Key Details
Visit: First State Visit by an Indian President to Romania in over three decades.
Trade target: India and Romania aim to double bilateral trade within the next three years, supported by progress on the India–EU Free Trade Agreement.
Innovation: The two countries will celebrate 2028 as the India–Romania Year of Innovation, marking 80 years of diplomatic relations.
Research: A Science and Technology Cooperation Programme (2026–2029) was signed to promote joint research across engineering, natural sciences, healthcare and agriculture.
Defence: Cooperation will expand in defence manufacturing, aerospace, drones, cyber security and maritime security through co-development and co-production.
Skilled mobility: Both sides are working towards concluding a Mobility Partnership Agreement to facilitate the movement of skilled professionals.
Digital cooperation: India invited Romania to explore adoption of the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) to support trade and tourism.
Capacity building: India announced the doubling of ITEC training slots for Romania, including specialised Artificial Intelligence programmes.
Multilateral engagement: Romania was invited to join the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) and the Global Biofuels Alliance.
The State Visit Marks a New Phase in India–Romania Relations
During the President of India's State Visit to Romania, the two countries agreed on a roadmap to expand bilateral cooperation beyond traditional diplomatic and commercial engagement towards innovation, strategic technologies, defence manufacturing and skilled mobility. The discussions position Romania as an increasingly important partner in India's engagement with Central and Eastern Europe while aligning bilateral cooperation with broader India–EU economic and technology partnerships.
Innovation Is Becoming the Anchor of Bilateral Cooperation
The visit places innovation at the centre of the bilateral relationship by declaring 2028 as the India–Romania Year of Innovation, coinciding with the 80th anniversary of diplomatic relations. Alongside this, the newly signed Science and Technology Cooperation Programme (2026–2029) establishes a structured framework for collaborative research across engineering, healthcare, agriculture and the natural sciences.
The emphasis on universities, research institutions, startups and industrial collaboration signals a shift from project-based cooperation towards longer-term knowledge partnerships capable of supporting emerging technologies and innovation ecosystems.
Economic, Strategic and Digital Cooperation Are Expanding Together
The two countries agreed to pursue the ambitious goal of doubling bilateral trade within three years while advancing negotiations on a Mobility Partnership Agreement to facilitate the movement of skilled professionals.
Defence cooperation will expand through industrial collaboration in aerospace, drones, cyber security and maritime security, reflecting growing convergence in strategic capabilities. At the same time, India proposed extending digital cooperation by encouraging Romania to explore adoption of the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and announced additional ITEC training programmes focused on Artificial Intelligence, reinforcing India's growing role in digital capacity building.
Romania's location on the Black Sea and its position within the European Union further enhance its importance as a gateway for India's expanding economic and strategic engagement with Europe.
Policy Relevance
Technology Diplomacy: The partnership demonstrates how innovation, research collaboration and digital public infrastructure are becoming central instruments of India's foreign policy.
European Engagement: Romania strengthens India's strategic presence in Central and Eastern Europe while complementing broader India–EU economic and technology cooperation.
Skilled Workforce Mobility: The proposed Mobility Partnership Agreement could expand opportunities for Indian professionals while supporting Romania's workforce requirements.
Strategic Industries: Cooperation in defence manufacturing, aerospace, drones and cyber security supports India's objectives of defence industrial collaboration and technological capability building.
Digital Public Infrastructure: India's proposal to extend UPI internationally and expand AI-focused capacity building reflects the growing global role of India's digital governance platforms.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders: How can India use innovation-led partnerships with European countries such as Romania to deepen trade, technology collaboration and strategic engagement while supporting its broader Indo-European economic objectives?
Follow the Full Briefing Here: President's State Visit to Romania