The Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) and the Czech Chamber of Commerce signed a Cooperation Agreement, aimed at encouraging trade and economic relations between Bulgaria and Czechia and creating new opportunities for businesses from both countries.
The document was signed during the Bulgarian-Czech Business Forum in Sofia, in which more than 250 representatives of businesses and institutions took part. The Forum was organised by the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Sofia, the Executive Agency for the Promotion of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (BSMEPA) and the Bulgarian-Czech Chamber of Commerce.
The event was attended by the Prime Ministers of Bulgaria and the Czech Republic Rumen Radev and Andrej Babiš, the Ministers of Economy of both countries, as well as high-ranking representatives of the governments.
New opportunities for Bulgarian and Czech businesses
The Agreement between BCCI and the Czech Chamber of Commerce stipulates cooperation for:
• developing and strengthening the trade and economic relations between Bulgaria and Czechia;
• promoting the positive image of both countries abroad;
• supporting the business activity of the members of both Chambers and increasing their competitiveness;
• improving the exchange of business information, as well as of data about trade and investments.
The President of BCCI Tsvetan Simeonov emphasised that the Chamber is a reliable partner for Bulgarian and Czech companies and businesses can rely on it for information, consultations and assistance when preparing and executing contracts. He put focus on BCCI’s wide regional network in our country and encouraged Czech companies to view Bulgaria as a destination with good prospects for investments and development of the business.
On his part, Radek Jakubský, Vice President of the Czech Chamber of Commerce, placed emphasis on the importance of finding suitable business contacts and underlined the role of the Chambers of Commerce for connecting the companies and providing direct assistance when establishing partnerships.
The Czech Chamber of Commerce is the largest business organisation in the Czech Republic. It represents the interests of the entrepreneurs from all regions and economic sectors. The membership in the Chamber is voluntary. It brings together over 16,000 members, organised into regional chambers and sectoral bodies. It actively supports companies when they enter international markets, find business partners and develop international contacts.
Focus on investments and industrial cooperation
The Forum emphasised the need for bilateral relations to go beyond traditional trade and develop in the direction of joint investments, technologies and industrial cooperation.
Among the areas with potential for strengthening the partnership, the following ones were highlighted: transport and logistics, energy, innovations, digital technologies, the defence industry, the space sector, artificial intelligence and cyber security.
Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Rumen Radev expressed support for encouraging joint investments and the links among businesses. The Czech investments in Bulgaria already exceed 500 million euro, and the trade turnover is approaching 3 billion euro and this is a solid foundation which can and has to be upgraded. He presented the opportunities, associated with the strategic geographical location of our country, the development of transport and energy corridors, logistic hubs and large-scale infrastructural projects.
Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš emphasised the potential for deepening the economic and trade cooperation and the importance of creating better conditions for development and expansion of the business.
Seven documents for partnership
A total of seven documents were signed during the Forum, laying the foundations for specific initiatives in different sectors. They include documents on cooperation in the field of defence and security, healthcare and transport, as well as agreements among business organisations.
Apart from the Agreement between BCCI and the Czech Chamber of Commerce, a Cooperation Agreement was also signed between the Bulgarian-Czech Chamber of Commerce and the Czech Chamber of Commerce. Memoranda were concluded between Bulgarian and Czech organisations in the defence industry, as well as a Contract for the purchase of eight electric buses for Ruse Municipality.
The Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry was also host to a special meeting with the representatives of the Czech companies and members of the Chamber’s Management Board.