The Bulgarian economy, despite the turbulence in the region and the political instability in the past two years, showed strength and sustainable growth and hopefully the Portuguese companies will discover its potential. This is what President Rosen Plevneliev said, who opened a joint Bulgarian-Portuguese business forum in Sofia, together with Portuguese President Anibal Cavaco Silva.
In the presence of the two Heads of State, a Joint Bulgarian-Portuguese Chamber of Commerce was set up. Memorandums on understanding between the Investment and Foreign Trade Agency of Portugal and the Bulgarian Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion Agency and the Investment and Foreign Trade Agency of Portugal and the Bulgarian Investment Agency were signed. The event was hosted by the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which marks 120 years since it was set up.
“These agreements will further strengthen the cooperation between Bulgaria and Portugal. We are not only showing our traditional friendship, but also clear pragmatism, because together we will achieve more,” Rosen Plevneliev emphasized in his address to the participants in the forum.
Before the representatives of the business circles from Bulgaria and Portugal, the Head of State highlighted our country’s investment advantages – export is increasing, unemployment is declining and 2015 is expected to be a record year in terms of EU funds absorption and the unlocking of 15,2 billion euros of EU funding for the new program period. Bulgaria has the lowest tax burden in the EU and the lowest costs for doing business in Europe, the President recalled. “We take pride in the stability ensured by the government with a clear coalition program, a clear action plan, which managed to achieve a lot in the first months of its term in office,” Rosen Plevneliev said and added that the reform of the Bulgarian administration and the introduction of elements of e-government will guarantee that every investor enjoys a fair attitude and equal rights.
The Head of State further highlighted Bulgaria’s adamant intention to conduct responsible reforms in the Security, Justice, Energy, Healthcare and Education sectors, and also in the water management sector in Bulgaria.
The President further emphasized Bulgaria’s strategic location and importance for ensuring stability, peace and prosperity in Southeast Europe. Most cross-European corridors pass through our country. “Bulgaria has the ambition to be a hub for the production of and trade with logistic support in very broad terms,” President Rosen Plevneliev added. In the Head of State’s words, joint projects with the Portuguese business may be implemented in the agriculture and food production sectors, in tourism, the ICT and innovations sector, and also in building a state-of-the-art infrastructure, water sector management and energy facilities.
Before the business circles, President Rosen Plevneliev also outlined the aims Bulgaria has set itself up to the second half of 2018 when our country will take over the presidency of the EU Council – full membership in Schengen, membership in the Single Supervisory Mechanism of the European Banking Union, and joining the transition currency mechanism ERM II. “Bulgaria will do its best to make sure that until then the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism is eliminated, and the factor responsible for achieving this aim is the reform launched in the Justice sector,” the Head of State further said.
The President of the Portuguese Republic Anibal Cavaco Silva, for his part, highlighted the excellent friendly relations between Bulgaria and Portugal, which reached a new quality after Bulgaria’s EU accession. However, the bilateral trade cooperation is far from the potential it has, President Silva emphasized, who highlighted the Single European Market as a key factor for unleashing the potential. Portugal’s budget deficit is under control, and unemployment steadily declines, the Portuguese Head of State added.