The Romania-Italy Consolidated Strategic Partnership
Romania's president, Klaus Iohannis, is paying a visit to Italy, a visit which has an important economic component
Corina Cristea, 16.10.2018, 12:12
Based on very old historical and cultural links, as well as on the present social and human bonds, Romanian-Italian relations continue to develop at all levels, including the economic one, the centerpiece of the state visit which Romanias president, Klaus Iohannis, is paying to Rome these days. With an over 15.5-billion-euro estimated value of trade exchanges this year, Italy is Romanias second trade partner, ranking first in the chart of foreign investors in terms of the number of companies on the Romanian market. Experts estimate that that upward trend will be maintained in the next period, which was the mutual wish expressed during the top level talks Romanias president had with Italian officials. Klaus Iohannis:
“I have underscored that Romania is and remains a very attractive market; it is a country with an important potential and though we have a very large business community in Romania, we look forward to more investments and expect more business people to come and enrich our bilateral economic relationship.”
Romania and Italy are both NATO members and deem the Transatlantic relations as very important as Italys president Sergio Mattarella pointed out:
“I have thanked president Iohannis for Romanias contribution to the Sea Guardian operation, as regards safety and security in the Central Mediterranean area, as well as for Romanias contribution to the Naples hub as regards NATOs southern flank. We have tackled several issues, for instance the issue of the Western Balkans. Both Romania and Italy believe that it is very important for us to support dialogue between countries in this geographical area.”
Taking place against the backdrop of the celebration of the Centennial of the Great Union and of 10 years since Romanian-Italian relations were upgraded to the level of consolidated strategic partnership, the visit of Romanias president also focuses on the 1.2-million-strong Romanian community, the largest ethnic community in Italy and the largest Romanian community abroad. The Rome talks are also a good opportunity of spelling out Romanias priorities during its presidency of the EU Council, in the first half of 2019.
