President Droupadi Murmu arrived in Moldova on Monday for a state visit, marking the first-ever visit by an Indian President to the East European nation and the opening move of a three-country tour that will also cover North Macedonia and Romania, according to the President’s Office.
Murmu was received at Chisinau International Airport by Moldova’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mihai Popsoi, and later accorded a ceremonial guard of honour at the Presidential Palace by President Maia Sandu. The delegation included Minister of State for Consumer Affairs Nimuben Jayantibhai Bambhaniya, Rajya Sabha MP Dr. Dinesh Sharma, and Lok Sabha MP Vijay Baghel.
During bilateral talks, both leaders reviewed the full spectrum of India-Moldova relations and agreed to deepen cooperation across multiple sectors. Murmu described the visit as a historic milestone reflecting growing friendship and mutual trust, noting that the two nations have maintained warm relations for over three decades despite geographical distance.
Economic ties feature centrally in the expanded partnership. Both presidents agreed to promote greater trade and investment, strengthen supply chains, improve connectivity, and encourage business community engagement. The India-Moldova Business Forum held alongside the visit is expected to provide fresh momentum to commercial ties. The two sides also committed to enhanced cooperation in agriculture, logistics, infrastructure, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, renewable energy, Digital Public Infrastructure, artificial intelligence, and innovation.
Education and capacity building emerged as key pillars of the deepening relationship. Murmu announced that India will double the number of ITEC training slots available for Moldovan professionals, with expanded offerings in artificial intelligence and emerging technologies. The President also invited Moldovan diplomats to pursue specialised courses in AI and cyber diplomacy at India’s Foreign Service Institute.
This diplomatic initiative underscores India’s expanding engagement with smaller European nations, particularly those on the EU’s eastern frontier. Moldova, bordered by Romania and Ukraine, occupies a strategically sensitive position and has strengthened its orientation toward Western institutions in recent years. India’s outreach reflects New Delhi’s broader pivot toward deepening ties with European democracies across the full breadth of the continent, beyond traditional partnerships with major EU members.
The visit also carries significance for India’s technology diplomacy agenda. By positioning artificial intelligence and digital public infrastructure as cooperation pillars, India is leveraging its strengths in software services, IT innovation, and digital governance models. Moldova’s interest in these domains aligns with India’s efforts to export its digital infrastructure expertise globally, particularly to smaller nations seeking rapid digital transformation without heavy capital expenditure.