This article covers the diplomatic relationship between India and Moldova: recognition and the establishment of relations, visits and ministerial meetings, Foreign Office Consultations and the agreements signed between the two countries. It is based on the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) bilateral brief of May 2026.

Recognition and establishment of relations

India recognised Moldova on December 28, 1991, and diplomatic relations were established on March 20, 1992.

According to the MEA brief of May 2026, India-Moldova relations are "friendly and cordial". The brief states that the two countries cooperate well on matters of mutual interest at multilateral fora, and that Moldova has been supportive of Indian candidacies in multilateral fora.

Meetings between foreign ministers

External Affairs Minister (EAM) Dr. S. Jaishankar met the then Moldovan Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Mr. Nicu Popescu, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in September 2022 in New York.

Mr. Mihai Popșoi, whom the brief describes as the current Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, visited India from December 15-17, 2024, and met EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar. He visited New Delhi again from 17-19 March 2025 and met Dr. S. Jaishankar on the sidelines of the Raisina Dialogue.

Visits since 1993

Two high-level visits from Moldova took place in quick succession in 1993. President Mircea Snegur visited India in March, followed by Vice Premier Coscodan in the same year. Deputy PM Valentine Kunayev visited India in 1994. President Droupadi Murmu arrived in Chisinau on 20 July 2026 on a State Visit, the first visit by an Indian President to Moldova, and held talks with President Maia Sandu.

Other visits and meetings recorded in the brief include:

  • A Moldovan delegation headed by Mr. Victor Bodiu, Secretary General of the Government, took part in the e-World Forum 2011 in New Delhi from 1-3 August 2011. Mr. Bodiu met Mr. Sachin Pilot, Minister of State for Communication and Information Technology, and discussed possibilities of cooperation in IT.
  • Minister of State for External Affairs Mrs. Preneet Kaur paid an official visit to Moldova from 22-25 September 2013.
  • Minister of Statistics and Programme Implementation Mr. D. V. Sadananda Gowda visited Moldova from 2 to 4 November 2016.
  • Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of Moldova Mr. Tudor Ulianovschi paid an official visit to India from 11-15 August 2018.
  • Ms. Georgeta Mincu, Minister of Agriculture, Regional Development and Environment, visited India on 9-10 September 2019 to attend the 14th Session of the Conference of States Parties to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification.
  • Ms. K K Shailaja Kumari, Minister of Health & Family Welfare, Government of Kerala, visited Moldova from 29 Nov to 1 Dec 2019.
  • Moldovan Environment Minister Ms. Iordanov Iordanca-Rodica took part online in the G20 Voice of South Summit in January 2023.
  • Mr. Vladimir Bolea, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture, visited India from 30-31 July 2023. He held discussions with Sushri Shobha Karandlaje, Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, and met Shri Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce and Industry, and Shri Sanjay Verma, Secretary (West).
  • Moldovan State Secretary of the Ministry of Finance Mr. Ion Gumene took part in the Finance Ministers' sessions of the virtual 2nd Voice of the South Summit on 17 November 2023 and the virtual 3rd Voice of Global South Summit on 17 August 2024.

Foreign Office Consultations

The 1st India-Moldova Foreign Office Consultations (FOCs) were held in January 2003 in Chisinau. The 2nd FOCs were held in New Delhi on 4 October 2024, co-chaired by Mr. Tanmaya Lal, Secretary (West), and Mr. Sergiu Mihov, State Secretary for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Moldova.

Agreements

During the State visit of President Mircea Snegur in March 1993, six agreements were signed:

  • Declaration on Principles and Directions of Cooperation
  • Agreement on Cooperation in Education, Science, Culture, Arts, Mass Media, Sports, Tourism and Youth Affairs
  • Protocol of Consultations between MEA and the Moldovan Foreign Ministry
  • Agreement on Trade and Economic Cooperation
  • Agreement on Economic & Technical Cooperation
  • Agreement on cooperation in Science & Technology

During Mr. Popșoi's visit in December 2024, Moldova signed the Framework Agreement to join the International Solar Alliance. An MoU was also signed between the Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service, Ministry of External Affairs of India, and the Diplomatic Institute, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Moldova, to enhance cooperation in diplomat training.

On 19 March 2025, Dr. S. Jaishankar and Mr. Mihai Popșoi signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on agricultural cooperation in New Delhi.