On June 23, 1995, a handful of people were feeling the fervor of the inauguration of the Bucharest Stock Exchange, after almost half of century of communist regime in Romania. 15 years on, for some of them, memories flutter back into their minds.

Memories of joint efforts

In 1992, the National Bank of Romania, Ministry of Finance and Romanian Investment Institute (headed by George Constantin Paunescu) laid the groundwork for the establishment of the stock market in Romania. An act of bravery for a country that was still haunted by the spectre of communism.

However, the enthusiasm at the beginning of the game, coupled with the challenge of laying the brick on a capitalist institution and the desire to create a regional stock exchange hub helped them overcome all drawbacks.

But the Romanian stock market is nothing like its founders were imagining it 15 years ago.

Political interventions, coupled with the exclusion of the privatization and financing projects as well as entrepreneurs’ focus on their own businesses have put a crimp on the development of the stock market as it was planned.

The main regrets of BSE founders are related to the fact that the stock market hasn’t grown into a regional stock exchange hub as they were seeing it 15 years ago, but stagnated at a yet infant level. But they are satisfied for their success in building a politically-unbiased temple of capitalism in a politically-biased economy.

After a financial crisis that showed Romanian market is still at its infancy and lacks substance, the easiest thing to do is point fingers. Many forget that in 1995, after three years of joint efforts, on June 23, the Bucharest Stock Exchange was officially ringing its opening bell for the first time.

First steps to the building of a temple of capitalism

The persons involved in the establishment of the Bu