Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka Ali Sabry undertook an official visit to Romania from 15 to 18 July 2024, and met with the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister of Romania and other key officials in the Romanian government marking a milestone in the longstanding relations between the two countries.
On 17 July, Minister Sabry met with Prime Minister of Romania Ion-Marcel Ciolacu in Bucharest. Their discussions focused on cooperation among middle-income countries to address global crises. Prime Minister Ciolacu emphasized the importance of economic integration and praised the closely integrated Sri Lankan workforce in Romania for fostering a mutually beneficial partnership. Both leaders agreed to further consolidate bilateral relations in a number of specified sectors.
During his visit, Minister Sabry also held bilateral talks with Romanian Foreign Minister Luminiţa Odobescu on 16 July. These discussions were aimed at enhancing the partnership between the two countries, particularly in the context of Romania being an EU member nation. Minister Sabry highlighted Sri Lanka’s recent economic stabilization efforts and progress in reconciliation endeavors. Foreign Minister Odobescu discussed Romania’s development initiatives and the potential for mutually reinforcing engagements with third countries.
Key areas for bilateral cooperation were identified, including ports, shipping, logistics, cyber security, education, ICT, anti-corruption initiatives, disaster risk reduction, and civil protection. Special focus was given to streamlining and regulating foreign employment opportunities for Sri Lankans in Romania, with discussions on establishing a government-to-government mechanism for sending semi-skilled and skilled employees. Both sides exchanged views on regional and multilateral issues, including climate change, energy security, and reforms to the international financial architecture.
During his visit to Romania, Foreign Minister Sabry and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Romania Odobescu officially inaugurated the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Bucharest. The event was attended by a distinguished gathering of Romanian senior Government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, leading entrepreneurs, and Sri Lankan expatriates living in Romania.
During the official meeting, the signing of the First Programme of Cooperation in the fields of Education, Science, Culture, Media, Youth and Sports took place to implement the Cultural Cooperation Agreement which was signed in 1974 further enhancing the engagement between the two countries.
Foreign Minister Sabry also met Minister of Labour and Solidarity Protection of Romania Simona Bucura-Oprescu and discussed matters relating to the Sri Lankan workforce of over 40,000 living and working in Romania. Talks focused on expediting the recruitment process and providing orientation programmes for new Sri Lankan workers in Romania which is crucial for their integration into the local workforce. During the discussion it was revealed that there was a demand for Sri Lankan workers in sectors such as the hospitality industry, construction and infrastructure, caregivers and agriculture which indicates potential opportunities for collaboration and support in meeting the needs of both countries.
In a productive meeting between the President of Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Romania Mihai Daraban and Foreign Minister Sabry discussions centered on the mutual benefits of collaboration between the two nations. Both sides emphasized the potential for learning from each other and fostering cooperation, particularly in synergizing the operations of the Port of Colombo, ranked 22nd globally, with the Black Sea Port of Constanta. Both countries acknowledged the strategic significance of their ports in the central, eastern, and western European maritime routes to the Indian Ocean, offering an attractive proposition for potential investors in the green hydrogen sector.
The Chamber President expressed Romania's enthusiasm to engage with Sri Lanka, noting the successful partnerships with 171 Sri Lankan companies that are active shareholders in Romania. The collaboration between the two countries continues to flourish annually, reflecting a trend in increasing economic cooperation. He stated that the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Romania looks forward to further strengthening the ties with Sri Lanka and fostering a mutually beneficial partnership that will drive economic growth and innovation in both countries.
At a meeting with Minister Sabry and the Chairman of the Foreign Policy Committee of the Romanian Senate Titus Corlajean underscored the longstanding friendship between Sri Lanka and Romania. Both sides highlighted the positive trajectory of bilateral relations and emphasized the importance of boosting mutual contacts and parliamentary visits between the two countries. Minister Sabry commended the warm and friendly nature of both peoples, noting the harmonious relationship that can be further strengthened through increased interactions.
Additionally, Minister Sabry acknowledged Romania's significant achievements, including becoming the largest natural gas producer in the European Union and possessing rich reserves of copper. He highlighted the growing interest in many Asian countries in investing in Romania, underscoring the potential for enhanced economic cooperation between the two nations. The meetings reinforced the commitment of Sri Lanka and Romania to deepening their ties across various sectors, paving the way for increased collaboration and mutual benefit.
During the discussions with the President of the Senate of Romania Nicolae Ionel Cluca Foreign Minister Sabry requested Romania’s support for Sri Lanka at the EU level for the forthcoming Session of the UNHRC. He also focused on potential for developing cooperation in the fields of defense industry, nuclear energy, engineering, renewable energy and tourism during the meeting. Furthermore, Nicolae Cluca informed that the Education Ministry of Romania is actively pursuing bilateral projects aimed at enhancing educational ties. A key focus is to expand the number of scholarships available in fields such as Information Technology, Medicine, Music, Agriculture, Cybersecurity, and Climate Change. This initiative aims to facilitate knowledge exchange and create learning opportunities for students from both nations.
After successful meetings with key officials in Romania, Foreign Minister Sabry held fruitful discussions with the Sri Lanka Hon. Consul Marius-Daniel Stefnescu, and Romanian captains of industry exploring opportunities to enhance people-to-people contacts and boost tourism to Sri Lanka. The group expressed interest in organizing charter flights to facilitate travel to bring more tourists to Sri Lanka. Additionally, there was keen interest in organizing a business delegation to Sri Lanka before the year end in closely coordinating with the Chambers of Commerce of both countries to visit Sri Lanka, fostering stronger economic ties.
The first resident Ambassador-designate of Sri Lanka to Romania Madurika Joseph Weninger, Director General of Europe and North America Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka Shobini Gunasekara, and officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka and officers of the Sri Lanka Embassy in Bucharest were associated with Foreign Minister Ali Sabry’s official visit to Romania.
Embassy of Sri Lanka
Bucharest
22 July 2024
