Moldova–India Business Forum held in Chisinau; Moldovan president: “India knows how to turn ambition into development, while Moldova knows how to turn challenges into reforms”

Entrepreneurs from Moldova and India today met in Chisinau, at a bilateral economic forum, organized in the context of the visit to the country of President of India Droupadi Murmu. The event marks an important moment in the bilateral relations, with the authorities of the two states expressing their intention to expand economic partnership and encourage mutual investments.

The forum was opened by President Maia Sandu, designated Prime Minister Vasile Tofan and President of India Droupadi Murmu, who arrived on her first visit to Moldova, accompanied by an official delegation that includes about 40 Indian businesspeople.

The event aims to strengthen economic cooperation between Moldova and the Republic of India, by promoting trade and investment opportunities and facilitating direct dialogue between the business communities of the two states.

President Maia Sandu said that Moldova had much to learn from India and, at the same time, there are many things that can be built together.

“India has proved how entrepreneurship and technology can improve people’s lives on an extraordinary scale. We admire its digital public infrastructure, its pharmaceutical industry, its continuously growing production capacity and its leadership in the field of renewable energy. Moldova is a small and open economy. We do not compete through size, but through speed, talent, access and trust. We aim to become one of the most business-friendly countries in the region, by digitizing public services, reducing unnecessary bureaucracy, strengthening the rule of law and ensuring a level playing field for all investors,” Maia Sandu emphasized.

At the same time, the head of state invited Indian economic agents to explore the investment opportunities provided by the country.

“We invite Indian companies to produce medicines in Moldova for our region and for European markets. To our partners in the energy and infrastructure sectors,  Moldova offers opportunities through investments in renewable energy, expanding interconnections with Romania and organizing competitive tenders for new green energy generation capacities. To technology companies, I say that Moldova has a strong pool of IT talent and one of the most attractive tax regimes in Europe for this sector. And to everyone present here, from the automotive, textiles, agriculture, logistics, finance, and consumer goods industries, I invite you to look at Moldova not only as a market, but as a platform. A platform for connecting to European value chains. A platform from which, over time, you will be able to contribute to the reconstruction of Ukraine. A place where your investments help build a modern European economy from the ground up. India knows how to turn ambition into large-scale development. Moldova knows how to turn challenges into reforms. Together, we can turn this forum into a lasting partnership, based on investments and strong economic relations,” Maia Sandu concluded.

President of India Droupadi Murmu said that her visit to Moldova, which is the first state visit by an Indian president to Chisinau, reflects India’s commitment to deepening cooperation with Moldova in all areas, including politics, economy, culture and people-to-people relations.

“I am accompanied by an important delegation of Indian businesspeople. Their presence demonstrates the growing confidence of Indian industry in the economic potential of Moldova and its commitment to building long-term partnerships. Our partnership is based on mutual respect, democratic values and a shared commitment to peace, development and international cooperation,” said the President of India.

Droupadi Murmu added Moldova had a strong reform orientation, a strategic position, talented human capital and an increasingly deep integration into European markets, which makes it an important destination for Indian companies.

According to the official, “there is enormous potential for cooperation in a wide range of sectors, such as digital technologies, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, digital public infrastructure, infrastructure development, renewable energy, development of the manufacturing industry, logistics, agriculture, food processing, the pharmaceutical industry, biotechnology and healthcare.”

“Indian companies are interested in participating in Moldova’s development projects in the field of renewable energy, including in the sectors of solar energy, battery storage systems, smart grids, green hydrogen and other clean technologies. India also provides important opportunities for Moldovan companies in trade and investment. We stay committed to promoting a transparent, predictable, and investor-friendly business environment. I invite companies from Moldova to come and discover the opportunities offered by India. I also encourage Indian companies to explore the opportunities available in Moldova. I invite you to work together, in order to write a new chapter in the economic partnership between India and  Moldova,” concluded India’s President Droupadi Murmu.

Present at the event, the designated Prime Minister, Vasile Tofan, said that  Moldova and India may seem very far from each other, but the two countries have the opportunity to build a strong economic partnership.

“My commitment is to ensure that the advantages of Moldova work not only in presentations, but also in practice: in getting permits, in customs procedures, in connecting to infrastructure and in day-to-day interactions with the state. Our ambition is to become the most business-friendly country in Europe. Investors must feel the difference: fewer unnecessary procedures, a competitive tax regime, digital services and decisions taken in weeks, not years,” the designated PM noted.

The official added that investors need predictable rules, competent partners and practical support, and that Moldova can provide all these things.

The forum brought together companies active in sectors with collaboration potential, such as infrastructure and construction, manufacturing, information technology, renewable energy, the pharmaceutical industry, agriculture and agri-food processing.

The participation in the event gave companies from Moldova the opportunity to establish new partnerships, identify export and investment opportunities and interact directly with representatives of the authorities and the business community from India.

India remains one of the world’s largest economies and a major player in international trade, with significant potential for developing economic cooperation with Moldova.

According to statistics data, in 2025 Moldova’s direct exports to India amounted to about 259.4 thousand US dollars. The largest share in the export structure is held by machinery and mechanical appliances (about 44 per cent), followed by edible fruit, mainly apples (about 21 per cent), optical and medical instruments (about 18 per cent), and pharmaceutical products (about 16 per cent).