BUCHAREST (TIP): Ambassador of India to Romania and the Republic of Moldova, Dr. Manoj Kumar Mohapatra, undertook a series of official engagements across Romania, including Tulcea County, Cernavodă, Sulina, Dej, Câmpia Turzii, Turda, Sighișoara and Cluj-Napoca, with a view to strengthening India–Romania cooperation at the regional and local levels.
The engagements focused on expanding cooperation in energy, infrastructure, investment, trade, tourism, connectivity, education, technology, culture and people-to-people relations. The visits highlighted the diverse economic and cultural potential of Romania’s regions and explored opportunities for partnerships between Indian companies and Romanian regional authorities, municipalities, businesses, universities and local communities.
The regional outreach assumes particular significance in the context of the decision taken during the visit of the Hon’ble President of India Smt. Draupadi Murmu to Romania to work towards doubling bilateral trade between India and Romania over the next three years. It also contributes to strengthening the bilateral partnership ahead of the 80th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2028.
Tulcea County, Cernavodă and Sulina
In Tulcea, Ambassador Mohapatra met Mr. Horia Teodorescu, President of the Tulcea County Council, Vice Presidents Ms. Lavinia Vizauer and Mr. Iancu Naciadis, Ms. Mirela Furtună, Member of the Chamber of Deputies, Mr. George Șinghi, Deputy Mayor of Tulcea, and Mr. Eugen Terente, Prefect of Tulcea County. Discussions focused on Tulcea’s strategic location at the intersection of the Danube and the Black Sea and opportunities in infrastructure, logistics, tourism, investment and the blue economy. The Ambassador encouraged stronger links between Indian businesses and the region.
In Cernavodă, Ambassador Mohapatra met Mayor Mr. Liviu Cristea-Negoiță. Discussions covered the strategic importance of the city’s nuclear energy sector, infrastructure, technology and investment. India’s experience in the renewable energy and the potential for engagement by Indian companies and institutions were highlighted.
In Sulina, Ambassador Mohapatra met Mayor Ms. Maria Bălan and Deputy Mayor Mr. Laurențiu Praz. Discussions explored opportunities in sustainable tourism, maritime connectivity and the promotion of the Danube Delta’s natural and cultural heritage, including greater visibility of the region among Indian travelers.
Local Partnerships in Transylvania
During his visits to Dej, Câmpia Turzii, Turda and Sighișoara, Ambassador Mohapatra held meetings with Mayors Mr. Costan Morar, Mr. Dorin Nicolae Lojigan, Mr. Cristian Octavian Matei and Mr. Ioan-Iulian Sîrbu respectively, to explore opportunities for strengthening India–Romania cooperation at the grassroots municipal level. Discussions focused on trade, investment, tourism, local economic development and cooperation in emerging areas such as the green economy and recycling. The Ambassador highlighted the growing interest among Indian companies and investors in exploring opportunities in Romania and using the country as a gateway to the wider EU market. He noted that Indian investors would benefit from reliable local partners who could facilitate market entry, including assistance with local registration, marketing, product labelling and other market-related requirements, while helping Indian products and companies establish themselves in Romania and expand into European markets. In this context, the Ambassador proposed facilitating direct business-to-business and municipality-to-company meetings between Romanian local authorities/business communities and interested Indian companies, with a view to identifying concrete investment and commercial opportunities.
As part of this effort to develop practical and mutually beneficial partnerships, Ambassador Mohapatra invited the Mayors to visit India along with business representatives from their respective municipalities and meet Indian companies, industry associations and potential investors. The proposed visits would provide an opportunity for Romanian municipalities to present their investment potential, local economic ecosystems and specific projects directly to Indian businesses, while enabling Indian companies to identify suitable Romanian partners and explore opportunities for establishing operations and accessing the EU market. The Ambassador emphasized that stronger engagement between Indian companies and Romanian municipalities could create a two-way investment and trade partnership, bringing Indian capital, technology and business expertise together with Romanian local knowledge, market access and institutional support. Such grassroots-level linkages would complement the broader bilateral economic relationship and contribute to translating the objective of expanding India–Romania trade and investment into concrete partnerships across Romania’s regions.
Cluj-Napoca: Education, Investment and Culture
In Cluj-Napoca, Ambassador Mohapatra inaugurated the “Voice of India – Cluj Chapter” and the presentation of the Romania–India “bridge” initiative developed by Integral Partners. The initiative seeks to strengthen links in education, investment and culture, including by promoting Romanian universities among Indian students, facilitating economic partnerships and enhancing interaction between the Indian community and Romanian society.
The Ambassador welcomed initiatives that create regional platforms for India–Romania engagement and emphasized the importance of connecting universities, businesses, local authorities and communities.
The regional outreach underscores India’s commitment to translating the strong political momentum in India–Romania relations into concrete local-level partnerships, facilitating business-to-business linkages, promoting trade and investment, encouraging educational and cultural exchanges, and creating new opportunities for Indian and Romanian stakeholders across the country.
(Based on a Press Release issued by the Embassy of India in Bucharest)
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