The Minister of Economy and Industry, Dr. Petko Nikolov, met with representatives from a Japanese business delegation visiting our country. The meeting revealed that Japanese companies are interested in investing in film production, the IT sector, the food industry, and tourism. The Deputy Minister of Economy and Industry, Dr. David Sukalinski, also attended the meeting.
“The visit demonstrates the interest of Japanese businesses in expanding investments and boosting bilateral trade with Bulgaria,” Minister Nikolov said. He called the visit crucial for deepening the level of cooperation between the two nations. “Japan is a key partner for us in East Asia, and Bulgaria has maintained successful diplomatic relations with Japan for 115 years. In recent years, we have seen significant progress in our bilateral talks,” the Minister of Economy added.
The delegation comprised Japanese companies from various sectors, including food, transportation, construction, film, tourism, and more. Among the delegates is Mr. Kaloyan Mahlyanov, formerly known as the sumo wrestler Kotooshu, who has significantly contributed to strengthening Japanese-Bulgarian relations.
Dr. Petko Nikolov introduced Japanese business representatives to Bulgaria’s investment climate and trade potential. “We rely on the participation of Japanese companies and their investments in Bulgarian industrial parks,” he said. During the meeting, the opportunities for actively developing and expanding bilateral relations in sustainable innovations, digitalization, technology, and other sectors were discussed.
Minister Nikolov said that various Bulgarian products, such as food items, wine, and rose oil, have the potential to enter the Japanese market. He also mentioned the strong collaboration between the Bulgarian company LB Bulgaricum and the Japanese Meiji. “We deeply appreciate the longstanding relationship between the two companies, which recently marked 50 years of successful partnership,” he said.
The opportunity to open a direct flight route between Bulgaria and Japan was discussed during the meeting. Such a route could be another stimulus to boost business relations between the two countries.