Romanian Manufacturing Industry: Quo Vadis?

This paper has two key objectives. The first is to reconsider the evolution of the Romanian manufacturing industry from the historical perspective of the last two decades. The second is to forecast changes to Romanian industrial structures as a result of globalisation, the European integration of the Romanian industry, the industrial policies and strategies being adopted and, not least, the financial and economic crisis, which is estimated to be the most severe since the Second World War.This complex process, involving every component of the socio-economic system, requires adequate policies, strategies and tools to manage the potential negative phenomena which may arise. The design of active industrial policies for targeted restructuring which are capable of achieving the gradual elimination of existing structural distortions is a complex problem with any number of technological, economic and social variables and implications. Furthermore, such industrial policy tools would also need to be aimed at restarting industrial production and, in the longer term, increasing the productivity and competitiveness of Romanian industry in both domestic and external markets. Having evaluated the current status of the Romanian manufacturing industry and identified the existing foundations for its future development, this paper concludes by suggesting possible scenarios for the evolution of the Romanian manufacturing industry over the course of the next decade.