Bilateral Foreign Economic Cooperation

Bilateral Foreign Economic Cooperation Directorate has the following functions:

1. develops proposals and participates in the implementation of state policy in the field of bilateral foreign economic relations;
2. analyses and submits proposals for the elaboration of the state policy for the development of bilateral trade cooperation by countries and regions, including through the development of programs and projects; researches and analyzes the economic development and relevant legislation, trade and investment regimes of the respective countries;
3. develops and maintains up-to-date databases on bilateral relations by countries and regions, prepares analyses and proposals concerning bilateral visits and meetings at state and government level and prepares positions on issues of foreign economic cooperation;
4. participates in and coordinates the preparation of sessions of bilateral intergovernmental commissions for economic cooperation and meetings of other forms of bilateral economic cooperation; provides ongoing expert and technical support and coordinates the implementation of the assigned tasks; in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other relevant state institutions prepares and conducts the sessions and the meetings;
5. prepares and implements initiatives to promote the economic opportunities and the export potential of the Republic of Bulgaria, plans and implements national participation in international exhibitions and forums;
6. prepares and conducts negotiations on economic cooperation agreements and participates in the negotiation process on agreements for mutual protection and promotion of investments jointly with the Investment Policy and Strategic Projects Directorate; provides positions on draft agreements prepared by other departments/institutions;
7. supports the Minister in the implementation of interstate cooperation and the implementation of bilateral agreements within the competence of the Minister;
8. coordinates activities for the participation of the Republic of Bulgaria in international economic initiatives;
9. provides assistance in facilitating trade and economic cooperation at regional level between the state institutions of the Republic of Bulgaria and their counterparts in the respective countries;
10. participates in the dialogue with non-governmental organizations on issues of the development of bilateral foreign economic relations;
11. prepares analyses and reports on the development of the bilateral foreign economic relations and provides information to other relevant public bodies and non-governmental organizations concerned; analyses data on the development of trade exchange and opportunities for expanding trade;
12. provides Bulgarian producers and exporters as well as their professional associations with information on economic development, market conditions and the regulation of business activity in individual countries;
13. provides operational management and oversight of the activities of the Trade and Economic Affairs Services within the diplomatic missions of the Republic of Bulgaria abroad; develops and coordinates their work plans and specific tasks related to the implementation of the country’s foreign economic policy;
14. through the Trade and Economic Affairs Services at the diplomatic missions of the Republic of Bulgaria abroad:
    a) proposes measures for and participates in the implementation of the economic policy of the Republic of Bulgaria and in safeguarding its trade and economic interests in the host country;
    b) proposes and participates in the implementation of economic policy and the protection of the trade and economic interests of the Republic of Bulgaria in the host country;
    c) proposes and organizes events for the realization of the country’s economic priorities, expanding exports, attracting investments and tourists and promoting the opportunities of the Republic of Bulgaria as a reliable economic partner;
    d) collects, analyzes and provides information on the economic development, foreign economic policy and the state of the host country’s domestic market;
    e) provides assistance in establishing relations between the state institutions of the Republic of Bulgaria and those of the host country and during visits of government and institutional delegations on economic issues to the host country;
    f) assists Bulgarian entrepreneurs and industry organizations seeking to enter the host-country market by facilitating contacts and providing information on the host country’s trade policy and market conditions;
    g) supports the promotion of Bulgarian tourism abroad;
    h) supports the activities of the Investment Policy and Strategic Projects Directorate on projects aimed at attracting strategic investors;
15. establishes contacts and exchanges information with trade and economic missions accredited to the Republic of Bulgaria; maintains relations with the relevant units of state institutions, organizations and other entities in the relevant countries on issues of foreign economic relations, while informing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other ministries and departments thereof ;
16. cooperates with the Industrial Center of the Republic of Bulgaria in Moscow on trade and economic issues;
17. coordinates activities of joint competence and cooperates with the Bulgarian Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion Agency and the Invest Bulgaria Agency in the areas of foreign economic cooperation and attraction of foreign investors;
18. supports the implementation of the policy for the development of industrial zones in Bulgaria and interacts with “National Company Industrial Zones” PLC;
19. develops and implements the Ministry’s participation in programs and projects related to the development of trade and economic relations on a bilateral basis;
20. participates in the preparation of the Ministry’s forecasts and draft budget, as well as in program’s implementation of the Ministry’s program-based budget, in line within its functional competence.