The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Florin-Ionuț Barbu, is refining his external agenda along two lines: he voices reservations about the EU–Mercosur trade agreement, citing risks to sensitive sectors and to the competitiveness of Romanian farmers, while at the same time signaling openness to strengthening bilateral partnerships outside this dossier, including with Central Asian states.

In this context, on Tuesday, 13 January 2026, Minister Florin Barbu received at the headquarters of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MADR) the visit of the Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to Romania, His Excellency Ali Yerlik. According to the information released by the Ministry, the discussions focused on the current state of bilateral cooperation in the agricultural and agri-food sector, as well as on its consolidation through projects and cooperation mechanisms tailored to the areas of interest of both parties.

A central element of the meeting was the analysis of the possibilities for signing a Memorandum of Understanding in the field of agriculture between the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Romania and the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Such a document could create an operational framework for technical exchanges, institutional dialogue, and joint initiatives along the agri-food value chain.

The meeting at MADR aligns with the messages recently conveyed by the Minister regarding the need to protect European producers in trade agreements such as EU–Mercosur, against the backdrop of differences in standards and compliance costs. At the same time, MADR indicates its willingness to develop diversified agri-food economic relations, particularly in regions where there is potential for complementarity and for the expansion of institutional cooperation.