Nicosia, May 29: Indian Foreign Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar met with his Romanian counterpart, Oana Toiu, on Thursday during the informal Gymnich meeting of EU foreign ministers in Cyprus.
Following their meeting, Toiu took to social media platform X to express, “We are now laying the groundwork for both our economies to maximize the benefits of the future EU-India Free Trade Agreement, which has strong potential in sectors like defense, renewable energy, steel, automotive, fertilizers, and port infrastructure.”
She further noted, “I had a very productive discussion with my Indian counterpart Dr. S. Jaishankar during the Gymnich meeting; this was our fourth meeting.”
Toiu also highlighted that trade between Romania and India is projected to reach $1.2 billion by 2025, marking an increase of over 20% compared to 2024.
She stated, “After an eight-year hiatus, we have unblocked our Joint Economic Cooperation Commission, bringing real momentum back to our relationship, and investments are already accelerating.”
Both ministers are looking forward to a high-level visit to Romania later this year.
They also discussed developments in the Middle East, including energy security, connectivity, the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC), and freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
Toiu remarked, “Romania and India are committed to deepening the strategic aspects of our extended partnership.”
Earlier on Thursday, Jaishankar shared on X, “Today in Cyprus, I had a brief conversation with Poland’s Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, Romania’s Foreign Minister Oana Toiu, and the Netherlands’ Tom Berendsen.”
Romania is a member of the European Union, and in January, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the successful conclusion of negotiations on the India-EU FTA, describing it as the mother of all deals.
This agreement is expected to be implemented at some point in 2026, with hopes of bringing qualitative changes to strengthen relations between the two countries across various sectors.
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