Austrian-Bulgarian Economic Forum on the occasion of the visit of the Federal President of Austria

BCCI's President Tsvetan Simeonov opened the Austrian-Bulgarian Economic Forum with the participation of the Presidents of Bulgaria and Austria - Heinz Fischer and Rosen Plevneliev. On behalf of more than 53,000 active operating companies, which account for more than half of Bulgaria's GDP and over 70% of the foreign trade turnover, Tsvetan Simeonov welcomed and encouraged the business communities from both the countries to further cooperation. "We have tremendous scope to develop bilateral relations, so we need to respond to this challenge," he told before the Heads of State of Austria and Bulgaria in the crowded with business representatives hall "Sredets" at Sofia Hotel Balkan.  "We highly appreciate the fact that the meetings of our Heads of State are not limited only to the political part of the bilateral cooperation, but they every time express support for the businesses in their efforts to overcome the difficulties of the times we work in," said Tsvetan Simeonov .

Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev welcomed the participants and outlined the most important incentives for investments in the economy of Bulgaria. He gave plenty of examples of successful investments in Bulgaria, including Austrian ones. According to Rosen Plevneliev the future development of transport infrastructure in Bulgaria creates opportunities for partnership with leading Austrian companies pointing as an example the construction of a 15.2 km tunnel in Kresna Gorge, as part of the future highway "Struma". 

Federal President of Austria Heinz Fischer also expressed full support for the expansion of the bilateral economic cooperation and outlined the prospects to Bulgarian economy in the light of its European development. He said that political stability and continuity are the basis for Austria's economic success.