BCCI participated in the meeting of the Business Council to the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation

Representatives of the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry took part in the meeting of the Board of Directors to the Business Council of the Organization for Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BC to BSEC). The virtual meeting, held on the occasion of the start of the Turkish presidency, was dedicated to current issues of the organization and upcoming initiatives and events until the end of 2023.

The current President of the Business Council, Selçuk Akat, presented the current situation with the trade in the region - in 2003 it represented 3.2% of the global trade, in 2008 - 5.1%, and in 2022 - 4.4% of the world trade. Traditionally, Turkey, Russia and Ukraine have the largest share of the trade in the Black Sea region.

Akat discussed with the participants in the meeting the possibilities for increasing the trade deals and strengthening business relations, despite the regional challenges. Among the proposals were various methods of financing trade and investments, support for transport connectivity, and renewal of the economic program of BC to BSEC with the active participation of the organization’s members. Upcoming events within the framework of the Turkish presidency were also presented - workshops, conferences, and business forums for the organization’s members and companies from the countries around the Black Sea.

BSEC Deputy Secretary General Dimitrios Rallis emphasized that economic cooperation is the basis of the organization and its participants must find a way to cooperate despite the war in the region.

Turkey will lead the organization from July 1 to December 31, 2023. Read more about the presentation of the priorities of the Turkish presidency here.