Dr. Dan Stoenescu, Ambassador of Romania to Pakistan, held a working meeting with Federal Minister of Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry and Karachi Port Trust Chairman Ateeq-ur-Rehman at the Karachi Port Trust Board on the margins of PIMEC 2025 to advance maritime cooperation and strengthen trade links between the two countries.
Both sides underlined the strategic importance of the Port of Constanța as a Black Sea gateway to Europe and the Port of Karachi as a major hub for South Asia and the Middle East, and discussed practical steps to deepen maritime cooperation through improved port operations, trade facilitation and logistics coordination.
Central to the talks was a Memorandum of Understanding between the Port of Constanța and the Port of Karachi, already negotiated and expected to be signed soon. The MoU is designed to formalise technical exchanges in port management, infrastructure development and digital logistics, and to facilitate trade routes linking Europe, Central Asia and South Asia via the Black Sea and the Arabian Sea.
Delegates highlighted Port of Constanța’s expertise in multimodal transport as a model for enhancing Karachi Port’s connectivity to rail and road networks, and explored the integration of smart port technologies, modern cargo handling systems and streamlined customs procedures to raise operational efficiency and support Pakistan’s role in regional supply chains.
Capacity building and personnel training were emphasised as key to sustainable growth, with proposals for exchange programmes and specialised training for KPT officials and technical staff in areas such as port management, maritime safety, environmental standards and use of digital cargo tracking platforms.
Officials also discussed opportunities for private sector engagement, investment in port infrastructure and joint ventures that could open new trade corridors between South Asia, Europe and Central Asia. Ambassador Stoenescu reaffirmed Romania’s commitment to stronger ties, calling the collaboration “a practical step toward connecting our two regions through commerce, innovation and friendship.”
The meeting concluded with both sides determined to finalise the upcoming MoU and to expand cooperation beyond maritime matters into broader economic, educational and cultural exchanges that reinforce long-term connectivity between Pakistan and Romania.
