New opportunities for cooperation with Ukraine

BCCI hosted a meeting with H.E. Vitalii Moskalenko, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to Bulgaria, and Rustam Azhdar, Counsellor for Economic Affairs at the Embassy of Ukraine in Sofia.

The President of BCCI Tsvetan Simeonov discussed with the diplomats a number of issues related to economic cooperation between the two countries.

During the meeting, satisfaction was expressed with the level of development of the bilateral economic relations. In 2019, bilateral trade amounted to over USD 1 billion. Expectations for 2021 are also encouraging, given the good results in the first quarter. The existence of an air line between Kiev and Sofia, as well as the charter line Burgas - Kiev for tourism purposes also have a positive impact on trade.

Simeonov and his guests also discussed the levels of tourist flow between the two countries. 475 thousand Ukrainian tourists visited Bulgaria in 2019, and in 2020 a new checkpoint was opened between Ukraine and Romania, which facilitates travel by land, shortening the route by 200 km.

Ambassador Moskalenko informed that in continuation of the visit of the Bulgarian Foreign Minister to Ukraine at the end of 2020, the planned program is expected to be implemented, which includes visits of Ukrainian officials to Bulgaria, as well as exchange of bilateral business initiatives.

In this regard, Simeonov said that the organization of a bilateral business forum, organized jointly with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Ukraine and with the assistance of Bulgaria’s Commercial and Economic Affairs Office in Kiev and the Embassy of Ukraine in Sofia, is progressing. The online event will take place in early July.