Nicosia, May 28: India’s External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar met with his Romanian counterpart, Oana Toiu, on Thursday during the informal Gymnich meeting of European Union foreign ministers in Cyprus.
Following the meeting, Romanian Foreign Minister Oana Toiu shared on social media that they are preparing the groundwork for both economies to benefit from the future EU-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA), highlighting strong potential in sectors such as defense, renewable energy, steel, automotive, fertilizers, and port infrastructure.
Toiu noted, “We had a very good discussion with my Indian counterpart Dr. S. Jaishankar during the Gymnich meeting, marking our fourth meeting.”
She also mentioned that trade between Romania and India is projected to reach $1.2 billion by 2025, reflecting an increase of over 20% compared to 2024.
“After unblocking our joint economic cooperation commission following an eight-year hiatus, we have brought real momentum back to our relationship, and investment is already accelerating,” she added.
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 emphasized, “Romania and India are committed to deepening the strategic aspects of our extended partnership.”
Earlier on Thursday, Jaishankar tweeted about a brief conversation he had in Cyprus with Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, Romanian Foreign Minister Oana Toiu, and Tom Berendsen from the Netherlands.
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.
The agreement is expected to come into effect at some point in 2026, with hopes of significantly enhancing the overall relationship between the two countries across various sectors.