India and Romania on Thursday agreed to double trade over the next three years and strengthen cooperation in defence, among other key areas of bilateral partnership.

The agreement came after President Droupadi Murmu, who is on a state visit to Romania, held productive and forward-looking discussions covering all major dimensions of bilateral ties with her Romanian counterpart Nicusor Dan.

“We reviewed the progress made in recent years and agreed to further deepen cooperation across areas of priority for our two countries,” Murmu said.

Asserting that economic cooperation remains an important pillar of partnership, she said both countries agreed to promote trade and investment, strengthen resilient supply chains, and encourage closer collaboration between the business communities.

“We also agreed to work towards doubling our bilateral trade over the next three years,” the president said.

Murmu said defence cooperation remains another important pillar of our partnership.

“We agreed to strengthen collaboration through regular exchanges, training, capacity building, and closer engagement between the defence industries of our two countries,” the president said in a press statement.

Education, culture and people-to-people contacts remain the foundation of India-Romania relations, Murmu said, and mentioned the signing of three important agreements in these areas.

“We will expand joint research and development under the Programme of Cooperation in Science and Technology,” she said.

An Indian Studies Chair is being established at the University of Bucharest with the support of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), the president said.

“This initiative will further strengthen mutual understanding of the cultures and societies of our two countries. Through the Memorandum of Understanding signed today, we will also enhance our cooperation in the field of sports,” Murmu said.

Emphasising that Romania is an important partner for India within the European Union, she said that the conclusion of the India–EU Free Trade Agreement in January this year will open unprecedented opportunities for our industries and skilled professionals.

The two countries also agreed to expand cooperation in sectors such as manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, renewable energy, green hydrogen, agricultural products and fertilisers, science and technology, digital public infrastructure, and Artificial Intelligence by leveraging the complementary strengths of our two economies, Murmu said.

The president said that the Government of India has decided to double the number of training opportunities for Romania under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Programme.

“These will include courses in Artificial Intelligence. Our Foreign Service Institute has also offered training opportunities to Romanian diplomats to participate in its forthcoming Professional Course for Foreign Diplomats, which will include specialised modules on Artificial Intelligence and Cyber Diplomacy,” she said.

Murmu said India and Romania continue to cooperate under the International Solar Alliance, of which Romania is a member.

She welcomed Romania's intention to join the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) and the Global Biofuels Alliance (GBA).

As India and Romania prepare to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2028, “we have agreed to commemorate the occasion as the ‘India–Romania Year of Innovation’,” Murmu said.

Both presidents also exchanged views on regional and global developments.

“We reaffirmed our shared commitment to peace, dialogue and respect for international law in addressing common global challenges,” she said.

President Murmu on Thursday arrived here on the last leg of her three-nation European tour, with a focus on expanding bilateral ties.

It is the first visit by an Indian head of state to Romania in more than three decades.

President Murmu was warmly received by Oana-Silvia Țoiu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Romania at the airport, her office said in a social media post.

Later, she was given a warm ceremonial guard of honour at the Cotrocemi Palace — the official residence of the Romanian President— where she was received by Dan.

The visit marks an important milestone in further strengthening the longstanding and multifaceted partnership between India and Romania, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a post on X.