PUTRAJAYA: Enhancing education, tourism and trade with Sarawak are top on the cards for Romania.
Its ambassador to Malaysia and Brunei, Nineta Barbulescu said she was impressed with Sarawak's slogan 'More to Discover', which clearly reflected the state's rich natural resources and ethnic diversity.
"I believe that there is a lot to explore in this 'Bumi Kenyalang' which is not only rich in natural resources but also rich in ethnic diversity.
"Sarawak definitely is in line with its tourism slogan 'More to Discover as can be seen at places like the Sarawak Cultural House," she told New Straits Times following her recent six-day visit to the east Malaysian state.
Accompanying her was her husband and honorary advisor for trade innovation, cultural and academic fields Dan-Cristian Barbulescu, Romanian honorary consul in Sarawak Datuk Mutang Tagal and wife Datin Ho May Leng.
Nineta said that her delegation also explored investment opportunities between the state and Romania.
Among others, they attended the 'Mada Ayu' night organised by the Lun Bawang Association, learning about the community's songs, musical instruments, traditional food and folklore.
"Sarawak has a very diverse and rich culture and we are very impressed with it.
"There are many things we can learn from each other's experience," she said.
Nineta and her delegation began the itinerary by calling on Yang di-Pertuan Negeri Sarawak Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud and wife Toh Puan Raghad Kurdi Taib at their residence at Demak Jaya.
"It was a great pleasure meeting up with the governor, who is Sarawak's legendary and visionary politician and ruler for decades.
"I made it known to him on the possibility for future exchange of courtesy visits.
"The shorter route to Romania is via Istanbul (in Turkey), with just an hour's flight to Constanta port in the Black Sea.
"I also informed him of my interest to read more about Sarawak's recent history in his book 'The pillar of Harmony'," said Nineta.
She followed up with courtesy calls on Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan at Wisma Sumber Alam; Education, Innovation and Talent Development Minister Datuk Roland Sagah Wee Inn; State Assembly Speaker Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nasar; Sarawak Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah; Deputy Minister of International Trade and Investment Datuk Dr Malcom Mussen Lamoh; Advisor to the Ministry of International Trade and Investment (Small and Medium Industry Development) Datuk Mohd Naroden Majais; and Sarawak Business Federation secretary-general Datuk Jonathan Chai Voon Tok.
She also held discussions with South Kuching City Council mayor Datuk Wee Hong Seng and North Kuching City Hall mayor Junaidi Reduan.
Apart from that, Nineta took the opportunity to meet Universiti Malaysia Sarawak vice-chancellor Professor Datuk Dr Mohamad Kadim and Native Customs and Traditions Council head Datuk Ronnie Edward.
She was later taken on a tour of the Borneo Cultural Museum and Sarawak Cultural Village, before being hosted by Serembu assemblyman Miro Simuh to a dinner at Pekan Warisan Siniawan.
"These courtesy calls are aimed at strengthening relations and cooperation between the governments of Sarawak and Romania.
"We discussed at length and exchanged views on cooperation in investment in the state," she said.
Nineta, 54, born in Galati City, Romania was appointed Malaysia's ambassador on Jan 22 last year, and to Brunei on March 2 also last year.
She is a career diplomat since 1994 and had served as ambassador to Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Nauru, Kiribati, Samoa, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.
Nineta said that she related to Awang Tengah on the best transportation route with Romania via the Black Sea and Turkish ports.
"I highlighted the need for more efforts to be put in for new products to be imported and exported to and from Romania.
"Since establishing diplomatic relations with Malaysia on March 22, 1969, I am delighted to start exploring economic, academic and cultural opportunities to advance our bilateral trade and to know each other better.
"We need more people-to-people contacts and synergies between Romania and Sarawak, too," Nineta said.
With Mohamad Asia, Nineta spoke on the rationale of having a legislative assembly and how she was intrigued at its parliament house as the most beautiful building in Asia.
"Likewise, I could not agree more with Mohamad Asia who found the Romanian 'Palace of Parliament' as the biggest and most beautiful such facility on Earth.
"The common feature of both buildings is that they are built exclusively with indigenous raw materials! They are wonderful representative buildings for our countries and our people!" she said.
Her discussion with Roland Sagah touched on projects for new tools of education in rural and remote communities.
"This was part of my previous experience serving as an envoy in the Pacific Islands," Nineta said.
She added that she had a great experience attending the 'Mada Ayu' night with some of the 16,000-strong Lun Bawang community.
"I met some scientists of Lun Bawang ethnicity such as Prof Dr Kasing Apun, who is a retired professor for molecular microbiology.
"She was the first woman from her community to become a scientist.
"Then, there was Dr Arnold Puyok, a senior lecturer in politics and government studies who gave me his book 'Electoral Dynamics in Sarawak.
"We agreed to continue our conversation on the political landscape, later in Kuala Lumpur," said Nineta, adding she and Dan gladly learnt to wear the 'sigar' headgear and accepted Lun Bawang names of Kasing and Padan, respectively.
Nineta hoped to have a better understanding of other Borneo traditions and cultures, so as to advance their understanding on the similarities and affinities with Malaysia's rich diverse ethnic landscape.
She said her encounter with Kuching Chinese General Chamber of Commerce and Industry chairman Rodger Chan Siong Boh and its Associated Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Datuk Tan Jit Kee was very fruitful.
"We exchanged ideas on trade business opportunities, including renewable energy, information technology and digital economy.
"I made it known of Romania's strength as a top five country worldwide for fixed band Internet speed; as well as its popularity for food and beverage like cheese, wine, sweets and canned items," said Nineta.
She also spoke with former Sarawak Museum director Dr Ipoi Datan on native laws and current challenges of the indigenous people of Sarawak.
"We exchanged ideas on the commonalities among Borneo, Polynesian and Melanesian cultures of the Pacific region," she said.
Likewise, her visit to Universiti Malaysia Sarawak gave Nineta an opportunity for exchange of students and professors via joint programmes in the near future.
On a parting note, Nineta hoped the turmoil in Ukraine following Russia's invasion, would come to an end soon so as to promote global peace and revive the sagging economy.