Sofia hosted a Bulgarian-Ukrainian business forum yesterday. Upon opening the event, BCCI President Tsvetan Simonov expressed his satisfaction with the work which has been done so far to enable the forum, organised by the Bulgarian Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion Agency (BSMEPA), the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Bulgarian-Ukrainian Industrial Chamber.
"The relations between the two Chambers continue being maintained despite the hard conditions. BCCI is optimistic and hopes that, in the short run, we continue our economic cooperation freely and without any difficulties," said Simeonov. He emphasised that the live presence of businessmen from Ukraine in Sofia is highly appreciated. "Maintaining contacts, although in hard conditions, is a guarantee for success in the future when the real reconstruction of Ukraine begins," he added. "The presence of companies from the dairy industry is a surprise to us," Simeonov informed, "but also, this is a good prospect of using the moment to increase cooperation."
The forum was also attended by companies from the following sectors: the ICT, including fintech and modern technologies, energy, food and drink industry and agricultural industry, logistics and infrastructure.
Dimitar Glavchev, Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria, delivered an address to the participants and organisers of the event.
Dr. Petko Nikolov, Minister of Economy and Industry of Bulgaria, pointed out in his speech of welcome that the event gives an opportunity for direct contacts at many levels, mostly for the business. The cooperation between the two countries is traditional and the prospect of developing bilateral relations is enhanced by the active constructive dialogue among the institutions and by the series of meetings organised by the Commerce Chambers of both countries.
Taras Kachka, Deputy Minister of Economy of Ukraine, also addressed the forum and emphasised that active work is done to change the trade flows traffic between Ukraine and Bulgaria in order to use the waterways through the Black Sea. Trade relations between both countries are governed by the Agreement on Associating Ukraine to the EU, which will be renewed this year and will be actively executed.
HE Yulia Ilaschuk, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Ukraine in Sofia, declared that the event was a symbol of the development of mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries despite the hard times.
Gennadiy Chizhikov, President of the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, stated that the delegation from his country was in Bulgaria to seek and offer cooperation. It needs practical steps to continue the long-term partnership between Bulgaria and Ukraine. Businesses can complement each other, help each other and grow together in third markets. The volume of export from Ukraine is 100 million tons of goods /60% of which are agricultural products/ per year, which are currently exported by land. The two countries have to develop sea routes, too, and the logistics sector has to be activated. Chizhikov saw opportunities for cooperation also in the field of the energy sector, including bioenergy production. He emphasised that the mixed chambers in the two countries also help – the Bulgarian-Ukrainian Chamber of Industry as well as the Ukrainian-Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Viktor Kantsourak, State Secretary of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy of Ukraine, also took part in the event and highlighted the interaction in agriculture and farming.
Many useful facts and data about the economies and the separate branches of industry in both countries were shared in two panels, devoted to the business and investment opportunities and the cooperation in the energy sector.
30 companies from Ukraine and over 60 Bulgarian companies participated in the forum which continued with bilateral talks, acquaintance with new potential partners and establishment of direct contacts between Bulgarian and Ukrainian enterprises.