Romania and the United States have a solid foundation for developing their economic relations, and the next step is to turn the connections between companies and entrepreneurs into investments, joint projects and long-term partnerships, said Simona Florea, Consul General of Romania in New York, at the third edition of Forbes România Business Bridges.
The event, held in New York, brought together business representatives, entrepreneurs and leaders of the Romanian and American communities, with the aim of building new bridges of collaboration between the two markets.
“For me, three things will matter most: the trust we build on, the strength we bring to each other, and what we do after today,” Simona Florea said at the opening of her remarks. The Consul General stressed that the Strategic Partnership between Romania and the United States is an important foundation for developing economic relations. Years of security cooperation have shown the value of collaboration between the two countries, and this relationship can be deepened through investment, technology and industrial cooperation. According to figures cited at the event, bilateral trade between Romania and the US exceeded $9 billion in 2025, while American investment in Romania amounts to approximately €10 billion, measured by country of origin.
“Behind these figures are companies, jobs and relationships that endure. They give us the confidence to take the next step,” Florea said. The United States is Romania’s fourth-largest foreign investor and its largest investor from outside the European Union, according to the figures presented in her speech. In Simona Florea’s view, American companies can find opportunities in Romania in areas such as infrastructure modernization, energy and technological development.
At the same time, Romania offers energy expertise, a skilled workforce, industrial capabilities and access to European and regional markets. “American companies can find opportunities in Romania’s infrastructure modernization, energy projects and technological development,” the Consul General said. Romanian companies, in turn, have opportunities to expand in the American market in fields such as software development, specialized manufacturing, engineering, services and entrepreneurial investment.
The Consul General also spoke about the transformations the global economy is going through, from the rapid development of artificial intelligence and growing energy needs to companies reassessing their supply chains. “Technology is changing production. Energy needs are growing. Businesses are reassessing supply chains,” Florea said.
In this context, Romania can play a greater role in global supply chains and build on the expertise it has accumulated in technology and industry. Simona Florea also referred to the message delivered by President Nicușor Dan at the United Nations General Assembly, where he highlighted the importance of human capital and Romania’s expertise in fields such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, advanced manufacturing and robotics. “The challenge now is to bring those capabilities together,” the Consul General said.
In her view, the new economic trends create opportunities for joint production, supply partnerships and research projects. “Artificial intelligence can improve manufacturing and financial services,” Florea added, underlining the link between technology, industry, infrastructure and capital. In this process, the Consulate General of Romania in New York aims to act as a facilitator for Romanian and American companies.
Together with the Embassy of Romania in Washington, D.C., institutional partners and business representatives, the Consulate can facilitate introductions and help companies access relevant expertise and networks. “The Consulate General of Romania in New York is ready to facilitate introductions and help companies find relevant expertise and support,” Simona Florea said.
“Romanian entrepreneurs and professionals here know both markets and can help expand connections across the Atlantic,” she said.
