President Murmu to visit Moldova, North Macedonia, Romania from July 19

President Droupadi Murmu will undertake state visits to Moldova, North Macedonia and Romania from July 19-25 to deepen bilateral ties and expand India's engagement with eastern Europe. The tour includes first-ever presidential visits to Moldova and North Macedonia and the first Romania visit in over three decades

New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Friday that President Droupadi Murmu will undertake state visits to Moldova, North Macedonia and Romania from July 19-25, aiming to boost bilateral ties with these countries.

Murmu’s three-nation visit complements India’s broader engagement with Europe and the strategic partnership with the European Union, the MEA stated.

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Interacting with reporters here, MEA Secretary (West) Sibi George said, “The three-nation visit is of considerable historic significance, as it marks the first-ever bilateral visits by an Indian president to the Republic of Moldova and the Republic of North Macedonia.” Also, Murmu’s visit to Romania will be the first state visit to the country by an Indian president in over three decades. The previous such visit had been undertaken in 1994, the MEA said.

“The three-nation visit reflects India’s growing engagement with central and eastern Europe, and reaffirms our commitment to strengthening our partnerships with the countries in the region. It also complements India’s broader engagement with Europe and the strategic partnership with the European Union,” George said.

President Murmu will visit Moldova on July 20 at the invitation of Moldovan President Maia Sandu. This is the first-ever visit by an Indian president to Moldova, the MEA announced earlier in the day.

During her visit, President Murmu will meet and hold delegation-level talks with her counterpart. She will also meet President of the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova, Igor Grosu. Additionally, President Murmu will interact with members of the Moldova-India Parliamentary Friendship Group, address a business forum and speak with members of the Indian community in that country, the MEA said.

India and Moldova enjoy warm and friendly relations, and this visit would mark a significant and historical milestone and elevate bilateral ties to a “broad-based partnership”. There is good scope for mutually beneficial cooperation in the areas of agriculture, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, IT and education, it said.

At the invitation of the President of North Macedonia Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, President Murmu will visit North Macedonia from July 21-22.

President Murmu will hold bilateral talks with President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, meet Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski, and the president of the Assembly and address the Assembly of North Macedonia, the MEA said.

She will also address the India-North Macedonia Business Forum. “Both sides have keen interest in deepening economic ties in the priority sectors like agriculture, pharmaceuticals, science and technology, IT and ITES,” the MEA added.

At the invitation of Nicusor Dan, President of Romania, President Murmu will then visit Romania from July 23-25. This would be the first visit by an Indian president after a gap of over three decades, the MEA said.

During the visit, President Murmu will meet the Romanian president, interim Prime Minister of Romania Ilie Bolojan; President of the Senate Mircea Abrudean; and President of the Chamber of Deputies Sorin Grindeanu, as well as members of the Romania-India Parliamentary Friendship Group, it said.

President Murmu will also address the India-Romania Business Forum and have interactions with members of the Indian community. “Romania is a valuable partner in the European Union, and with the conclusion of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement, the bilateral economic partnership would strengthen further in the coming years,” the MEA added.

President Murmu’s three-nation tour reflects the importance India attaches to strengthening its bilateral ties with these countries alongwith India’s engagement with the wider eastern European region, it said.