The Chinese manufacturer Haier invested 65 million euros in the construction of the factory in Aricești Rahtivani, about an hour north of Bucharest, and received 25 million euros in state aid, which was gradually paid to the company. Haier representatives are now negotiating with the Romanian government to withdraw from the contract. The factory has fallen victim to optimization processes that Haier started in response to developments on the European market. The world leader in the appliance market tried to reduce operating costs last year and laid off about half of the original thousand employees in Romania. However, this was clearly not enough to save the plant. More than 400 people will lose their jobs by March of this year. The remaining 100 or so will work for Haier until the entire factory is completely dismantled. The equipment and machines will be used in another Haier industrial complex – which one, Haier did not specify. Since the end of the factory has a considerable impact on the labor market in its vicinity, employees will receive assistance from an employment agency in addition to severance pay, which should help them find alternative jobs