Romania Reaffirms Commitment to Deepening Science and Technology Ties with Pakistan
Islamabad, The Gulf Observer: Ambassador of Romania to Pakistan, H.E. Dan Stoenescu, has reiterated Romania’s commitment to enhancing bilateral cooperation with Pakistan in the fields of science, technology, education, and innovation. The affirmation came during a meeting with the Honourable Federal Minister for Science and Technology, Khalid Hussain Magsi, in Islamabad.
Ambassador Stoenescu acknowledged Pakistan’s growing advancements in digital transformation, artificial intelligence (AI), and regional technological inclusion. He emphasized Romania’s willingness to share its expertise and explore mutually beneficial partnerships.
As a prominent member of the European Union (EU), Romania offers Pakistani stakeholders access to several major EU-funded programs, including Horizon Europe (€95.5 billion allocated for research and innovation between 2021 and 2027), Erasmus+ (focused on education, training, and academic exchange), and the Digital Europe Programme. These initiatives provide Pakistani institutions and innovators with opportunities for collaboration in key areas such as AI, renewable energy, cybersecurity, green technologies, agriculture, and space applications.
Highlighting Romania’s robust IT and innovation ecosystem, the ambassador noted that the sector contributes over 6% to the country’s GDP and employs more than 200,000 professionals. With a globally recognized pool of software engineers and expertise in fintech, blockchain, cloud computing, and cybersecurity, Romania has attracted major global tech players including Microsoft, IBM, Amazon, and Oracle, while nurturing homegrown unicorns like UiPath (robotic process automation), Bitdefender (cybersecurity), Elrond (blockchain), and FintechOS (financial technology).
Ambassador Stoenescu outlined specific avenues for collaboration between Pakistan and Romania, including:
- Joint ventures in software development targeting EU and Gulf markets.
- Cybersecurity cooperation through training, certification programs, and digital forensics.
- Academic and startup exchange between Romania’s tech hubs and Pakistan’s National Incubation Centers.
- Collaborative research projects under Horizon Europe and Digital Europe, particularly in AI, IoT, and blockchain.
- Digital transformation partnerships to improve Pakistan’s e-governance and public service delivery.
To advance this shared agenda, the Romanian envoy proposed exploring the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Pakistan’s Ministry of Science and Technology and Romania’s National Authority for Digitalization and National Authority for Research. He also floated the idea of establishing a Romania–Pakistan Science and Technology Forum, with a strong focus on the IT industry.
“Romania stands ready for practical, results-oriented cooperation that supports Pakistan’s national priorities while strengthening our bilateral partnership,” Ambassador Dan Stoenescu stated. He extended an invitation for Minister Khalid Hussain Magsi to visit Romania’s leading research institutions, universities, and technology parks in the near future.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to deepen technological and academic ties, aligning both nations toward a future of innovation and inclusive growth.
