Warsaw stock market 'symbol of Poland’s success': president
PR dla Zagranicy
Roberto Galea
07.10.2016 07:41
Polish President Andrzej Duda has taken part in a gala to celebrate the 25 years since the Warsaw Stock Exchange opened, praising the success of what is now one of the largest bourses in Europe.
President Duda at the event on Thursday. Photo: Grzegorz Jakubowski / KPRP
“Today the Warsaw Stock Exchange is fourth biggest in Europe, and clearly the largest in Central and Eastern Europe […] The Warsaw Stock Exchange is a symbol of the success of Poland’s transition [from communism],” Duda said during the event.
Opened in 1991 following Poland’s transition to a free market economy, the Warsaw Stock Exchange was located in the former headquarters of the Polish United Workers' Party, which had ruled Poland until 1989.
Initially just five companies were listed. Today there are almost 500 companies listed on the market which together employ over 776,000 people in Poland.
“The day when the first five companies were listed in this establishment […] was not only the day when capital markets were re-established, it was also an important symbolic day,” Duda said.
He added: “I believe that the Warsaw Stock Exchange has a bright future ahead.”
Meanwhile, the President of the Warsaw Stock Exchange, Małgorzata Zaleska, noted that the stock market is a useful place for Polish companies to raise capital, saying it is "the heart of the Polish economy".
During the event, an auction was held to raise money for a children’s charity. The stock market bell which was in use from 1991 until this year was sold at the auction. (sl/rg/pk)
Source: PAP