Islamabad, November 6,2026: Romanian Ambassador to Pakistan Dr. Dan Stoenescu has highlighted the considerable potential for expanding economic cooperation between Romania and Pakistan, noting that the two countries have surprisingly comparable economic sizes despite a significant difference in their populations.
According to the ambassador, Romania, with a population of approximately 19 million, has an estimated Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of US$470 billion in 2026, compared with Pakistan’s estimated GDP of US$450 billion and a population of around 259 million.
The figures suggest that Romania’s economy is approximately US$20 billion, or 4.4 per cent, larger than Pakistan’s in terms of total annual economic output. However, GDP comparisons alone do not reflect differences in per capita income, purchasing power or local price levels.
Ambassador Stoenescu observed that the comparable overall size of the two economies, despite their vastly different population bases, offered considerable opportunities to expand bilateral trade and economic cooperation.
He identified agriculture, textiles, manufacturing and technology as promising sectors for collaboration, encouraging businesses in both countries to explore new commercial opportunities.
He said Pakistani companies could benefit from access to Romanian customers and business partners, while Romanian enterprises could explore opportunities in Pakistan’s large consumer market.
The Romanian ambassador stressed that strengthening trade relations required more than comparable economic indicators, emphasising the importance of direct business engagement, mutual market understanding and reliable commercial partnerships.
He called for increased business-to-business contacts, meaningful trade delegations and practical support for exporters to facilitate stronger interaction between the private sectors of the two countries.
Expressing optimism about future economic relations, Ambassador Stoenescu said he would like to see more Romanian and Pakistani companies establishing business partnerships and expanding their commercial activities in each other’s markets.
He observed that the economic figures provided a compelling reason for both countries to pay greater attention to their bilateral trade potential, adding that building sustainable business relationships was the next important step.
