Department for Foreign Trade organizes new edition of the ‘Week of Commercial Diplomacy’

A new edition of the traditional “Week of Commercial Diplomacy” is organized by the Department for Foreign Trade within the Romanian Agency for Investments and Foreign Trade, from 3 to 7 July this year.

The event brings together 50 of Romania’s economic representatives abroad with high-ranking officials, the institutional environment in general and the private sector in Romania, allowing an in-depth analysis of their role and contribution to the development of the country’s foreign trade, establishing priorities and measures to make actions more efficient of commercial-economic diplomacy, encouraging Romanian producers to focus on foreign markets and strengthening the relationship with companies and the structures of the associative environment in the country.

On July 4, in the Aula Magna hall of the Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies, the plenary session of the “Commercial Diplomacy Week” was held, the first part of which – chaired by Rareș-Ștefan Burlacu, president of the Romanian Investment and Foreign Trade Agency – addressed the topic “Romanian commercial diplomacy – developments, challenges and perspectives”. In front of an audience of approximately 300 people, Nicolae-Ionel Ciucă, president of the Senate, Cosmin-Ștefan Marinescu, presidential adviser within the Presidency of Romania, Traian Hristea, secretary of state – on behalf of the minister of foreign affairs, Darius Voda, secretary, spoke general – on behalf of the Minister of Economy, Entrepreneurship and Tourism, Bogdan-Gruia Ivan, the Minister of Research, Innovation and Digitization, Florin Nicolae Jianu, President of the Council of Small and Medium Private Enterprises and Vice President of SMEUnited. Officials from the Ministry of Energy, the Ministry of Investments and European Projects, the National Sanitary, Veterinary and Food Safety Agency were also present.

The speakers highlighted the fact that commercial diplomacy is an essential component of general diplomacy, especially in the current regional and international context, marked by numerous crises that deeply affect national and global economies. It was reiterated the need for inter-connected strategies to increase the competitiveness of the Romanian economy, starting from a strategy dedicated to the development of the country’s productive capacity – especially in the net importing fields and in the less developed regions – and continuing with strategies for increasing exports and reducing the trade deficit , the attraction of new foreign investments, the development of tourism, the transition to industry 4.0, the transition to green energy and ensuring energy independence, etc.

The contribution of Romania’s economic representation network abroad – currently undersized in relation to the needs, as well as the external economic promotion systems of other countries – to capitalizing on export opportunities, attracting investments in the country, encouraging and supporting Romanian investments was highlighted. externally, strengthening the institutional dialogue with external partners.

The second part of the event, moderated by Doru-Claudian Frunzulica, vice-president of the Romanian Investment and Foreign Trade Agency, was dedicated to the relations of the Department of Foreign Trade (through internal employees and representatives from abroad) with the business environment, aiming to raise these connections. The Export Council, chambers of commerce, professional associations and employers’ confederations, Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies, Investissement Quebec International, Romanian companies with export activities were represented.

The panel focused on identifying the most effective ways of collaboration between external economic representatives and Romanian companies, respectively the associative structures of the business environment, with the common objective of increasing exports and reducing the trade deficit.

The last part of the event was dedicated to the direct dialogue of external economic representatives with Romanian companies interested in initiating or expanding their presence on other markets, with products or services.

The next three days of the “Commercial Diplomacy Week” will be devoted to individual meetings of the 50 external economic advisers of Romania present at the event, with Romanian companies that need guidance and assistance for entering other markets, increasing exports or identifying new partners of cooperation. The meetings will be held at the headquarters of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Municipality of Bucharest, between 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. More than 200 company representatives have expressed their desire to have such discussions, participation is still open to any interested companies.