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Context

• The defence cooperation agreement signed between India and Romania will enhance collaboration through the exchange of expertise and knowledge on subjects of mutual interest including co-development and co-production of military hardware.

A brief on India-Romania Relations

• India represents an important partner for Romania in the Indo-Pacific region and the EU Indo-Pacific strategy represents an opportunity to advance the cooperation between the EU and India.

Establishment of diplomatic relations

• Romania and India established diplomatic relations on the 14^thof December 1948. On the 15^th of November 1957 the bilateral diplomatic representation was elevated at embassy level. 

Significant political meetings

• Presidential level- In Romania: 1965, 1973, 1994 (Shankar Dayal Sharma).
• Prime Minister- In Romania: 1967, 1981 (Indira Gandhi).

Political framework

• Between the two ministries there is a regular consultation mechanism, at state secretary/foreign secretary and general director/joint secretary level.
• An Extended Partnership between Romania and India was signed on the 8^thof March 2013 in New Delhi, by the foreign ministers of the two states.
• The visits in 2018 of the vice-president of India, Venkaiah Naidu, in Romania and of the Romanian foreign minister, Teodor Melescanu, in India, celebrated 70 years of diplomatic relation and 5 years from the signing of the Extended Partnership.

Bilateral economic relation between Romania and India

• The total trade exchanges between Romania and India have been fluctuating over the last 5 years.

Millions of USD

	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020
TOTAL	713,2	542,1	495,5	505,66	641,84	755,43	665,78	533,726
Export	305.9	241,8	227,9	235,35	306,15	281,91	241,07	176,397
Import	407,3	300,3	267,6	270,31	335,69	473,52	424,71	357,329
Balance	-101,4	-58,5	-39,7	-34,96	-29,54	-191,61	-183,64	-180,93

• In 2020 the structure of the bilateral trade consists of the following main products: machinery and equipment, mechanical devices and accessories, plant and plant products, vehicles and accessories, automotive components, mineral products, optical products, metals, papers and cardboards, textiles, chemicals products etc. Imports - machinery and equipment, mechanical devices, stones and articles from stones, textiles, plants and plants products, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, mineral products, food products etc.

Cultural activities

• The legal framework is governed by the provisions of the Agreement on cultural relations between the Government of Popular Republic of Romania and the Government of the Republic of India, signed in 1957.
• The cultural programme for the current period (2021-2025) is in the last phase of negotiations between the two competent ministries.

 Education, Scholarships

• Beginning with 1992, the Indian government offered scholarships for the Romanian students for the Hindi language study, arts and international relations.
• The Romanian government offers yearly scholarships to Indian students, for various specializations. In 2021, 15 scholarships were offered, in various fields.

Romanian community

• In India there is a small Romanian community, of maximum 100 persons, mainly from marriages or temporary corporation contracts. 

PRACTICE QUESTION Q) India represents an important partner for Romania in the Indo-Pacific region and the EU Indo-Pacific strategy represents an opportunity to advance the cooperation between Romania and India. Discuss. (250 words)

https://epaper.thehindu.com/ccidist-ws/th/th_delhi/issues/30911/OPS/GTKB2GR0I.1+GPIB2GVVA.1.html