Moldova proposes direct India connectivity as travel and student links rise

Chisinau,UPDATED: Jul 20, 2026 20:18 IST

Moldova has proposed exploring the possibility of direct connectivity with India as the number of Indians travelling to the eastern European country rises, a senior diplomat said on Monday during President Droupadi Murmu's historic state visit there.

Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs Sibi George also said India and Moldova are determined to double bilateral trade over the next few years, even though current trade levels remain small.

Addressing a press conference, George said, in response to a question by PTI, that many capitals were looking for some form of connectivity with India. "There was a proposal from the side of Moldova to explore the possibility of direct connectivity," he said.

George said people-to-people connectivity was very important and that the number of Indians travelling to this part of the world had increased significantly. He said around 2,000 Indian students were pursuing medical studies in Moldova and that there was demand from both the general public and the government for some kind of direct connectivity. "I don't know when it will happen, but it is definitely part of the wish list which we have," George said.

On trade, George said both countries wanted to raise business ties. "The trade figures at present are very small. There are multiple factors for that. One of the objectives and one of the deliverables is a determination by both countries to double the trade in the next few years," he said. According to official data, bilateral trade between India and Moldova stood at USD 16.75 million in 2023-24.

Moldova, a landlocked country in Eastern Europe located between Romania and Ukraine, is looking at closer links with India, with both sides also aiming to expand trade in the coming years.

With PTI Inputs

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