India-Romania Trade Forum Highlights

Summary of India-Romania Business Forum Address by President Droupadi Murmu

Date and Event: President Droupadi Murmu addressed the India-Romania Business Forum in Bucharest on July 24, 2026.

Key Highlights:

1. Strategic Partnership:

   • Romania is positioned as a natural and significant partner for India due to its strategic location, skilled workforce, and strong integration with the European Union.
   • Romania serves as a crucial investment hub and gateway to the larger European market.

2. Economic Cooperation:

   • Emphasis on trade and economic cooperation as a cornerstone of contemporary India-EU partnerships.
   • The India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) aims to deepen trade integration, accelerate investment flows, and build robust supply chains, with a combined market of nearly 2 billion people and a joint economy of about $25 trillion.

3. Development Goals:

   • India's objective of becoming a developed nation by 2047, marking 100 years of independence.
   • The focus on international partnerships, investment, and technology cooperation as avenues for achieving developmental goals.

4. Business Environment:

   • Efforts to create a transparent, reliable, and investor-friendly business environment through initiatives like Production-Linked Incentives (PLI) and simplification of tax systems.

5. Sectoral Collaborations:

   • Potential for collaboration in energy security and green transition, particularly in the chemical and fertilizer sectors.
   • Opportunities for joint efforts in transportation and logistics, including ports, railways, highways, and multimodal transport.
   • Strengthening cooperation in pharmaceuticals, healthcare, agriculture, and food processing sectors.

6. Digital Infrastructure and Innovation:

   • Highlighting India's globally recognized digital public infrastructure and rapidly growing startup ecosystem.
   • Collaboration in advanced technologies, software engineering, cyber-security, and research.

7. Future Opportunities:

   • Encouragement for Romanian companies to actively participate in India’s developmental journey.
   • Potential for creating robust supply chains, generating employment, and fostering innovation for long-term prosperity.

Conclusion:

President Murmu urged business communities from both nations to leverage these new opportunities for successful commercial partnerships, aiming for mutual benefits and sustainable growth. The address underscored the importance of international collaboration in achieving economic development and enhancing bilateral relations between India and Romania.