Germany is Bulgaria’s main and biggest trading partner, preferred by 43 percent of Bulgarian companies, indicates a survey by the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

In 2018 Germany came second, after China, but due to the trade disputes with USA, the language barrier and the long distance between the two countries, China has dropped behind. Turkey, Switzerland, Russia and the United Arab Emirates are the next countries in the top 5.

More than 77 percent of Bulgarian companies are interested in cooperation with foreign partners so as to increase their exports. Bulgarian businesses have an interest primarily in partnership with companies in the sphere of machines and equipment – 43 percent, services – 26 percent, food and drink – 24 percent, construction – 19 percent. But two-thirds of companies are not entirely familiar with the conditions for doing business and trading with the countries they want to have business relations with, the survey shows.