Diplomatic Relations
On April 03, 1967 – the establishing of new Embassy -
level diplomatic relations between Romania and Canada.
In December of 1976 Canada accredited the 1st resident Ambassador in
Romania. The Romanian Embassy at Ottawa opened in 1970. The Consulate
General of Romania at Toronto reopened in 1991. At the same time, the
Consulate General of Romania at Montreal regained its initial functions.
At the present moment, Mr. Liviu MAIOR is the Ambassador of Romania at Ottawa and on April 29, 2003 his Excellency presented the accreditation letters.
Mr. Franco D. PILLARELLA is the Ambassador of Canada
at Bucharest.
On October 03, 2003 His Excellency presented the accreditation letters.
THE POLITICAL DIALOGUE
Contacts Agenda:
• July 13, 2003: Adrian NASTASE – Jean CHRÉTIEN, in
London with the occasion of the Conference and of Progressive Governance
Summit
• March 17 – 23, 2003: A. S. RADU, Prince of Hohenzollern – Veringen,
special Representative of the Romanian Government for Integration,
Cooperation and Durable Development
• May 25 – June 02, 2003: George Cristian MAIOR, State Secretary /
Ministry of National Defense.
• June 08 – 11 2003: General Raymond HENAULT , Chief of Defense in
Canada.
• June 09 – 13, 2003: Cameliu PETRESCU, Vice president of the Chamber of
Deputies.
• November 01 – 06, 2003: the official visit to Canada of Alexandru
FARCAS, State Secretary in the Ministry of Administration and Internal
Affairs.
• November 16 – 18, 2003: the official visit of a Romanian delegation of
the Agency of Exports Development to Canada. Both Robert FORBES, Vice
president of Energy department and Luc DUPONT, Director for Turkey and
South Eastern Europe were part of this official delegation.
• December 03 – 07, 2003: the official visit to Canada of Titus
CORLATEAN, State Secretary of the “Romanians from Everywhere department.
• January 12 – 14, 2004: the visit to Romania of Robert van Adel,
president of AECL.
• February 26 – 27, 2004: the visit to Canada of Mr. George CIAMBA,
State Secretary MAE.
BILATERAL POLITICAL AGENDA:
The Romanian – Canadian partnership - the dynamics of the political – diplomatic dialogue.
Canada, active supporter of Romania’s cause through
the European and
Euro – Atlantic integration.
Canada was the 1st state to ratify the adhesion Protocols of the
candidate countries accepted at NATO Summit in Prague.
On December 10, 2002 an agreement was signed between Nuclearoelectrica and Societe Generale Canada along with other financial parties. This agreement represents Canada’s approval for credit with view to the continuation of works at Unit # 2 of Cernavoda;
The partnership in the electrical power resources field, focusing on the creation of an electrical power integrated regional system, i.e. the south – eastern European Power System. The Management Plan Project was signed on May 18, 2001 in Bucharest.
The cooperation of aero – nautical industries between Romania and Canada as a result of the signing of Mutual Understanding Memorandum between the Association of Aero – Spatial Companies of Romania and the Association of Aero – Spatial Industries of Canada;
CIDA’s non - reimbursable financial assistance
offered to Romania in different fields of activity, respectively:
a) the bilateral programs (management of environment, the juridical
reform, labor market reform, the development of the private system),
b) the regional programs (children’s rights, assistance with regards to
the training of police forces in the South – Eastern European countries
, cooperation fund),
c) decentralization programs (local administration) or regional
mechanisms (volunteering consulting services – CESO, partnership for the
future, communication management);
Training programs for the military staff assured by the Canadian specialized institutions.
Bilateral cooperation between the two parliaments;
The bilateral trade exchange has increased in the last years and a volume of over $100 million US has been registered.
Romania has taken the decision of increasing the commitment towards visas for the Canadian citizens starting with January 01, 2002.
ECONOMIC RELATIONS
According to the actual Romanian statistics, on December 31 of 2003 the volume of trade exchange between Romania and Canada registered a value of $US 173, 6 million ($US 49,8 million in exports and $US 123,8 million in imports).
As far as the Romanian exports are concerned, the merchandise structure of the Romanian – Canadian trade exchanges emphasizes the significant share of the following groups of products: electronic machines and equipment, textile fabrics, furniture and interior design articles. On a very large scale, Romania imports electronic machines and equipment, mineral products, optical, photo and cinema apparatus and equipment.
The main objective of the economic cooperation between Romania and Canada has been represented by the construction of the Nuclear – Electric Power Station of Cernavoda. This important objective has been achieved based both on the Cooperation Inter – Government Agreement in the development and utilization of the nuclear power for peaceful purposes only and on the understanding established with the Canadian Agency for Atomic Power.
On April 17, 1996 CNE Cernavoda Unit # 1 was opened and on August 09, 1996 the unit was connected to the National Power System. Since December of 1996, the unit has been functioning following the exploitation projected parameters.
On September 26, 1996 the bidding for the approval of 2 cellular telephony licenses took place in Bucharest. One of the winners was MOFIBON consortium, to which TWI Canadian Company has a 40% participation rate. The evolution of this business in Romania is considered a real “success story” of the Romanian – Canadian cooperation.
In 1998, Export Development Corporation (a federal society of financial insurance and guarantee of Canadian exports and investments overseas) has elaborated a strategy for the relationship with Romania, setting the following priorities: informational telecommunications and informational technologies, petroleum and gas, transports infrastructure, electrical power stations, constructions and materials of constructions, agricultural machines and equipment, environment protection and technology for food industry.
On December 31 of 2003, the total volume of Canadian investments comprised in the Romanian economy reached $US 61, 5 million. 875 societies that enjoy Canadian participation were registered at that time. Among all the investing countries in Romania, Canada is the 24th. The following fields are represented by the most important mixed societies: communications, agricultural and food industry, transportation, Information Technology, light industry, banks, tourism, hydrocarbons exploitation and production, infrastructure, trade.
Please see below the most important Canadian
investors in Romania:
• Mofibon (mobile telephony) – Bucharest
• Luxten Lighting (electrical equipment) – Bucharest, Arad
• A&C International (IT) – Bucharest
• GELCAP (pharmaceutical industry) - Bucharest
• ARGUS (protection, safety and guard) – Bucharest
• ELCODELTA (electrical products and equipment) – Targu Secuiesc
• NORADA (textile products) – Odorheiu Secuiesc
• IFCOS – Targu Mures
• ICCO (pharmaceutical industry) – Brasov
• TAMILIA (furniture and clothing industry) – IASI
Agreements in the economical cooperation field:
The trade agreement, signed in 1971 (is annually
extended through tacit renewal; it foresees the granting, based on
reciprocal agreement, of the most favored nation treatment).
Romania also takes advantage of the preferred generalized customs chart
that was implemented by Canada in 1974. This chart was extended in 1994
for another 10 years period of time;
The agreement memorandum with regards to the imports regulation of some Romanian textile products in Canada. This memorandum was signed on February 20, 1995 and it was approved by the Government of Romania on May 02, 1995. It is valid until December 31, 2000.
The agreement memorandum between the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry and the Ministry of Agriculture of Canada with regards to the cooperation in the agricultural field (1980);
The agreement signed in 1977, regarding the cooperation in the development and nuclear power utilization in peaceful purposes only; the construction of the Canadian nuclear - electrical power station is also based on this agreement.
The Government agreement for reciprocal promotion and guarantee of investments. This agreement was signed in April 1996 and has been valid as of February 11, 1997.
The agreement concerning the technical exchange with the Canadian Agency for the Atomic Power (1983)
The agreement regarding the civil air transportation (1983)
The convention with regards to the avoiding of the double income and property taxation (1978)
The phyto - sanitary agreement and the sanitary – veterinary agreement (1993).
The agreement regarding the information exchange between the Commission of movable personals of Quebec and the Ministry of Finance/The Agency of movable personals of Romania (1993).
The Government Agreement regarding the reciprocal recognition and the collaboration in the nuclear activity field (signed in July of 1993 between CNCAN and AECB)
The convention agreement concerning the industrial cooperation in the environment protection field between the Ministry of Industries of Romania and the Ministry of Industries of Canada (signed in Bucharest on October 25, 1995).
The convention agreement regarding the cooperation in the labor and social protection field (signed in Ottawa on February 06, 1996)
The convention memorandum regarding the reciprocal cooperation in the residences field (signed in Bucharest on January 17, 2000)
The convention memorandum between the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Romania and the Department of Natural Resources of Canada, with regards to the cooperation in the field of Research and Development of the electric power and nuclear technology.
The Cooperation Agreement between EXIMBANK - Romania and the Society for exports promotion (EDC) of Canada.
The Cooperation Agreement between the Romanian Foreign Trade Center and the Trade Facilitation Office of Canada with regards to the Romanian exports promotion on the Canadian market.
Cooperation contracts between the Chamber of Commerce
and Industry of Romania and the similar institutions of Montreal,
Quebec.
Perspectives for the economic collaboration development
- Infrastructure
- The electrical power field – the utilization of hydro and thermal –
electric potential.
- Textile industry
- Tourism
- Agriculture and biotechnology.
MILITARY RELATIONS
Having in view the assistance that Romania received while in the process of its adherence to NATO, the bilateral military cooperation is remarkable especially through continuity and intensity. This cooperation is also obvious in the North Atlantic Alliance high level of training of the Romanian military staff who participates in the operations of peace maintenance. The granting of more scholarships in different specialty fields is also a part of this cooperation.
At the same time, a very important cooperation between the specialization institutions of Romania and Canada is being developed. It concerns the decrease of risks appearing as a result of the intensification of unconventional treats.
CULTURAL RELATIONS
On July 03 of 1991, the Romanian Government and the
Canadian Government signed the Convention Memorandum regarding the
cooperation in the cultural, education and sporting fields. Similar
agreements were also signed in the fields of cinematography and audio –
visual means.
The Romanian – Canadian program of MBA, phase 2 was resumed in 1998. The
reopening of this program was done with the assistance of the Canadian
International Development Agency (CIDA) and achieved / implemented at
the level of the Academy of Economic Studies of Bucharest in
collaboration with the University of Quebec (Montreal). This program is
an extremely useful cooperation form. It ensures both the training of
Romanian specialists in the business management field and the
organization - inside the Academy of Economic Sciences - of an
appropriate MBA program that meets the Western standards.
VISA SYSTEM AND CONDITIONS
Necessary visas for those Romanians who possess tourism passports.
1971: agreements regarding the visa permits for
multiple travels for the consular and the diplomatic staff;
1982: visas tax exemption; the bearers of diplomatic and business
passports were offered other facilities;
1993: free of charge visas approval by request for the bearers of
diplomatic and business passports; simple and regular visas (with
official purpose only) and for a maximum of 3 months stay;
1989: visa tax exemption for all official travels;
2002: the unilateral cancellation of visa necessity for the Canadian
citizens traveling to Romania for a maximum of 30 days period of time.
Direction America – April 2004