Bulgaria-Serbia Cooperation: The Necessity to Explore New Partnerships for the Optimal Utilization of the Economic Potential of Both Countries

The representatives of the business communities in Bulgaria and Serbia united during the forum around the necessity to seek new partnerships amid the current changes in global trade and also converged on the idea to deepen the regional cooperation.

The President of the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry /BCCI/, Mr. Tsvetan Simeonov, addressed the participants at the Bulgarian-Serbian business forum, held at the BCCI, stating that new partnerships must be sought because those who respond more quickly to changes in global trade will survive these challenging times.

BCCI and the Business Club “Stena”, a Serbian non-governmental organization uniting companies and entrepreneurs from 30 sectors, were the organizers of the event. It was also held with the support of the Embassy of Serbia in Sofia. The Serbian business delegation included 22 entrepreneurs.

„For our country, Serbia has proven to be a long-standing partner,” said Mr. Simeonov and highlighted: “We are keen for trade between the two countries to grow”. He shared data from the Chamber’s annual survey among member companies, which shows that Serbia ranks among the top three countries with which businesses wish to develop relations.

Aleksandar Bursac, President of the Business Club “Stena,” stated that Bulgaria and Serbia, as friendly countries, should jointly invest efforts in strengthening their economic and trade relations. He noted that the organization’s goal is to unite entrepreneurs and business leaders from various sectors — construction, transport, food industry, security, information technology, energy, hospitality, banking, trade, telecommunications, investments, and real estate.

Mila Nenova, Executive Director of the Bulgarian Investment Agency, presented the advantages of Bulgaria as an investment destination, highlighting the country’s strategic and geopolitical position. She pointed out that companies registered in Bulgaria have access to European funding as well as incentives under the Investment Promotion Act. Nenova emphasized the fastest-growing sectors of the Bulgarian economy — automotive, engineering, electronics, medical sector, robotics, and others.

Representatives of the Managing Body of Business Club “Stena” accentuated on the potential of regional cooperation. Currently, work is underway on the Belgrade–Niš railway project, which is expected to be completed within the next 5 to 7 years. According to the Serbian side, this will support cooperation in the region.

The forum continued with numerous bilateral discussions involving over 30 Bulgarian companies.