NEWS

 

 

The Head of State participates in the Uzbek-Bulgarian Business Forum in Tashkent

 

The historical ties and mutual trust between Bulgaria and Uzbekistan are a solid basis for deepening relations between business representatives, which is also contributed to by the European Union's aspiration to improve connectivity between Asia and Europe. This was stated by President Rumen Radev, who participated today in the closing panel of the Uzbek-Bulgarian Business Forum in Tashkent. The event was part of the program of the head of state, who was on an official visit to the Republic of Uzbekistan at the invitation of his Uzbek counterpart Shavkat Mirziyoyev. The forum brought together business representatives from both countries and was dedicated to the opportunities for implementing joint projects in the fields of high technologies, the food industry, artificial intelligence, defence, space technologies and others.

 

I observe tremendous progress in Uzbekistan, which looks promising and I am sure that we will continue to work together. I mentioned many areas of cooperation, but in order to succeed in them, the most important thing remains connectivity - energy, transport and digital, said Rumen Radev. He added that it is for this reason that the delegation he leads includes representatives of transport companies and businesses in the field of communications, logistics and the construction of infrastructure and high technologies. The European Commission has redirected funds to improve connectivity and we will continue to work in this direction, relying on the geostrategic position of Bulgaria and its modernized ports in Varna and Burgas, as well as the busy land border between Bulgaria and Turkey, the president also pointed out.

 

Healthcare, food production, industry were also identified as possible areas of cooperation between the two countries. Rumen Radev emphasized the industries of the future in the field of high technology, artificial intelligence and digitalization, and in his words, what he saw in Uzbekistan and Bulgaria's leading position in Southeast Europe in terms of the technology sector open up many opportunities. The development of high-tech products, fintech, artificial intelligence ecosystems are fields in which we can share experience. We have been managing a supercomputer for years and are among the six countries in the EU that have been selected to receive financial assistance for the creation of factories for the development of artificial intelligence, the Bulgarian head of state added.

 

Overcoming unpredictability and uncertainty in the context of regional and global processes requires joint efforts in the field of security and defence and should be among the main priorities of Bulgaria and Uzbekistan, Rumen Radev also emphasised. According to the president, both countries have solid experience in this area and shared experience is a valuable asset.

 

Earlier in the day, representatives of the Bulgarian delegation, including INSAIT and BASSCOM, visited the IT hub of Uzbekistan. Opportunities for joint activities in the field of software development and artificial intelligence were discussed. Meetings are planned in Sofia in the coming weeks. In this regard, the Ministry of Investments, Industry and Trade of Uzbekistan signs memorandums of cooperation with Bulgarian companies in the fields of transport, energy, construction and high technologies.

 

The head of state visited today CAEx Expo Centre Uzbekistan and Technopark Uzbekistan.

 

 

Statement by Head of State Iliana Iotova

For projects aimed at improving connectivity between Bulgaria and Turkiye must be viewed as a whole, to be successful, and within the context of closer cooperation in Southeastern Europe. This will bolster both economic development and security in the region, whose strategic importance is growing. This was stated by President Iliana Iotova at a meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, who is on a formal visit to Bulgaria.

Albulena Haxhiu expressed her gratitude to President Iotova for Bulgaria’s support on Kosovo’s path toward membership in NATO and the European Union.

Iliana Iotova raised the issue of depopulation in the area along the Bulgarian-Serbian border and highlighted the need for investment to counter the adverse demographic trend.