Karachi/Constan?a, March 31, 2026: Pakistan and Romania have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance maritime cooperation and strengthen bilateral trade links between the two countries.
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The agreement was signed during an online ceremony between the National Company “Maritime Ports Administration” S.A. Constan?a and the Karachi Port Trust. The signatories included Mihai Teodorescu, General Manager of the Port of Constan?a Administration, and Rear Admiral Shahid Ahmed (Retd), Chairman of Karachi Port Trust.
The ceremony was attended by officials from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Transport of both countries, along with Romanian Ambassador Dan Stoenescu and Pakistan’s Ambassador Ilyas Mehmood Nizami. Representatives of the Pakistan Romania Business Council, including Sohail Shamim Firpo and Atif Farooqi, were also present.
The MoU aims to enhance maritime connectivity between Karachi Port and the Port of Constan?a on the Black Sea, enabling more efficient trade flows between South Asia and Europe. The initiative supports Pakistan’s maritime development and blue economy ambitions while reinforcing Romania’s position as a key logistical gateway to the European Union.
The Port of Constan?a, one of the largest ports in the Black Sea region, provides strategic access to Central and Western Europe via the Danube corridor. Goods transported through Constan?a can reach major European hubs, including Rotterdam, through inland waterways across Hungary, Austria, and Germany, offering a cost-effective and sustainable logistics route.
The agreement is expected to create new trade opportunities, facilitating Romanian exports such as industrial equipment, machinery, chemicals, and agricultural products to Pakistan, while improving Pakistani exports’ access to European markets.
Building on earlier discussions held in Karachi in 2025, the MoU establishes a framework for cooperation, including a joint working group, training initiatives, exchange of expertise in port management, and the development of new trade avenues.
Ambassador Dan Stoenescu highlighted Romania’s goal of expanding exports to Pakistan and strengthening economic engagement in Asia. He noted that enhanced maritime connectivity would support regional integration, improve supply chain resilience, and promote shared economic growth.
The agreement also aligns with the European Union’s Blue Economy strategy, which focuses on sustainable maritime development, and complements Pakistan’s access to the EU market under the GSP+ scheme, potentially boosting trade volumes and economic integration for both countries.
