NEWS

 

Rumen Radev received representatives of leading Japanese companies who are visiting Bulgaria as a result of the strategic partnership established during the Bulgarian President's visit to Japan

 

The established strategic partnership between Bulgaria and Japan opens wide the doors for the successful implementation of numerous Japanese investments in our country. This was stated by Head of State Rumen Radev during a meeting with representatives of leading Japanese companies. They are visiting our country in the wake of the Declaration on the establishment of a strategic partnership between Bulgaria and Japan signed by the Bulgarian Head of State and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba during the official visit of the President to Tokyo last month. The meeting was attended by the Parliamentary Vice Minister of Economy of Japan Akiyoshi Kato, representatives of government agencies, as well as the country's ambassador to Bulgaria Hisashi Michigami.

 

Japanese business and Japan can count on operational and political support for their investments in Bulgaria, the president emphasised, pointing out that Japanese investments are highly valued in our country not only in economic and trade terms, but also because of the opportunity to implement in our country the successful Japanese model of interaction between science, education and economy. Japanese business was represented at the meeting by leading companies operating in the fields of energy, electronics, transport, infrastructure and digital and digital connectivity, including Mitsubishi, Kawasaki, Toshiba, Hitachi, Panasonic, HORIBA, IHI Energy and Kyosan Electric.

 

The head of state highlighted the significant potential for cooperation with Japanese companies in various energy projects in Bulgaria. The President gave an example of the upcoming renovation of the Chaira Hydroelectric Power Plant with the participation of Toshiba, stressing that there is an opportunity in our country to implement new investments in the production and storage of energy from renewable energy sources. Our country has high-mountain dams on which new pumped-storage hydroelectric power plants can be built, Rumen Radev pointed out. In his words, if such projects are implemented, Bulgaria will be able to store the energy of Southeast Europe from renewable energy sources and balance the energy system in the region. The President also pointed to the support of the European Commission for the implementation of the so-called green corridors for energy from renewable sources from North Africa and Central Asia through Bulgaria, which is also a prerequisite for successful investments in our country in this area.

 

The President expressed his gratitude to the Japanese side for its assistance in the construction of the Bulgarian pavilion at the international exhibition EXPO 2025 in Osaka, which the Head of State had visited. Bulgaria shows that it can impress Japan, not only with its yogurt, the Rose Valley and strong sumo wrestlers, but also with the opportunities it offers in the high-tech sectors of the future, Rumen Radev pointed out.

 

During his visit to Japan, the President participated in a business forum organised by the Japan External Trade Organization JETRO, which was attended by representatives of nearly 150 Japanese companies that are interested in implementing their projects in our country. The Head of State recalled that during the forum he called on Japanese companies not to hesitate and invest in Bulgaria, expressing satisfaction that some of them are in our country today. I will be even more satisfied if the logical next step in the development of our bilateral relations is implemented - the opening of a JETRO office in Bulgaria, Rumen Radev also pointed out during the meeting.

 

The Japanese Ambassador to Bulgaria, H.E. Hisashi Michigami emphasised that the meeting is the first direct result of President Rumen Radev's visit to Japan and the Declaration of Strategic Partnership signed there. The Parliamentary Deputy Minister of Economy of Japan Akiyoshi Kato thanked the Bulgarian head of state for the warm attitude and invitation to the representatives of Japanese business. He highlighted the number of advantages of our country for the realisation of Japanese investments in our country, stressing the key importance of young and talented personnel in Bulgaria in the field of information technologies.

 

 

The meeting was held at the initiative of Denmark's ambassador to Bulgaria Flemming Stender within the framework of the Danish Presidency of the Council of the EU

In his speech, the president pointed out that Bulgaria highly values its relations with Iraq, which is an important partner in the Middle East region

Taking advantage of their geostrategic position, Bulgaria and Georgia have the potential to deepen their connectivity in various areas such as transport, energy, and the digital sector, which will contribute to promoting the economy, investment, and prosperity in the Black Sea region. This was stated by President Rumen Radev, who held a meeting with the Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia, Shalva Papuashvili.

The two were unanimous that restoring peace in Europe through diplomacy is a priority for the EU and the only way to ensure the long-term security and stability of the Old Continent.