Trade, economic cooperation: There’s significant room for growth: Romanian envoy
ISLAMABAD: Romanian Ambassador to Pakistan Dr. Dan Stoenescu has said that there is significant room for growth in trade and economic cooperation between Romania and Pakistan.
Speaking at Meet the Press programme of National Press Club on Thursday, the Romanian ambassador acknowledged Pakistan-Romania annual trade currently stands at USD 156 million, saying that the Romanian Embassy is actively supporting business exchanges between the two countries.
The ambassador briefed the media persons about Romania’s foreign policy, relationship with Pakistan, European developments, and regional security issues, including the war in Ukraine and the situation in the Black Sea. He said a delegation from the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI) will visit Romania in December to explore tech, agricultural, and logistics opportunities in cities like Cluj and Iasi. A delegation from the Pakistan-Romania Business Council recently visited key Romanian trade hubs, including Bucharest, Constanta, and Brasov, the ambassador said.
Romania and Pakistan share a strong historical relationship spanning over 60 years. During the 1970s, thousands of Romanian specialists worked in Pakistan, and direct flights operated between Bucharest and Karachi until 1996, he added.
While current engagement isn’t at those historical levels, he said both countries are working to rebuild trade and cooperation in key sectors like renewable energy, IT, agriculture, and infrastructure. “We are advancing political dialogue bilaterally and through the EU, with plans for official delegation visits in early 2027”, he said.
The Karachi Port Authority is a key institution and the economic hub of Pakistan. “We want to build new shipping links and partner more closely between Romania and Pakistan. You might ask, “Why send goods to Constanta instead of Greece or Italy?” Because once cargo reaches Constanta, it can travel by river all the way into central Europe”, he maintained.
He said goods can be shipped directly from the Black Sea along the Danube River—which flows through Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Hungary, Austria, Slovakia, and Germany—and connect via the Rhine-Main canal network to the Port of Rotterdam. This makes Romania a primary gateway for Pakistani exports entering the European market.
Since the European Union is Pakistan’s largest export destination—benefiting greatly from the GSP Plus arrangement—European stability directly supports Pakistan’s economic health.
Since the fall of communism in 1989, he said that Romania’s economy has expanded significantly, with its GDP quadrupling following entry into the European Union and NATO. Romania continues to rely on these strong alliances, alongside its security partnership with the United States, to maintain regional stability and promote global trade.
The ambassador said that military cooperation is one of the most exciting areas of our long-standing relationship with Pakistan. “Our militaries have collaborated for decades, with frequent exchange visits between leaders, such as the Pakistani Air Force Chief visiting Romania”, he added. While the Chief of the Romanian Air Force plans to visit Pakistan, he is currently focused on security challenges at home, including Russian drones landing on Romanian and NATO territory, he maintained.
“Thanks to close cooperation between Pakistani authorities and the EU, illegal migration has dropped while legal, well-regulated labour mobility continues to grow alongside expanding partnerships in education and technology”, he said.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026