Meeting with the Japan-Bulgarian Association for Friendship and Cultural Relations

The Director-General of the Japan-Bulgarian Association for Friendship and Cultural Relations Ms. Akiko Igaya visited BCCI and met with Deputy President of the Chamber – Mr.Georgi Stoev. The meeting was also attended by Vladimir Kanev, correspondent for Bulgaria of the Japan's Foreign Trade Organization - JETRO (Japan External Trade Organization).

During the meeting, the EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement signed in Tokyo on 17 July, which is expected to enter into force in 2019 and to enhance the strengthening of trade and economic relations between the EU and Japan was discussed. This is the most extensive trade agreement for the EU. It establishes a free trade area that covers over 600 million people and almost one third of the world's gross domestic product, according to the European Commission. Also, according to Commission data, 251 Bulgarian companies are exporting directly their products to Japan.

In the course of the meeting Ms. Igaya presented the future plans of the Japan-Bulgarian Association for Friendship and Cultural Relations and expressed her intentions to organize various types of trainings. During one of the envisaged trainings  Japanese professional gardeners will conduct a course in Sofia for EU-wide gardeners wishing to learn the subtleties of maintaining a Japanese garden. Another course will be focused on acquiring skills in Japanese cuisine. Successful graduates will receive a special certificate at the end of each course. BCCI will further inform about the training schedule.

Several events are to be organized between Japan and Bulgaria in 2019 in connection with the celebration of three significant anniversaries: 110 years since the first official contacts between Bulgaria and Japan, 80 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries and 60 years since their renewal.