Meeting with the newly-appointed Ambassador of Bulgaria to Ireland

The President of BCCI Tsvetan Simeonov met with the newly-appointed Ambassador of Bulgaria to Ireland Gergana Karadzhova. Tsvetan Simeonov presented the activities of the Chamber, emphasizing the promotion of bilateral economic cooperation with a focus on the contacts and initiatives with Irish partners. He stressed the strong relations maintained within the Association of the European Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

Gergana Karadzhova outlined the priorities of her mission, which include a number of EU issues and assistance for intensification of the commercial and economic exchange between Bulgaria and Ireland. According to her, the bilateral trade turnover is modest considering the potential of the two countries.

Simeonov pointed out the importance of the Irish investments made in the country, and BCCI’s active work for attracting new ones, in cooperation with the Embassy of Ireland in Sofia.

Irish investments in Bulgaria are mainly in the field of real estate, hotels and restaurants, financial intermediation, construction, trade, processing and mining industry, transport and communications. One of the most successful Irish investments in Bulgaria is the opening of Taxback's 24-hour call center for tax refund in Varna. The center serves clients abroad in 6 languages. The company provides work for over 300 people. Two other major Irish investments are the ones of Marsdale Group in “Prista Oil”, based in Rousse, and of Marland International Ltd. in the manufacture of clothes – “Cotton Industry Bulgaria” in Yambol. The company Erlton Fund Ltd. (production of essential oils) purchased 68% of the capital of “Bulgarian Rose Seuthopolis” EAD, Kazanlak. There are opportunities to attract Irish investment in infrastructure, telecommunications, and energy.