of the Goldbach
Group’s vision, which integrates ESG principles into all its business lines. The group brings
together eight companies—Goldbach Consulting, K2 Retail Properties, K2 Assets, Goldbach
Construct, Goldbach Development, Goldbach Design & Build, K2 Design Lab, and Goldbach
Energy—which actively contribute to Romania’s economic and social development through
innovative, sustainable, and people-oriented projects.

“We believe that sustainability is not just about buildings or infrastructure, but about people.
And training these experts in sustainable development is an investment in Romania’s future. As
a group, we aim to continue to bring added value to communities through integrated
projects—from urban regeneration and commercial infrastructure to green energy and
professional training—because only through collaboration and vision can we build a resilient
society,” said Florentin Avădanei, Founder & Co-CEO of Goldbach Group.

Through its activities, Goldbach Group supports the modernization of Romania’s commercial
and logistics infrastructure, the attraction of European funds, the creation of local jobs, as well
as the production of renewable energy and the promotion of responsible business models.

About Goldbach Consulting
SMART Integration, founded 15 years ago, is the first of the eight companies in the Goldbach Group, playing a crucial role in its creation and development. Drawing on internal expertise in various fields, in 2024, SMART Integration’s activities were taken over by Goldbach Consulting, which continues the projects implemented by SMART Integration, offering a full range of services, including technical support, business development consulting, training, communication and event organization, studies and strategies, as well as solutions for sustainable development.

About Goldbach Group
Goldbach Group is a holding company that brings together companies with the aim of providing
innovative and sustainable solutions in their fields of activity. The group’s mission is to build resilient communities and contribute to the long-term development of society. The Goldbach Group’s approach is anchored in ESG principles, with the aim that each project benefits people, the environment, and our shared future. More details are available at www.goldbachgroup.ro.