Highland - Romanian links strengthened.
A delegation of Romanian diplomats, led by the country’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom, His Excellency Dr Ion Jinga, were welcomed to the Highlands recently in a move to strengthen the ties between the Highlands and Romania.
During the visit, Dr Jinga appointed The Highland Council Leader Councillor Drew Hendry to the role of Honorary Consul to Romania for the Highlands.
The ceremony took place at Inverness Town House and was attended by a number of Romanian diplomats from the London Embassy and Edinburgh Consular Office as well as members of the Highland business community and representatives of Romanians living in Inverness.
Dr Jinga said: “The appointment of Councillor Drew Hendry for this position is a testament to the importance the Romanian Government attaches to Scotland and areas such as the Highlands, Orkney, Hebrides and the Shetland islands, some of the most beautiful and spectacular places in the world.”
Romania has five other honorary consuls in the United Kingdom, namely Newcastle upon Tyne, Belfast, Leeds, Southampton and Cardiff. Liverpool will follow early in the New Year. Romania also has a Consular Office in Edinburgh.
“We are fortunate that my Government now can be represented in The Highlands by a very strong Honorary Consul in Inverness.
“The Romanian Honorary Consul to Inverness will have many opportunities to represent and promote Romanian business opportunities in Scotland and Scottish business in Romania, to initiate and expand the trade partnership by facilitating trade missions to and from Romania. Hill and mountain regions in Romania have very similar climactic conditions to The Highlands and Islands which create many business opportunities including in green energy, afforestation, animal feeding, agriculture and the environment.”
Councillor Hendry highlighted the importance of the visit and the developing links between the Highlands and Romania.
He said: “First and foremost the visit is about cementing the ties we have with Romania. I would like to thank Dr Jinga for the commitment that he is making to the Highlands by creating the position of Honorary Consul .
“The Highlands and Romania both have a lot in common and a wealth of shared opportunities. When I was first asked to help, little did I know how involved I would become. Nor did I realise how rewarding an experience it would be to meet and work with Romanian people.
“This is about helping our economies and working together to achieve common aims. We are already examining the opportunity for joint working on such diverse issues as small scale renewables, agri-tourism, local organic food production and biodiversity and of course, traditional tourism.
“It is a great honour for both the Highlands and myself to be made Honorary Consul for Romania in the Highlands. I will do my best to help Romanian citizens to fit seamlessly into our Highland communities and to ensure iving and working here is a satisfying and rewarding experience. There will always be challenges when living away from your home but I hope that soon many Romanians will also feel that their home is in the Highlands.”
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