Romania urged to open mission in Bangladesh

Bangladesh has urged Romanian entrepreneurs to invest in Bangladesh as the latter enjoy special trade privileges in European markets.

According to a press release, Bangladesh Ambassador to Romania Shahnaz Gazi expressed this view while speaking at a 'View Exchange Meeting' organised by the Romania-Bangladesh Parliamentary Friendship Group. 
Held at the Palace of Parliament in Bucharest—one of the world's largest and most imposing legislative buildings—the meeting served as a platform for deepening bilateral engagement between the two nations.

Turning to the economic domain, Ambassador Shahnaz Gazi underscored Bangladesh's readiness to expand its trade footprint in Romania. She invited Romanian businesses to explore the competitive advantages of Bangladeshi exports, such as readymade garments, leather goods, jute products, and agricultural produce. At the same time, she noted the increasing demand in Bangladesh for quality automobiles and suggested that Romania's Dacia vehicles could find a promising market in her country.

Ambassador Shahnaz Gazi, in response, highlighted the long-standing goodwill between the people of Bangladesh and Romania. She emphasised the immense potential for elevating bilateral ties through a comprehensive and forward-looking agenda. Stressing the need for deeper diplomatic engagement, she advocated establishing a Romanian diplomatic or consular Mission in Dhaka—an act of reciprocity that would symbolise mutual commitment and enhance diplomatic coordination and people-to-people connectivity.

According to the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) data, Bangladesh exported goods worth 140 million US dollars (142699501 US dollars) to Romania during the 2023-24 fiscal year and 203 million US dollars (203159843.9 US dollars ) during the July-April period of the 2024-25 fiscal year. 
As economic and social engagement with Romania has increased over the years, Ambassador Shahnaz Gazi said an increasing number of Bangladeshi students are showing deep interest in pursuing higher studies in the East European country.

As Romania has no mission in Dhaka, students and workers must visit the Romanian mission in New Delhi to get a visa for the Eastern European country. However, as the Dhaka-New Delhi relations are going through a rough patch after the departure of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, getting an Indian visa is going very tough. Against this backdrop, Romania should consider setting up a mission or a consular service in Dhaka to help get the visa easily. In the typical situation, a worker has to visit New Delhi twice to get a Romanian visa, which is also expensive and time-consuming, so the meeting was held. The cost of migration will also come down, provided the Romanian government even sets up a consular service in Dhaka.     

The Ambassador also strongly emphasised the role of high-level official visits in strengthening political relations. She spoke of the importance of exchanges between ministers and parliamentarians, which could help forge a more profound understanding and foster collaboration on shared regional and global challenges.

The Ambassador raised two critical issues on the practical side of mobility and consular cooperation. She urged Romanian authorities to consider recognising Bangladeshi driving licenses, easing everyday life for Bangladeshi residents. Furthermore, she proposed extending the post-graduation residence permits for Bangladeshi students in Romania from nine months to two years, allowing graduates more time to seek meaningful opportunities and contribute to the local economy.
The response from the Romanian parliamentarians was notably positive and receptive. Several members expressed particular interest in the cultural and economic proposals. They supported opening a Romanian consulate in Bangladesh to serve the growing bilateral relationship more effectively.
Groza Călin Florin, a Member of the Romanian Parliament and President of the Friendship Group with Bangladesh, graciously hosted the event. 
A steadfast friend of Bangladesh and a passionate supporter of parliamentary diplomacy, Groza was accompanied by nine other esteemed members of the Romanian legislature. Their warm reception of Ambassador Gazi set a tone of mutual respect, enthusiasm, and openness to collaboration.

In his welcoming remarks,  Groza Călin Florin expressed heartfelt appreciation for the Ambassador's presence and underlined the group's sincere intent to build stronger bridges between Romania and Bangladesh. He conveyed the Romanian side's keen interest in exploring avenues for greater cooperation in trade, tourism, immigration, and labour mobility. Particularly noteworthy was the suggestion to initiate the export of raw wool from Romania to Bangladesh for local processing, thereby opening a new dimension of industrial cooperation that could benefit both countries.
Culture and tourism also featured prominently in the discussions. Ambassador Gazi promoted cross-cultural understanding and people-to-people ties through art, music, and heritage exchange. She noted that the embassy would welcome Romanian initiatives and even proposed hosting the first Asian branch of the Romanian Cultural Institute in Dhaka. This move would mark a historic milestone in bilateral cultural relations.

As the discussions drew close, Ambassador Gazi introduced a light-hearted yet symbolic idea—a "Friendship Football Match" between Romanian players and a select Bangladeshi team. The Romanian Parliamentarians received the proposal enthusiastically and assured her of their intention to forward the idea to the Romanian Football Federation for consideration.

The meeting concluded on a cordial and hopeful note. Both sides affirmed their commitment to nurturing a dynamic, multifaceted partnership rooted in mutual respect and shared values.