Trade between Turkey and Bulgaria amounts to USD 4.5 billion per year. Turkey’s exports to Bulgaria is to the tune of nearly USD 2.4 billion per year, whereas Bulgaria’s exports to Turkey amounts to USD 2.1 billion. In 2021, we are planning to increase the mutual trade to USD 5 billion. The total trade exchange between the two countries is expected to reach USD 6 to 7 billion in 2023, reads a written statement of Zeki Sarabekir, Chairman of the Turkey- Bulgaria Business Council with the Foreign Economic Relations Board of Turkey (DEIK), for BNR. Zeki Sarabekir’s statement emphasizes the importance Turkey attaches to the development of trade and economic relations with Bulgaria. 

Bulgaria is a very important country for Turkey. It is not only our neighbor, but also our gateway to Europe. Most of Turkey’s exports to Europe, which account for half of this country’s total exports, passes through Bulgaria. Each year, more than 1 million cargo vehicles cross Kapikule- Kapitan Andreevo, Dereköy-Malko Tarnovo and Hamzebeyli-Lesovo border crossings and transport goods via the territory of Bulgaria, notes Zeki Sarabekir. 

Zeki Sarabekir emphasized the importance of Bulgaria for Turkey’s exports to Europe and proposed that Bulgaria and Turkey establish a joint logistics center and intensify Ro-Ro transportation.

We can transport 20% of our exports to Europe by train. Ro-Ro transportation is a good option for the road freight. Bulgaria has ports in Varna and Burgas and Romania has the Port of Constanta. The Port of Bari in Italy is also a very important point, but it is important to give preference to alternative channels. By ensuring quicker passage of cargo vehicles through Bulgaria and the Balkans, we may create a joint logistics center in Europe. If we introduce a code or a barcode pass system, the number of TIR trucks passing through the customs will double. In other words, export revenues will increase by at least 20%.

Bulgaria has serious advantages for Turkey’s entrepreneurs, contends Zeki Sarabekir. In his words, this is mainly due to the fact that the Bulgarian cabinet has identified priority sectors where investment costs are lower.

“Industrial zones in Bulgaria also offer affordable prices. Moreover, investments are supported by the municipalities, the local and foreign chambers of commerce, as well as by the state. On the other hand, being an EU member Bulgaria benefits from EU funds. Funds allocated under programmes for innovation and competitiveness, human resource development and rural development can be used for business development”, notes Zeki Sarabekir.

In his words, Bulgaria offers access to the markets of the EU, the Balkan countries, China and other markets via the Black Sea. 

Edited by: E. Karkalanova

English version: Kostadin Atanasov