Romania supports GSP Plus duty extension for Sri Lanka

Romanian Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Traian Hristea thanked Sri Lanka for deciding to open an Embassy in Bucharest shortly. He said this when he called on Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena at Temple Trees on June 25 to discuss bilateral ties, economic cooperation, investments and employment issues.

The Prime Minister thanked the Government of Romania for providing employment to a large number of Sri Lankans in recent years. Romania is the most favourable and preferred employment destination for Sri Lankans since 2016 and already, the Sri Lankan workforce in the apparel, construction, hospitality and agriculture sectors is assessed to be more than 32,000.

State Secretary Hristea said there will be additional employment opportunities for Sri Lankans as Romania is currently implementing several large scale infrastructure and other development projects.

The Prime Minister urged Romania to consider investments in education, agriculture, railways, IT and tourism sectors. He explained the measures taken by Sri Lanka to solve the issues related to the current economic crisis and stressed the need for continuous support of the European Union. The Romanian Minister assured that his country would support Sri Lanka’s request for continuation of GSP Plus duty concessions for Sri Lankan exports.

The Romanian Minister was accompanied by Dr. Victor Chiujdea, Charge d’affaires of the Embassy of Romania in Colombo, Diana Tase, Director of the Asia Pacific Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania and Bogdan Aldea Counsellor MFA. MP Yadamini Gunawardena, Additional Secretary Mahinda Gunaratne, Dr. Jayantha Jayamanna and Sugeeswara Senadhira also were present on this occasion.