Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment Arun Hemachandra who is on an official visit to Romania addressed the members of the Bucharest Chamber of Commerce and Industry on 22 October 2026.
The Bucharest Chamber of Commerce and Industry is the oldest and largest regional chamber of commerce in Romania. Today, the Bucharest Chamber of Commerce and Industry represents businesses in Bucharest which accounts for approximately one-fifth of all registered Romanian companies, a large share of national imports & exports, and local trade and international partnerships. It has several overseas offices and recently opened its office in Colombo.
During his address, Deputy Minister Hemachandra said that Sri Lanka and Romania enjoy a relationship that is both longstanding and increasingly dynamic and the human dimension is a relatively recent phenomenon in the bilateral relationship. However, the economic partnership of the two countries goes beyond the labour mobility.
He said that the present level of trade between Sri Lanka and Romania does not reflect the true potential of the two economies. According to the latest figures, in 2025 Sri Lanka exported approximately USD 9.84 million worth of goods to Romania, while imports from Romania amounted to approximately USD 32.81 million. There is potential to substantially broaden Sri Lanka’s export basket to Romania and at the same time, for Romanian companies to increase their exports to Sri Lanka in areas where Romania has strong industrial and technological capabilities.
While trade is important, investment can transform the relationship. Sri Lanka is seeking quality foreign investment that brings technology, knowledge, skills, employment and integration into international value chains. In this connection, Deputy Minister Hemachandra encouraged Romanian companies to examine investment opportunities in Sri Lanka in tourism & hospitality; renewable energy & green investment; ICT & digital services; logistics & maritime services; manufacturing & industrial partnerships; agriculture & food processing.
One strong message he particularly emphasized with the Romanian business community was that Sri Lanka is not only a market of 22 million people. Sri Lanka is a gateway to a much larger economic region. Sri Lanka’s location at the centre of the Indian Ocean places it close to some of the world's fastest-growing markets. For a Romanian company considering expansion into South Asia, Sri Lanka offers an established commercial environment, a skilled workforce, modern connectivity and strategic access to the Indian Ocean.
In his address, he invited the Bucharest Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Romanian business associations, investors, exporters, importers and individual companies to participate in Sri Lanka EXPO 2027, Sri Lanka's premier international trade exhibition and an important platform for connecting Sri Lankan exporters with international buyers and investors, which will be held in Colombo from 14 to 17 January 2027.
The event highlighted a broad spectrum of opportunities for bilateral cooperation, with discussions primarily focused on expanding employment across key sectors such as transport, road construction, hospitality. Potential cooperation in tourism, agriculture, and the digital economy was also discussed and acknowledged. Additionally, participants sought strategic assistance in establishing trade partnerships to boost export opportunities, particularly for agricultural products, mechanical tools, and rubber goods. To translate these discussions into actionable outcomes, the Embassy in Bucharest will systematically follow up on all requests, acting as a direct facilitator to channel these proposals to the appropriate national line agencies and trade ministries.
