Trade Volume Target with Romania Set at 20 billion Dollars

Representatives of the Turkish and Romanian business communities convened in Bucharest at the “Romania General Trade Delegation” program, organized under the coordination of the Ministry of Trade and by the Türkiye Exporters Assembly.

A trade delegation program was organized in Bucharest, the capital of Romania, under the coordination of the Ministry of Trade and the organization of the Türkiye Exporters Assembly (TİM). Attending the opening ceremony of the program, which featured the exporter delegation led by President of the TİM Mustafa Gültepe, were TİM Vice Chairmen, Board Members, Republic of Türkiye Bucharest Ambassador Özgür Kıvanç Altan, Chairman of the Romanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Mihai Daraban, as well as representatives of the Turkish and Romanian business communities.

Speaking at the opening of the program, President of TİM, Mustafa Gültepe stated that the two nations, which share the same geography and sea and advance toward the future with a common vision, are peoples whose trade relations are founded upon mutual trust.

“We aim to increase our trade volume with Romania to 20 billion dollars”

Emphasizing that they continue to strengthen bilateral trade within the framework of a win-win principle, Gültepe stated, “In 2025, the foreign trade volume between our countries reached approximately 13.5 billion dollars. Last year, we imported nearly 5 billion dollars' worth of goods from Romania, while achieving exports totaling 8.5 billion dollars. Behind these exports stand 11,586 of our companies.”

Highlighting that this success reflects not only the achievements of large corporations but also the strength and dynamism of a broadly distributed ecosystem, Gülteperemarked, “Among the sectors exporting most extensively to Romania, the chemical industry ranks first.”

Pointing out that, alongside chemicals, they have established a highly robust foundation for cooperation in the automotive, steel, metals, and defense industries, Gültepe said, “By 2028, we aim to raise our foreign trade volume to 20 billion dollars. We regard this target as an opportunity presented to our countries by geography, geopolitics, logistics, and the evolving global order.”

“Türkiye's manufacturing strength offers opportunities for Romania”

Gültepe stated that the rules of global trade are being rewritten, adding that proximity is now valued as much as production capacity, speed as much as cost efficiency, and trust as much as price competitiveness.

Underscoring that Türkiye and Romania stand out as two complementary and powerful nations, Gültepe said, “At a time when supply chains are being restructured, distant geographies are giving way to secure and proximate partnerships. This is precisely where we stand. We are speaking of an advantage whereby a product dispatched from Türkiye in the morning can reach consumers in Romania on the very same day.”

Mustafa Gültepe noted that Türkiye constitutes one of the most significant manufacturing hubs in its geography, stating, “With our 26 sectors, we produce and export to the world. We are fully aware that both our high-quality manufacturing capacity and our advantage in close-range supply present valuable opportunities for our Romanian friends as well.”

“The two countries produce together and grow together”

Gültepe emphasized that every meeting to be held and every partnership to be initiated would shape not only today's realities but also the economic architecture of tomorrow, adding that Türkiye and Romania are not merely two countries engaged in trade, but also two strong partners that produce together, grow together, and create value together.

Gültepe stated, “In the coming period, we can establish powerful models of cooperation that contribute not only to regional trade but also to the direction of global commerce. We will act with a vision that does not wait for the future, but rather builds it collectively. We will continue producing more and advancing together toward even greater goals.”

“Türkiye and Romania complement one another within supply chains”

Republic of Türkiye Bucharest Ambassador Özgür KıvançAltan also stated that, in a world that has become more challenging than ever before, Türkiye and Romania maintain a strong partnership in the field of security.

Describing the two countries as “security partners,” Altan said, “This creates a strong sense of trust between us, enabling our business communities to achieve even more together. Our trade relations are progressing successfully. Our construction companies are achieving remarkable success not only for themselves but also by making substantial contributions to Romania. They are building, advancing production, and supporting Romania's development.”

Drawing attention to the strong cooperation between the two countries in the field of tourism as well, Altan stated, “Every year, we welcome 1.2 million tourists from Romania. For this reason, I believe we are natural partners for one another. Moreover, I consider the 20-billion-dollar trade target to be quite modest. In my opinion, we will reach this target within the next few years, because we support each other's supply chains and are economically interconnected.”

“Romania offers Turkish investors the advantages of the EU”

Chairman of the Romanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Mihai Daraban stated that Romania regards Türkiye as an exceptionally strong and close partner, and under the current global conditions, also as a “security umbrella.”

Referring to developments in the region, the situation in Ukraine, and the events unfolding in the Persian Gulf, Daraban emphasized that Türkiye is an extremely important country for them, describing Türkiye as a friend and an indispensable “cooperation partner” in every respect.

Pointing out that when a company is established in Romania it automatically becomes a legal entity of Romania, and consequently of the European Union, Daraban stated, “This grants you all the rights enjoyed by European Union members, including access to European funds, participation in public tenders, and the ability to benefit from every opportunity afforded by EU membership.”