Bulgaria – Korea Business Forum

Bulgaria – Korea Business Forum was held on 14th December 2010 at the Sheraton Hotel Balkan, Sofia. The event was organized jointly by the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Representative Office of the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) in Sofia. The occasion for the event was a visit to Bulgaria by Korean companies operating in the spheres of: recording and reproducing devices, mechanical engineering, construction machinery, photovoltaic panels, chemical laboratory equipment, food and drink industry, and household products.
The Forum was opened by BCCI’s President, Mr. Tsvetan Simeonov, who said that the Republic of Korea is a very loyal and promising economic partner of our country. He added that the Forum is a nice continuation of last-year’s visit to Korea by a Bulgarian business delegation. Mr. Simeonov pointed out the special advantages which our country provides for investors and underlined several areas of mutual interest, which are already being worked in – the photovoltaic sector, the automobile industry and the food industry.
H. E. Chun Bee-ho, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Korea to Bulgaria, also greeted the participants in the Forum. He explained that in 2010 the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries is celebrated. These relations have evolved in many spheres – both economic and cultural. H.E. Chun Bee-ho gave several examples of Korean companies currently investing in the production of solar and wind energy in Veliko Tarnovo and Yambol. The Ambassador expects that the trade between Bulgaria and Korea will double due to tariff removal after the Korea – EU Free Trade Agreement enters into force in July 2011, and that mutual investments will be encouraged.
In October 2010 Bulgaria and Korea signed a Memorandum of Understanding to create an Information and Telecommunication Center, which will assist the e-Government.
Presentations were held about the investment climate in Bulgaria and the opportunities which the Korea – EU Free Trade Agreement will offer to the business.
During the second part of the Forum bilateral business meetings were held with the participation of over 50 Bulgarian companies.

DOWNLOAD THE PRESENTATIONS:
Investment climate in Bulgaria – “Bulgaria – Your Gateway to the EU”

Korea – EU Free Trade Agreement and Its Benefits