Dan Stoenescu met with H.E. Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Information Technology & Telecommunication, to discuss deepening Romania–Pakistan cooperation in the information technology sector and to plan a bilateral industry forum aimed at fostering partnerships and knowledge exchange.
The meeting highlighted a personal connection: both Stoenescu and Minister Khawaja are alumni of the University of Warwick. They emphasized that this shared background reinforces a commitment to collaboration and mutual understanding as the two countries explore closer ties in technology and innovation.
Participants discussed Romania’s strengths as a major European IT hub, noting its highly skilled engineering workforce, competitive operating costs, and a strong presence of global tech firms in areas such as cybersecurity, fintech, artificial intelligence, and software development. Stoenescu suggested that Romania’s experience and industry capacity could offer practical know-how and investment opportunities for Pakistan’s IT sector.
Pakistan’s technology ecosystem was described as fast-growing and increasingly innovative, with expanding digital services and a rising pool of tech talent. Both sides identified opportunities for joint ventures, co-investments, and targeted knowledge transfer to support scaling of Pakistan’s digital industry and improve competitiveness.
To translate discussion into action, the two agreed to organize a Romania–Pakistan Forum for the IT Industry that will bring together policymakers, business leaders, and innovators from both countries. The forum is intended to catalyze partnerships, uncover commercial opportunities, and help shape a shared digital agenda connecting Romanian and Pakistani companies to broader European and South Asian markets.
Officials said stronger cooperation in IT, technology, trade, and human capital development could open new avenues for economic engagement and long-term collaboration between Romania and Pakistan.
