Mugur Isarescu, governor of the National Bank of Romania, speaks to Kit Gillet about the pandemic, key recent developments for Romania’s banking sector and the outlook for the period ahead.

For eastern European economies like Romania, the unsettled times continue. The pandemic took hit economic growth and now the war in nearby Ukraine, coupled with high energy prices and rising inflation, could lead to renewed challenges. 

Last year was the most profitable year on record for Romanian banks, but this year is set to be different.

Having strengthened their balance sheets, Romanian banks are hopeful they can withstand stresses such as an economic slowdown and government plans over tax and pensions. 

Despite strong GDP growth and increased market confidence, Romania still has economic improvements to make before it is in any shape to join the euro. Nick Kochan reports.

Mugur Isarescu, governor of the National Bank of Romania, talks to Nick Kochan about boosting exports and bringing down levels of non-performing loans.

In the aftermath of the global financial crisis, populist politicians in central and eastern Europe realised that struggling homeowners could be their new powerbase. Lenders are facing a potential onslaught of unwelcome government intervention in the banking sector, though there could be a silver lining. Stefanie Linhardt reports.

With only a few months to go before the country’s elections, Romanian minister of public finance Anca Dana Dragu talks to Stefanie Linhardt about her ministry’s tax and infrastructure plans.

Bucharest Stock Exchange lacks only liquidity to move from 'frontier' to 'emerging' market status. And, as Stefanie Linhardt discovers, a partnership with the pan-south-eastern European trading platform SEE Link could help the Romanian bourse get there.