Germany is Romania's main economic partner, while Bavaria is one of Europe's strongest industrial engines, with Romania supporting cooperation in industry and digitalisation as well as defence investments, Economy, Digitalisation, Entrepreneurship and Tourism Minister Ambrozie-Irineu Darau said on Thursday after the signing of a cooperation protocol between the Romanian and Bavarian sides.
According to a press release, the Ministry of Economy, Digitalisation, Entrepreneurship and Tourism (MEDAT) hosted the 11th session of the Romania-Bavaria Joint Governmental Commission, bringing together more than 60 government representatives from Romanian and Bavarian institutions. The Romanian side was led by Minister Ambrozie-Irineu Darau, while the Bavarian side was headed by State Minister for Economic Affairs and International Relations Eric Beiswenger.
"During the 11th session of the Romania-Bavaria Joint Governmental Commission, we signed a cooperation protocol between the two sides, a document aimed at turning a solid partnership into concrete economic projects. Germany is our main economic partner, and Bavaria is one of Europe's most powerful industrial engines. This is not a symbolic partnership, but one that will directly influence Romania's economy. The direction is clear: more production in Romania, more technology brought here and better integration of Romanian companies into European economic chains. We support cooperation in industry and digitalisation, where we can combine German technology with our capabilities in software and development. This also means defence investments that include local production, technology transfer and job creation. We also discussed energy, as well as cooperation in education, mobility and tourism, which support this economic relationship in the long term. The Romania-Germany relationship, particularly Romania-Bavaria cooperation, is already results-oriented," Darau said.
According to the release, the meeting aimed to strengthen economic and sectoral cooperation, in a context where relations with Germany, particularly with the state of Bavaria, play an important role in Romania's industrial and technological development. Discussions focused on areas with a direct impact on the economy and jobs, such as defence industry, digitalisation, microelectronics, energy, education and tourism.
In the defence industry, the parties examined ways to expand cooperation, including partnerships between companies and joint projects involving local production and technology transfer. Such initiatives could contribute to the development of Romania's industrial capabilities and the creation of specialised jobs.
Industrial cooperation between Romania and Bavaria is based on complementary resources, the statement notes. Romania offers a skilled workforce and competitiveness, while Bavarian partners bring technology, capital and access to external markets. In this context, opportunities were discussed in areas such as industrial digitalisation and artificial intelligence, where Romania has software expertise and Bavaria is a key player in automation and Industry 4.0. Expanding cooperation could accelerate the modernisation of industrial processes and increase production efficiency.
In microelectronics and semiconductors, the parties analysed the possibility of expanding existing cooperation between German companies' engineering centres and Romanian research organisations. These projects target design, testing and development activities, including for the automotive industry.
The agenda also included the energy sector, with a focus on strategic directions and emerging technologies such as hydrogen, as well as cooperation in security, border protection and migration management. At the same time, discussions covered the expansion of academic cooperation, student exchanges and dual education programmes, which contribute to skills development and workforce mobility.
In tourism, both sides highlighted the role of cooperation in boosting competitiveness and exchanging best practices, with effects on the development of destinations and tourism services.
The next session of the Romania-Bavaria Joint Governmental Commission is scheduled, in line with practice, for 2028, with the date to be set at a later stage.
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