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President Iohannis : Romania, France relation saw a remarkable boost in recent years
We have witnessed a "remarkable boost" in our relation with France in the recent years, and Romania's strategic partnership with this country will be further strengthened, President Klaus Iohannis stated on Saturday, on the occasion of the reception of July 14, the National Day of France, in Bucharest.
"For the past ten years our countries have been in a strategic partnership (...) which we will continue to strengthen and make it more concrete," said the head of the state, who also reminded on the same occasion that he welcomed to the Cotroceni Presidential Palace both Francois Hollande, the former President of France, and the current President, Emmanuel Macron."The friendship between Romania and France is a special one, thanks to the two already traditional communities acting as true ambassadors for both countries, in the daily life," said Iohannis.
În turn, French Ambassador to Romania, Michèle Ramis, spoke about the close relationship between Romania and France and about the economic and industrial partnership, as well as about the visit of the Romanian President to Paris at the end of November on the occasion of the French-Romania Season.
“This Season will allow us to make our artists and their creation known to each other, but also to intensify political dialogue and strengthen economic opportunities. It will enable us to contribute to building a Europe of culture, a cause of heart for President Emmanuel Macron, and to highlight our commitment to a strong, democratic and peaceful Europe,” Michele Ramis said.
The National Day of France was celebrated on Saturday at the French Embassy in Bucharest, an event attended by President Klaus Iohannis and by other Romanian officials, together with the host of the reception, French Ambassador Michèle Ramis.
The reception was also attended by the former DNA chief prosecutor, Laura Codruta Kovesi, Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu, former Prime Minister Adrian N?stase, former Foreign Affairs Minister, Mircea Geoan?, PNL leader Ludovic Orban, as well as several ambassadors.
The Chamber of Deputies Speaker, Liviu Dragnea, Premier Viorica D?ncil?, but also the Senate Speaker, C?lin Popescu T?riceanu, were absent from the event, although they were on the guest list. Prosecutor General Augustin Lazar and Head of the Romanian Intelligence Service (SRI) Eduard Hellvig also attended the event.
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Trade between France and Romania has grown by 4.4 percent in 2017
The French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Romania (CCIFER) has released new figures about the French economic presence in Romania. According to the data, trade between France and Romania has grown by 4.4 percent in 2017 compared to the previous year, reaching EUR 7.8 billion in total. France has returned to an EUR 84 million trade surplus with Romania.
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Romania is France’s 25th export partner and its 27th supplier, while France is Romania’s fifth export partner and its third supplier. Romanian imports to France reached EUR 3.8 billion in 2017 (+0.8 percent y/y).
The main exports France sends to Romania are industrial and agricultural machinery, transport materials and chemical products. Exports of production equipment increased by 4.3 percent in 2017, supported by industrial and agricultural machinery (+9 percent) and electronic equipment (+16 percent). On the other hand, IT products exports decreased by 10 percent. The second export pillar, transport equipment, has decreased for the fourth year in a row, by 1.5 percent. Chemical products exports have grown by 22 percent in 2017, to EUR 500 million.
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Economic presence in Romania is dense in most sectors, according to the CCIFER, with almost 3,000 companies present in the country and EUR 4.2 billion in direct investments, making France the fourth investor in Romania. French investment in Romania are mostly found in the services, automobiles and other transport materials sectors.