Newsletters
Türkiye and Romania are experiencing "magnificent convergence" across multiple sectors, from defense to healthcare tourism, Turkish Trade Minister Omer Bolat said during meetings in the Romanian capital this week.
The two NATO allies are on track to reach $13.5 billion in bilateral trade this year, having already surpassed $10 billion in the first nine months, Bolat announced during a visit to the Romania-Türkiye Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The countries have set an ambitious target of $20 billion in trade by 2028.
"There is an incredible closeness between Romania and Türkiye," Bolat said, noting that Romania now ranks sixth or seventh among Türkiye's European Union trading partners and first among Balkan nations.
The chamber, which has operated for 36 years, has helped facilitate expanding cooperation in transportation, manufacturing, services, agriculture and food products, tourism, healthcare, and aviation, according to the minister.
Turkish contractors have completed projects worth $15.5 billion in Romania, making it a significant market for Turkish construction firms. This year alone, Turkish contractors secured €7 billion in new projects in the country.
Bolat met with Doru Claudian Frunzulica, deputy head of Romania's Investment and Foreign Trade Agency, to discuss expanding cooperation in e-commerce, contracting projects, Turkish investments in Romania, banking and finance, service exports, healthcare tourism, defense industry collaboration, and transportation and logistics.
The two officials agreed to strengthen institutional frameworks through existing platforms, including the Joint Economic Commission and the Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO). The third round of Türkiye-Romania JETCO meetings will be hosted by Türkiye in the first half of 2026, they announced.
"Our determination to further develop our relations with Romania, one of the most dynamic and rising economies of Central and Eastern Europe, in all areas is complete," Bolat said in a statement on social media platform X.
Kursad Zorlu, deputy chairman of Türkiye's ruling AK Party and head of relations with Turkic states, accompanied Bolat on the visit. Speaking at the chamber, Zorlu emphasized the importance of cultural ties in sustaining trade partnerships.
"There is a community of approximately 60,000 people of Turkish descent in Romania," Zorlu said. "Together with Turkish citizens and our compatriots, it is possible to talk about a population exceeding 100,000."
Zorlu said Turkish institutions plan to collaborate on initiatives supporting the Turkish community in Romania, helping them maintain their culture while contributing to the country.
Türkiye's Bucharest Ambassador Ozgur Kivanc Altan and Romania-Türkiye Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairman Tamer Atalay also attended the meetings.
Bolat referenced Türkiye's expanding trade diplomacy during the visit, noting recent engagements with Portugal and South Africa. Portugal has prepared a $75 billion infrastructure project and invited Turkish businesspeople to participate, while South Africa has decided to strengthen ties with Türkiye after relations cooled during previous years, he said.
The Turkish officials are scheduled to attend the 17th GAP Oscars International Awards Ceremony during their visit to Romania.
2 min read
5 min read
1 min read
