Romania's Economy: Contrasting performances in the state-owned enterprise sector
The Deputy Governor of the National Bank of Romania (BNR) recently drew attention to an unusual situation in the national economy. He described the state-owned enterprise sector as having "two speeds," highlighting the major differences in efficiency between various entities under state control.
According to the BNR analysis, there is a small group of ten state-owned companies that manage to achieve remarkable financial results. They even outperform many firms in the private sector, demonstrating that efficient management can bring considerable profits in strategic sectors such as energy or transport.
On the other hand, the rest of the state-owned companies face constant economic difficulties. These entities require subsidies or recovery measures to remain functional, which puts additional pressure on the public budget. This discrepancy creates an imbalance in the Romanian economy, affecting the overall competitiveness of the market.
Experts emphasize that the success of the ten high-performing companies should serve as a model for the rest of the public sector. Implementing better management strategies and digitizing processes are considered essential solutions to reduce the gap between state-owned and private companies.
In conclusion, the situation presented by the BNR highlights the need for a profound reform in how state resources are managed. The long-term goal is for all public companies to become sustainable, thereby contributing to more stable and balanced economic growth for Romania.