AGERPRES special correspondent Oana Ghita reports: President Nicusor Dan on Tuesday participates in the Three Seas Initiative (3SI) Summit, where he will underline the importance of the transatlantic relationship for mobilising the capital and expertise needed for projects in the region, according to the Presidential Administration, while also highlighting the need for greater involvement of the private sector in implementing Three Seas Initiative projects.

According to to the quoted source, the president will also emphasise the relevance of dual-use projects, which contribute both to economic growth and to strengthening military mobility and resilience in the face of security challenges.

On Wednesday, Nicusor Dan will attend the Three Seas Initiative Business Forum.

'Participation in the Summit reflects Romania's sustained commitment to strengthening regional connectivity, energy security and economic resilience in the Three Seas region. The Initiative has now reached a stage of maturity, in which the focus is on implementing strategic projects with a direct impact on citizens and the economies in the region,' the Presidential Administration shows.

On Tuesday, President Dan will reaffirm Romania's support for the development of strategic transport and energy corridors - Via Carpatia, Rail2Sea and the Vertical Corridor - regarded as essential for mobility and economic security. The Presidential Administration underlines that Romania is strengthening its role as a regional actor, capitalising on its strategic position at the Black Sea and its status as a connectivity hub between Central Europe, the Balkans and the Black Sea region.

The energy dimension remains a priority, through diversification of sources, interconnection and the use of domestic resources, including those in the Black Sea, the Presidential Administration adds.

On Wednesday, at the Business Forum, Nicusor Dan will participate in the Leaders' Panel within the Three Seas Initiative Business Forum, alongside representatives of the financial and business environment in the region, as well as from the United States, Japan, South Korea and Canada. International financial institutions such as the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the Inter-American Development Bank, the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, the Japan Bank for International Cooperation and the Japan External Trade Organisation will also be present. The event is presented as a major platform for mobilising investment, particularly in the energy sector.

The forum brings together over 1,200 participants from 45 states, representing 174 official entities and more than 700 companies and financial institutions. The Presidential Administration notes that the strong participation of Romanian companies shows the private sector's interest in regional projects.

In his address, Romania's President will underline that the Three Seas region is a strategic pillar for Europe's security and competitiveness, and that Romania is positioning itself as a regional hub for energy and connectivity. He will advocate increased investment in energy infrastructure, particularly in the natural gas sector and interconnections, as well as the development of strategic corridors linking the Baltic Sea, the Black Sea and the Adriatic Sea.

On the sidelines of the Summit, a Memorandum of Understanding will be signed between the Constanta Maritime Ports Administration National Company and the Port of Rijeka Authority. This partnership contributes to strengthening regional connectivity and reinforcing the role of the Port of Constanta as a strategic hub at the Black Sea, facilitating its integration into European transport corridors and access to international markets.

At the same time, a Memorandum of Understanding will be signed by several national development banks in the region regarding Romania's accession to the Three Seas Initiative Infrastructure Fund.

Romania's Investment and Development Bank is ready to contribute to the capital of this new financial instrument, which aims to mobilise up to three billion euro for investment in energy and sustainability, transport, digital infrastructure and social infrastructure. The fund, developed with the support of the European Investment Fund, will also attract private capital, strengthening the financing of strategic projects in the region.

In the context of the two meetings, the President of Romania will hold bilateral talks with Federal Chancellor of Austria Christian Stocker, with Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova Alexandru Munteanu, and with United States Secretary of Energy Chris Wright.

The Three Seas Initiative is a flexible and informal political platform at presidential level, bringing together the 12 EU member states located between the Adriatic, the Baltic and the Black Sea (Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia). Greece became the 13th member of the Initiative in 2023, following the Bucharest Summit.

The Initiative aims to increase convergence and cohesion, while reducing the economic development gap between different areas and member states of the European Union by enhancing interconnectivity in the region in the fields of energy, transport and digital. The core principles of the Three Seas Initiative are promoting economic development, increasing cohesion at European level and strengthening transatlantic ties. AGERPRES (RO - editing by: Mihai Simionescu; EN - writing by: Adina Panaitescu)