Today Head of State Rumen Radev and the Parliament Speaker of Georgia Irakli Kobakhidze discussed improving the energy, transport and digital connectivity in the Black Sea region. Kobakhidze, who is on an official visit to Bulgaria, was received by the Head of State at 2 Dondukov street today.
Connectivity and the common action both for political and economic decisions is the key word for the success of our region, Rumen Radev said. He noted that Bulgaria and Georgia have a strategic location at the two Black Sea coasts and this should be actively used. The transport corridors from Asia and the Middle East to Europe are already in the focus of a lot of countries and Bulgaria and Georgia should be part of these joint efforts, Rumen Radev said.
“The ideas to establish a digital corridor between Georgia and Bulgaria, to place a cable to transmit electricity at the bottom of the Black Sea are of considerable importance,” the Head of State added.
Bulgaria considers Georgia a priority partner in the Black Sea and South Caucuses region, Rumen Radev said. In his words, Georgia has its important place in strengthening security in the region, in guaranteeing energy supplies and the diversification of the sources and routes for energy transmission. The President also voiced our country’s support for establishing closer relations between Georgia and the EU and NATO and highly appreciated our country’s efforts to this end.
The two shared the opinion that the trend towards developing the economic relations between Bulgaria and Georgia is positive. Although the trade has reached 600 million US dollars, it is still far below the two countries’ potential. Rumen Radev highlighted the Bulgarian business’ interest in expanding its investment presence in Georgia and called for more information about the possible projects in the country, in the implementation of which Bulgarian companies can also take part.
Irakli Kobakhidze voiced gratitude for Bulgaria’s strong support for Georgia’s EU accession. “We believe that Georgia’s EU membership will be strategically important for the two countries,” he said. Kobakhidze also highlighted the good historical and cultural ties between the peoples of Georgia and Bulgaria.