The reform of state-owned companies means that the Romanian government will start behaving as a responsible owner, Deputy Prime Minister Oana Gheorghiu said on Thursday.
She presented a report on the reform of state-owned companies.
"This reform of state-owned companies is a subject that has been talked about a lot in recent years, but for which very little or almost nothing has been done. The factual reality is that we have over 1,500 state-owned companies in Romania. Many of them have sustained historical losses of approximately RON 14 billion. I think there are 3, 4, 5 regional hospitals that we could have built with this money. The time has come to put an end to waste and inefficiency, to take the necessary measures to the benefit of Romania and Romanians, not for to benefit of smart alecks. The reform of state-owned companies means, essentially, that the Romanian government starts behaving as a responsible owner," Gheorghiu told a news at the Government House.
In other words, she added, the government must know what companies it owns, why it owns them, what the role of each company is, how much inaction costs us and what decision must be taken further.
"Some companies must be strengthened because they have an essential strategic role, others must be transformed or restructured, others must be integrated, and others must be closed in a disciplined manner because keeping them afloat in their current form no longer serves the public interest, the economy or the taxpayers," Gheorghiu said.
She added that the reform of state-owned companies requires more than changes in management or general measures.
"I am referring to the clear establishment of the role, to the discipline of ownership, to the ability of the government to make the appropriate decisions for each case. So, for the first time, Romania has this balance sheet structured on unitary criteria of a pilot portfolio of 22 state-owned companies."
The briefing note on the reform of state-owned enterprises unveiled at Thursday's meeting of the government will be put up for adoption next week in the form of a memorandum.
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