BUCHAREST (TIP): Mr. Jitin Prasada, the Hon’ble Minister of State for Commerce and Industry of India, visited Romania from 3-6 November 2025 at the invitation of Mr. Radu-Dinel Miruță, Hon’ble Minister of Economy, Government of Romania, to co-chair the 19th Session of the India-Romania Joint Committee for Economic Cooperation (JCEC). The visit formed an important component of India’s ongoing engagement with Central and Eastern Europe and reaffirmed the shared commitment of both countries to strengthening bilateral economic cooperation across a broad spectrum of sectors.
During the visit, the Hon’ble Minister held wide-ranging discussions with senior members of the Romanian Government. His programme included meetings with the Ministers for Economy, Digitalization, Entrepreneurship and Tourism; Energy; Labour, Family, Youth and Social Solidarity; Investment and European Projects; and Foreign Affairs. He also interacted with Secretaries of State responsible for Transport, Finance and Agriculture. In addition, Shri Prasada met with the President, Prefect and Mayor of Brașov, underscoring the mutual interest in deepening cooperation not only at the central level but also with regional administrations.
The Minister was accompanied by a high-level business delegation comprising 20 prominent Indian companies led by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). Their participation added significant depth to the discussions on widening bilateral trade and investment linkages.
A key result of the visit was the signing of the Protocol for the 19th JCEC session, co-signed by Mr. Prasada and Mr. Miruță, Romanian Minister of Economy, Digitalization, Entrepreneurship and Tourism. This Protocol offers a broad plan to improve cooperation in trade, investment, industrial partnerships, and technology exchange. Both countries emphasized their strong support for quickly finalizing the India–EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA), recognizing it as a game-changer for trade between India, Romania, and the wider region. Romania expressed its intention to hire skilled Indian workers to fill labor shortages in important sectors. It also showed eagerness to finalize the Mobility Partnership Agreement and Social Security Agreement soon. These agreements would help workers and professionals move between the two countries in a smooth and mutually beneficial way.
The talks during the JCEC and other meetings covered a wide range of cooperation areas. Both sides agreed to create a senior official-level group to keep regular talks on non-tariff barriers and to increase regulatory clarity for businesses, which is important for smoother trade. Romania showed interest in India’s successful digital public infrastructure systems, including digital identity platforms, financial inclusion tools, and government service delivery models. Both sides pointed out opportunities for Indian companies to take part in Romanian and EU-backed projects in infrastructure, energy, and industry. Sectors targeted for closer cooperation included steel production, urban and transport infrastructure, renewable and conventional energy sources, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, information technology, and public-private partnership (PPP) development models. Romania welcomed the idea of India using it as a strategic gateway for entering the European Union market.
As part of his visit, Shri Prasada spoke at two business forums, held in Bucharest and Brașov, organized with FICCI and leading Romanian chambers of commerce. These forums created important platforms for business-to-business meetings where companies from both countries could explore new partnerships, joint ventures, and discuss market access, technology transfer, and investment challenges. The high level of participation showed that business communities in both countries are eager to build long-term commercial relationships.
Hon’ble Minister also spent time with members of the Indian community and friends of India in Romania. He thanked them for helping to strengthen cultural ties and positively contributing to Romania’s social and economic life. Minister Prasada took part in a special event marking the 150th anniversary of “Vande Mataram”, celebrating shared cultural values and the strong bonds of the Indian diaspora.
Overall, this visit gave new momentum to the friendly and long-standing relationship between India and Romania. Both countries re-affirmed their commitment to broadening and deepening their cooperation in a steady and future-focused way. They agreed to keep high-level exchanges regular, set up organized follow-up systems, and ensure timely action on all initiatives decided through the JCEC Protocol.
The successful visit is expected to pave the way for new opportunities in economic collaboration, foster greater business-to-business linkages, and contribute significantly to elevating the India–Romania partnership to a higher trajectory.
