What are the factors that make Bulgaria competitive for German companies? Radio Bulgatia talks to the General Manager of the German-Bulgarian Chamber of Industry and Commerce Sonja Miekley:‎

‎"On the one hand, there are the raw materials that we have here in Bulgaria, necessary for the work of enterprises. In addition, we see that there is a change‎‎ - Bulgaria is no longer a country for cheap labor, which is a prerequisite for another type of investment. Bulgaria is a competitive country with the potential for automation, in order for certain personnel to be released from some of their tasks in order to take on others." ‎

The first day of this year marked the beginning of Bulgaria's full membership in Schengen, but there is still no data on how German investors assess this fact and its impact on the economic situation in Bulgaria.

‎"We planned to conduct a survey when 100 days have passed since Bulgaria joined Schengen. This way we will get a clear idea of ​​the attitude of businesses, since some processes take time," explains Sonja Miekley.

"This year we have more Bulgarian companies that would like to participate in these fairs. At the latest construction exhibition in Munich (13-17 Jan 2025), 9 exhibitors from the country participated, at the wine exhibition in Düsseldorf in March 27 Bulgarian companies will participate, among which there are new participants, which is very good for us. With 43 companies, Bulgaria also participated in the organic products fair in Nuremberg, which took place from 11 to 14 February. We hope to participate in a subcontractors' fair, which will take place in Leipzig from 11 to 14 March. 6 companies will participate in it, as well as two individual ones that will exhibit their products themselves. We see that Bulgarian companies are also interested in fairs that are organized by German companies, but are held on other continents."

The German-Bulgarian Chamber of Industry and Commerce is willing to continue its cooperation with the Ministry of Tourism and to help promote Bulgaria as a tourist destination on the German market - we learn from Sonya Miekley, who expects a meeting with the new Minister of Tourism Miroslav Borshosh soon.

Since 2019, Bulgaria has been included in the list of health insurance companies on the German health insurance market. The goal is to increase the number of German tourists in Bulgaria for balneology and SPA tourism. ‎

‎"That is why Bulgaria should invest not only in this agreement, but also in a broader presentation of the possibilities for rehabilitation manipulations in the country. At the beginning of March (4-6 March), a fair dedicated to tourism is coming up in Berlin, in which there will also be Bulgarian participation. This is one of the places where we can talk in this direction. However, it is necessary that the possibilities for this type of recreation in Bulgaria be presented to individual clients who would benefit from such an opportunity," concludes the General Manager of the German-Bulgarian Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Sonya Miekley. ‎

Photos: BTA archive, leipziger-messe.de, Ministry of Tourism, archive