Romania Urged to Open Dhaka Mission as Trade Surges

Bangladesh has called on Romania to establish a diplomatic or consular mission in Dhaka, citing growing trade ties and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.

The proposal was made by Bangladesh Ambassador to Romania, Shahnaz Gazi, during a view exchange meeting organised by the Romania-Bangladesh Parliamentary Friendship Group at the Palace of Parliament in Bucharest.

Ambassador Gazi highlighted Bangladesh’s increasing exports to Romania—rising from $140 million in FY 2023-24 to over $203 million in just the first 10 months of FY 2024-25—as evidence of deepening economic relations. Key exports include readymade garments, leather, jute goods, and agricultural products. She also pointed to Bangladesh’s interest in importing Romanian automobiles, especially Dacia vehicles.

The ambassador invited Romanian entrepreneurs to invest in Bangladesh, stressing that the country enjoys preferential access to European markets, offering a strategic advantage for investors.

Citing long-standing goodwill and growing demand for academic and labour mobility, Ambassador Gazi urged Romania to open a consular service in Dhaka. Currently, Bangladeshi students and workers must travel to New Delhi for visas—a costly and time-consuming process made more difficult by current diplomatic tensions between Bangladesh and India.

“Even a consular office in Dhaka would ease the visa process, lower migration costs, and support rising demand from students and workers,” she said.

Ambassador Gazi also called for mutual recognition of driving licenses and proposed extending the post-graduation residence permit for Bangladeshi students in Romania from nine months to two years to help them integrate and contribute to the Romanian economy.

She further underscored the importance of high-level exchanges between ministers and parliamentarians to foster deeper cooperation, especially on global and regional challenges.

The Romanian side responded warmly. Groza Călin Florin, President of the Parliamentary Friendship Group with Bangladesh, and nine fellow MPs praised the ambassador's proposals. They showed particular interest in cultural, trade, and labour collaboration, including a suggestion to export raw wool to Bangladesh for processing.

Ambassador Gazi also proposed launching the first Asian branch of the Romanian Cultural Institute in Dhaka to enhance cultural ties. In a symbolic gesture, she suggested organising a “Friendship Football Match” between Romanian and Bangladeshi teams—a proposal that was enthusiastically received.

The meeting concluded with both sides reaffirming their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations through diplomatic, economic, cultural, and educational cooperation.