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Minister Nikolov: Ukraine is a traditional and significant foreign trade partner of Bulgaria

Minister Nikolov: Ukraine is a traditional and significant foreign trade partner of Bulgaria

The Minister for Economy opened a Bulgarian-Ukrainian business forum with the participation of nearly 70 companies from both countries

I am convinced of the prospects for the development of bilateral economic relations with Ukraine and the existence of a number of areas of mutual interest that can be promoted through an active dialogue between both official institutions and the business communities of the two countries. This said the Minister for Economy and Industry Dr. Petko Nikolov, who opened in Sofia a Bulgarian-Ukrainian business forum with the participation of nearly 70 companies from both countries.

Minister Nikolov pointed out the promising areas for economic cooperation, including construction, energy, transport and logistics, agriculture and food industry, pharmaceutical industry and others.

The Minister for Economy emphasized that Ukraine is a traditional and significant foreign trade partner for our country, with which it is developing comprehensive and long-term cooperation. ‘In recent years, foreign trade between the two countries has been characterized by a steady growth of bilateral trade’, Minister Nikolov further said. He pointed out that in 2023 the trade between the two countries amounted to about 2 billion USD.

In his words, Bulgaria consistently supports and participates in the international efforts to provide comprehensive assistance to Ukraine, with the EU playing a leading role and in close coordination and contribution from international partners.

Dr. Petko Nikolov expressed confidence that the forum will contribute to establishing new business contacts, building partnerships and implementing joint projects. ‘These opportunities are even more significant in today’s complex and dynamic international economic environment, which creates many challenges for businesses’, he said.

The Minister for Economy and Industry pointed out that the Ministry assisted in identifying the interest of the business sector for its future participation in initiatives to revitalize the Ukrainian economy and infrastructure. ‘The reconstruction of Ukraine, which will be a priority objective in the coming years, will require financial resources and the participation of private capital will play an important role in this process’, he said.

According to Minister Nikolov, the geographical and cultural proximity between the two countries, the shared Euro-Atlantic values and the presence of the largest Bulgarian community abroad in Ukraine are a solid basis for strengthening our economic ties and our fruitful cooperation.

During the event the Minister for Economy met with the Ambassador of Ukraine to our country H.E. Olesya Ilashchuk, and the two discussed opportunities for expanding trade and economic ties between the two countries.

The forum was organized by the Bulgarian Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion Agency (BSMEPA), and the opening was attended by the Head of the European Commission Representation in Bulgaria Yordanka Chobanova, Tsvetan Simeonov, President of the BCCI, Lilia Ivanova, President of the Bulgarian-Ukrainian Chamber of Industry, Viktor Kantsurak — State Secretary of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy of Ukraine, Gennady Chizhikov — President of the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and others.

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