Bulgarian-Japanese Economic Forum in Sofia

"2019 is a special year for Bulgaria and Japan – it will mark a triple anniversary in the bilateral relations", said H.E. Masato Watanabe, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Bulgaria, at the Bulgarian-Japanese Economic Forum organized by the Embassy. The three important anniversaries are: 80 years since the establishment of the diplomatic relations between the two countries, 60 years since their recovery, and 110 years since the beginning of official contacts.

The event was attended by the Deputy Minister of Economy Alexander Manolev, the Executive Director of Invest Bulgaria Agency Stamen Yanev, the Vice President of the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Georgi Stoev, and representatives of the business. A Japanese business delegation headed by Satoshi Abe, General Director of the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) Vienna Office, also arrived in Sofia to take part in the forum.

Georgi Stoev presented the priorities of the Bulgarian-Japanese Economic Council for 2019. He linked the planned activities with the development of the relations between Japan and the European Union, pointing out that bilateral trade between the EU and Japan amounts to EUR 90 billion. Over EUR 28 billion of them are from services. In the mutual trade and economic interaction specific sectors are emerging that characterize the economies of the two regions - information and telecommunication technologies, robotics, mechanization, automotive industry, ecology, etc.

A series of similar events by the end of the year and coordinated efforts for more joint projects between businesses from both countries were agreed within the forum.

The representative of Japan External Trade Organization explained that the organization is planning to expand its presence in our country. It was noted that a number of Asian countries are already developing successful businesses in Bulgaria, and the organization assists them in expanding their activity and increasing their exports to the European Union.