India–Romania partnership gains momentum
Shri Prasada’s official visit to Romania, hosted at the invitation of the Government of Romania, aimed to deepen bilateral economic relations and explore new areas of cooperation. Upon his arrival at Henri Coandă International Airport, he was received by top Romanian officials including Gabriel Bogdan Ștețco, Secretary of State, Ministry of Economy, Digitalization, Entrepreneurship and Tourism, and Sorin Mihai Toader, Managing Director of Foreign Trade at ARICE.
Focus on skilled mobility and employment
During a substantive meeting with Romania’s Minister of Labour, Family, Youth and Social Solidarity, H.E. Petre-Florin Manole, both sides discussed expanding collaboration in the field of skills-based mobility. Romania expressed readiness to accommodate around 30,000 skilled and aspirational Indian professionals annually, addressing its growing demand for about 100,000 non-EU workers each year.
The two Ministers agreed to jointly develop a safe, orderly, and responsible migration framework that ensures transparent recruitment, protection of worker rights, and standardised employment contracts. The initiative is expected to connect India’s expanding skilled workforce with Romania’s labour market needs, particularly in construction, manufacturing, IT, and services sectors.
India’s demographic advantage and global role
Highlighting India’s demographic strength, Shri Prasada noted that the nation’s median age of 29 and its billion-plus working-age population position it as a key driver of global growth. He emphasised that India, already hosting nearly 45% of the world’s global capability centres, continues to invest in frontier technologies and manufacturing, reinforcing its role as a trusted partner for both developed and developing economies.
Strengthening ties in education and innovation
The discussions also covered higher education, research, and cultural cooperation to strengthen people-to-people ties. Both sides agreed to promote exchanges among universities, think tanks, and research institutions encouraging innovation and talent circulation. These steps aim to nurture a future-ready workforce and promote knowledge partnerships between India and Romania.
Exploring social security and qualification recognition
To facilitate seamless worker integration, officials from both countries have been tasked with exploring mutual recognition of qualifications and certifications. They also discussed a potential Totalization Agreement to ensure social security benefits for Indian workers employed in Romania, thereby reducing double contributions and enhancing employment stability.
Path forward: Trade, technology, and talent
The meeting concluded with a commitment to build an integrated, resilient, and results-driven India–Romania partnership. Both sides agreed to activate key enablers across four pillars skills mobility, knowledge exchange, business engagement, and institutional cooperation. The roadmap will further boost trade, technology partnerships, and human capital exchange between the two nations.
