BUCHAREST : The Sri Lanka–Romania Business Forum, held recently in Bucharest, marked a significant step forward in economic diplomacy between the two countries. Organized by the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Romania, in collaboration with the National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka (NCCSL) and the Bucharest Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIB), the Forum brought together over 50 Romanian business leaders and a dynamic delegation of Sri Lankan entrepreneurs representing key sectors such as renewable energy, tourism, apparel, gems, and manpower.
Ambassador Madurika Joseph Weninger, in her address, presented a strategic overview of Sri Lanka–Romania relations. She reflected on longstanding historical ties—such as the transformation of Romanian railway carriages into Sri Lanka’s iconic observation trains—and highlighted key milestones, including the opening of Sri Lanka’s first resident Embassy in Bucharest in July, 2024. The Ambassador noted that the establishment of an Embassy has already enhanced high-level dialogue, trade facilitation, and consular services for Sri Lankan nationals in the region.
The Ambassador emphasized Sri Lanka’s position as a trusted South Asian trade partner and outsourcing destination, citing increasing exports, tourism growth, and strong people-to-people connections. “We want to build direct partnerships, based on trust and mutual benefits,” she stated, encouraging Romanian companies to explore opportunities in IT, green technology, wellness, and sustainable development.
CCIB President Iuliu Stocklosa described Bucharest as a strategic entry point for Sri Lankan businesses seeking access to the EU market. Vice President of the Romanian Agency for Investment and Foreign Trade, Doru Claudian Frunzulică echoed this sentiment, stressing the importance of expanding trade and investment ties between the two nations.
The delegation was led by Deputy President of NCCSL, Lakmal Fernando, whose leadership helped shape the mission’s focused engagement. Immediate Past President of NCCSL, Deepal Nelson also played a key role throughout the visit. In his remarks at the Forum, he reaffirmed the Chamber’s ongoing commitment to international business development and highlighted the need for long-term commercial partnerships built on mutual respect and shared objectives.
A separate networking reception hosted by the Embassy of Sri Lanka offered a more informal space for dialogue and business matchmaking, helping to further strengthen commercial and personal ties between participants.
The week-long visit also included targeted B2B meetings between Sri Lankan and Romanian companies across multiple sectors. These sessions generated several promising leads, reflecting growing mutual interest in deepening economic cooperation. With over 20,000 Sri Lankan workers already in Romania and strong interest in expanding business links, the Forum marked a confident step toward positioning Sri Lanka as a strategic partner in Europe.
