A forum is to be organized in Bulgaria to present the opportunities for Canadian business for investment and joint activities with Bulgarian companies. This was agreed during a meeting between the Minister of Economy and Industry Nikola Stojanov and the Ambassador of Canada to Bulgaria H. E. Ms Annick Goulet.
Over the last five years, bilateral trade in goods between the European Union and Canada has reached a value of EUR 60 billion, with an increase of more than 30% over the period, it became clear during the meeting. Trade between Bulgaria and Canada for the first 11 months of last year amounted to nearly USD 218 million. The participants in the meeting agreed that there is a great potential for the development of bilateral cooperation between the two countries. Common initiatives in the fields of green energy, automotive, information and communication technologies, mechanical engineering, extractive industries, etc. were discussed.
Among the topics discussed was dual training. ‘We are currently developing a programme and state-owned enterprises as a step to promote learning by doing,’ Nikola Stojanov informed. Ambassador Goulet commented that Canadian companies can share experience in the field.
Minister Stojanov highlighted the opportunities for joint initiatives and investment promotion between the two countries. ‘One of our priorities is to change the way industrial parks are managed in Bulgaria and to use them as a tool for sustainable development of the regions,’ said Nikola Stojanov. In this regard, the Minister of Economy invited representatives of Canadian companies to get acquainted with the opportunities offered by the industrial parks in Bulgaria.