Active institutional and corporate participation in the Bulgarian-Greek Economic Forum at BCCI

A Bulgarian-Greek Business Forum took place at the Sofia headquarters of the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce Industry (BCCI) on Thursday, February 27. It has been organized by the BCCI and the Bulgarian-Greek Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Among the participants wer Bulgaria's Deputy Prime Minister and Transport and Communications Minister Grozdan Karadjov, Deputy Prime Minister and Innovation and Growth Minister Tomislav Donchev and Economy and Industry Minister Petar Dilov, Greece's Development Minister Takis Theodorikakos, Deputy-minister of economy and finance of Greece Christos Dimas, InvestBulgaria Agency Executive Director Mila Nenova, diplomats and institutions` representatives.

The Greek business community was represented by companies operating in trade, import-export, foods, consultancy services, electric appliances, solar energy, tourism, insurance, plastics and paper industry, innovation, information technology, construction, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and real estate, among other sectors.

The President of the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Tsvetan Simeonov, opened the forum and stated that this is the third consecutive initiative carried out together with the Bulgarian-Greek Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the course of several months. Bulgaria's entry into Schengen definitely has its positive sides, business relations are more dynamic and chambers of commerce and companies from Bulgaria and Greece support them. He thanked the president of the mixed chamber, Savvas Karafilidis, for the active cooperation, with one common goal - the expansion of trade and economic relations between the two countries.

The speeches of the officials and speakers during the event were also in this spirit.

Greece is Bulgaria's most sincere and valuable partner, which is proved by the serious presence of Greek businesses in Bulgaria. The two countries have common economic interests, especially in the development of transport links after Bulgaria's accession to the Schengen area, said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Communications Grozdan Karadjov.

In his words, Bulgaria appreciates that behind the economic and trade prospects, there are very warm ties between the two countries. "Since the beginning of 2025, another decisive step has been taken towards the rapprochement of the two countries, the full development of the potential of our bilateral relations, with Bulgaria's accession to the Schengen area, for which we should also thank Greece and your valuable support," the Deputy PM said.

Bulgaria and Greece have the potential to become attractive destinations for skilled workers worldwide, leveraging their beautiful nature and picturesque towns, said Deputy Prime Minister Tomislav Donchev.

He emphasized that both countries, endowed with stunning landscapes, cities, and villages, have a competitive advantage in attracting and retaining talent. "Our societies, our cities, and villages are, for the most part, a great place to live," Donchev said.

He highlighted the existing trust between Bulgaria and Greece as a foundation for building stronger economic ties. He pointed out areas of complementarity between the two countries, including a well-developed services sector, high-value tourism, excellent port infrastructure, and a strong IT sector in Bulgaria.

"The economies of Bulgaria and Greece can complement each other perfectly. Greece has a powerful fleet and a robust tourism industry, while Bulgaria’s growing industrial sector, especially in IT, presents great opportunities for synergy," Donchev noted.

The Deputy Prime Minister also emphasized the need for bold adoption of new technologies, less regulations, innovative energy generation, creating new materials, and focusing on other common EU goals.

Greece will support Bulgaria's bid for eurozone membership, just as it supported Bulgaria's bid for joining the Schengen area, Greece's Minister of Development Panagiotis Theodorikakos said during a business forum.

The Minister said that Bulgaria and Greece should strengthen their cooperation and strengthen the presence of the European Union in South-Eastern Europe. He added that the two countries should take a leading role in the Balkans and play a joint role in the enlargement of the EU towards the Western Balkans.

Theodorikakos said that Bulgaria and Greece are called to cooperate even more closely in the coming years in the fields of defence, migration, energy. He added that 2025 could be a milestone in the development of bilateral cooperation. Theodorikakos concluded that the two countries can ensure the creation of a region with greater cross-border security, more opportunities for growth and prosperity.

The meeting focused on economic cooperation and investment opportunities between Bulgaria, Greece, and Romania, highlighting potential sectors for collaboration such as infrastructure, transport, tourism, and energy. Discussions covered various topics including climate issues, technological advancements, and the importance of strategic partnerships and regional development. The forum also presented economic data and achievements, emphasizing Bulgaria's strong economic performance and the potential for growth in bilateral trade and joint initiatives between the countries.

More than 80 companies from Bulgaria and Greece took part in the forum and over 150 b2b meetings were held.