President Droupadi Murmu on Monday began her State Visit to Moldova, marking the first-ever visit by an Indian President to the East European nation. The visit is the first leg of her three-nation tour, which also includes North Macedonia and Romania.
President Murmu was accompanied by Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Nimuben Jayantibhai Bambhaniya, Rajya Sabha MP Dr. Dinesh Sharma and Lok Sabha MP Vijay Baghel.
Upon her arrival at Chisinau International Airport, the President was received by Moldova’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mihai Popsoi. She later visited the Presidential Palace, where she was accorded a ceremonial welcome and a guard of honour by President Maia Sandu.
During one-on-one and delegation-level talks, the two leaders reviewed the entire spectrum of bilateral relations and discussed ways to further deepen cooperation across a range of sectors.
Describing the visit as a historic milestone, President Murmu said the first-ever State Visit by an Indian President to Moldova reflects the growing friendship and mutual trust between the two countries.
She noted that India and Moldova have shared warm and friendly relations for more than three decades and said that despite the geographical distance between the two nations, the partnership has steadily expanded, guided by a shared commitment to peace, development and international cooperation.
Economic cooperation featured prominently during the discussions, with both leaders agreeing to promote greater trade and investment, strengthen resilient supply chains, improve connectivity and encourage closer engagement between the business communities of the two countries. President Murmu said the India-Moldova Business Forum, being held alongside the visit, is expected to provide fresh momentum to bilateral trade and investment ties.
The two sides also agreed to enhance cooperation in agriculture, logistics and infrastructure, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, renewable energy, Digital Public Infrastructure, Artificial Intelligence and innovation.
Highlighting education and capacity building as important pillars of bilateral relations, President Murmu announced that India will double the number of Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) training slots available for Moldovan professionals. The expanded programme will include specialised courses in Artificial Intelligence and other emerging technologies. She also invited Moldovan diplomats to participate in specialised courses on Artificial Intelligence and Cyber Diplomacy at India’s Foreign Service Institute.
The President noted that India and Moldova are already collaborating under the International Solar Alliance and invited Moldova to join the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) and the Global Biofuels Alliance (GBA).
The two leaders also exchanged views on regional and global developments, reaffirming their shared commitment to peace, dialogue and respect for international law. They agreed to continue working together to address common global challenges and contribute to a peaceful, stable and prosperous world.
Reiterating India’s consistent approach to international conflicts, President Murmu said India has always supported the early resolution of disputes through dialogue and diplomacy and has consistently stood on the side of peace.
During her stay in Chisinau, the President is also scheduled to interact with members of the Indian community and friends of India in Moldova.
Expressing gratitude for the warm welcome and hospitality extended to her delegation, President Murmu thanked President Sandu, the Government and the people of Moldova. She also invited President Sandu to visit India at a mutually convenient time and expressed confidence that the two countries would continue to build a stronger, future-oriented and mutually beneficial partnership.
