President of India Droupadi Murmu arrived in Chisinau, Moldova on July 20, 2026, marking the first leg of her state visit to Moldova, North Macedonia, and Romania. This visit represents the first-ever presidential state visit from India to Moldova, constituting a historic milestone in bilateral relations. The President was accompanied by a delegation including Smt. Nimuben Jayantibhai Bambhaniya (Minister of State in Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution), Dr. Dinesh Sharma (Rajya Sabha MP), and Shri Vijay Baghel (Lok Sabha MP).
Upon arrival at Chisinau International Airport, President Murmu was received by Moldovan Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mihai Popsoi. The President then proceeded to the Presidential Palace where she was warmly received by Moldovan President Maia Sandu and accorded a ceremonial welcome and guard of honor. The two leaders held productive one-to-one meetings and delegation-level talks covering the entire spectrum of bilateral partnership.
President Murmu emphasized that although geographically distant, India and Moldova have maintained warm and friendly relations for over three decades, guided by shared commitment to peace, development, and international cooperation. She identified economic cooperation as an important pillar of the partnership and emphasized the need to promote greater trade and investment, strengthen resilient supply chains, improve connectivity, and encourage closer business community engagement.
A significant announcement included India's decision to double the number of ITEC (Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation) training slots for Moldovan professionals, with specialized courses in Artificial Intelligence and other emerging technologies. Moldovan diplomats were specifically invited to participate in special courses on AI and Cyber diplomacy at India's Foreign Service Institute.
Both leaders agreed to strengthen cooperation in multiple areas of mutual interest including agriculture, logistics and infrastructure, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, renewable energy, Digital Public Infrastructure, Artificial Intelligence, and innovation. They committed to continuing collaborative efforts to address common global challenges and contribute to a peaceful, stable, and prosperous world. Both presidents issued press statements following their discussions.