New Trends in Competitiveness through Concentration and Specialization of Industrial Sectors. Case: Nord West Region of Romania

The key factor in determining economic growth, for the entry in a market full of strong competitive forces, is economic competitiveness. In addition, the development of competitive economic advantages must be a constant process, which takes into account European trends, and the process of globalization as a whole. The paper provides an analysis of competitiveness through concentration and specialization patterns in NW Region of Romania, and by data processing reveals the most important industrial sectors in this region .Conclusions point out that the increase in competitiveness should not be seen as a process of exploiting short-term advantages but as a process of building an economic structure based on capital investment and research -development-innovation processes. In other words, a medium and long term perspective should consider a knowledge-based development of economy. Sustainable economic growth and improving living standards of the population are determined by the development of economic competitiveness in the context of global challenges (globalization of the economy, opening of international markets, rapid technological change), challenges that must be turned into opportunities for the Romanian economy.