“Bulgaria is among the main supporters of liberalization of the trade between the EU and Japan, and this is the position that we will be defending at the upcoming Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Brussels” the Minister of Economy Bojidar Loukarsky stated a meeting with the Japan’s Ambassador to Bulgaria, H.E.Takashi Koizumi held earlier today. The need to strengthen economic cooperation between Bulgaria and Japan were on the forum’s agenda, including the potential to implement joint projects in agriculture and food industry.
“Japan is seen as a strategic and long-standing Bulgarian partner with whom our relations have had strong traditions. We believe that such cooperation could be broadened in many other fields, as evidenced by the approved position of the Bulgarian Government regarding the course of negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement between the EU and Japan”, Minister Loukarsky added.
The trade and economic cooperation between the two countries has been dating for a long period, and a number of successful projects have been executed over the years. “A new initiative to expand the level of small and medium enterprises will be launched this year. H.E.Takashi Koizumi confirmed the importance of trade negotiations between the EU and Japan and thanked for Bulgaria’s willingness to contribute to their successful completion.
Minister Loukarsky stressed the main priority of the Ministry of Economy to improve the business environment and stimulate the economic growth, and outlined small and medium enterprises as its backbone and a key factor in the achievement of the objectives set out.