On Friday, 4 September 2026, the Research Institute of the University of Bucharest (ICUB) invites you to the presentation “India & Romania: Strengthening Partnership in a Changing Global Order”, delivered by Ambassador Rahul Chhabra.
The event will take place beginning with 13:00 (EET) at the Rectorate of the University of Bucharest, in the Board of Directors Meeting Room (90 Panduri Rd., 1st Floor) and is open to the entire UB academic community: students of all levels, faculty members, and researchers interested in the announced topics.
The opening of the event will feature speeches by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mugur Dan Zlotea, Vice-Rector for Internationalization, Public Relations, and Students at the University of Bucharest, and Lect. Dr. Alexandra Nicolaescu, Vice-Dean and Coordinator for International Relations and Student Internships at the Faculty of Foreign Languages and Literatures, University of Bucharest.
About the event
The presentation examines the evolving India–Romania relationship against the backdrop of a rapidly changing and increasingly multipolar global order. It traces the relationship from its early intellectual and cultural connections to the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1948 and the evolution of an Extensive Partnership. It highlights the resilience of bilateral ties through political dialogue, humanitarian cooperation, cultural exchanges, education and capacity-building, as well as the growing role of people-to-people connections.
Against this backdrop, the presentation also places India–Romania relations within the wider transformation of the global economic and political landscape. It highlights India’s emergence as a major global economy and its expanding role in international affairs, while examining the opportunities created by India–EU economic and technological cooperation, including the India–EU Free Trade Agreement, resilient supply chains, digital technologies, clean energy and connectivity. It also examines the potential for Romania to play a meaningful role in strengthening economic and strategic linkages between India and Europe.
Looking ahead, the presentation outlines a vision for moving India–Romania relations from cooperation towards co-creation and a deeper strategic economic partnership. It identifies promising areas including artificial intelligence and digital technologies, advanced manufacturing, green technology and renewable energy, pharmaceuticals and healthcare, and connectivity and logistics. It highlights the potential for closer collaboration across emerging areas of mutual interest and concludes with a vision of a future-oriented partnership built not merely on trade and market access, but on joint innovation, research, investment, knowledge partnerships and shared growth.
About the speaker
Ambassador Rahul Chhabra holds a B.A. (Hons.) in Economics from the prestigious St. Stephen’s College, an M.A. in Economics from the renowned Delhi School of Economics, and a MBA from the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta (oldest Business school), where he was placed on the Roll of Honour. A distinguished diplomat and economist with over four decades of experience, he retired as Secretary (Economic Relations) in the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, where he led India’s USD 40 billion Development Partnership Programme, guided EXIM Bank policy as a Board Member, and coordinated India’s engagement with major multilateral economic institutions. During his diplomatic career, he served as High Commissioner to Kenya, Ambassador to Somalia, Permanent Representative to UNEP and UN-Habitat, Ambassador to Hungary and Bosnia & Herzegovina, and held senior assignments in China, the United States, France, Senegal, Belgium, and New Delhi.
Since retiring from the Indian Foreign Service in 2021, Amb Chhabra has served on the boards of leading Indian companies and advises organisations on international business, economic policy, and corporate strategy. A sought-after speaker on geopolitics, economic diplomacy, trade, investment, and the evolving global economic order, he has delivered keynote addresses and policy discussions at leading institutions including Harvard Kennedy School, Columbia Business School, Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth, Trinity College Dublin, and the World Affairs Council of Greater Houston.
For further details, please write at e-mail events@icub.unibuc.ro.



