Türkiye has taken over the Chairmanship-in-Office of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization (BSEC)

The Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry took part in the Coordination Meeting of the Turkish BSEC Chairmanship-in-Office with the BSEC Committee of Senior Officials, the BSEC Related Bodies and the BSEC PERMIS. The Meeting was chaired by Mr. Rauf Denktaş, Deputy Director General, Deputy Directorate General for Multilateral Economic Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye.

The BSEC PERMIS Secretary General Ambassador Lazar Comanescu, in his opening remarks warmly congratulated the Turkish Chairmanship, conveyed to it the best wishes of success and reassured of PERMIS’s readiness and commitment to fully support and closely collaborate with the Chairmanship in fulfilling their mandate.

Deputy Director General Rauf Denktaş presented the Priorities of the Turkish BSEC Chairmanship-in-Office (1 July – 31 December 2023), stressing that their main objective is to ensure the full resumption of collaboration among the Member States despite the present challenges, as well as to focus on less-explored avenues of cooperation that will serve the interests of the peoples of the wider Black Sea region.

These priorities are as follows:

• updating the BSEC Economic Agenda and approving main cooperation documents;

• activating the Project Development Fund (PDF);

• reactivating the BSEC Business Council;

• resuming the works of the BSEC Coordination Centre for the Exchange of Statistical Data and Economic Information;

• strengthening the external relations of BSEC and the PERMIS;

• strengthening the Troika mechanism;

• holding in-person meetings.

For full text of the Turkish priorities please visit: http://www.bsec-organization.org/chairmanship The meeting also approved the calendar of events during the Turkish Chairmanship-in-office.

Established in 1992 BSEC is the most comprehensive regional cooperation platform for its 13 Member States from the wider Black Sea region.

Today, taking into account the regional challenges, BSEC’s founding goals of ensuring peace, stability, and prosperity as well as fostering friendly and good neighbourly relations in the Black Sea region, have become ever more vital.

During its Chairmanship-in Office Türkiye’s priority will be to bring a new momentum to the cooperation in BSEC through joint steps with the Member States under the guidance of the Organization’s founding principles and objectives.

The Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry as a member of the BSEC Business council will participate in the business events of the BSEC calendar.