site.btaBulgaria across Five Oceans Career Forum Kicks Off in Sofia

Producers Andrey Arnaudov and Ivan Hristov opened the career forum Bulgaria across Five Oceans at the Inter Expo Center in Sofia on Saturday. The event, organized by the Bulgaria Wants You platform, marks the fifth anniversary of the initiative, which aims to connect Bulgarians abroad with career opportunities back home. More than 4,000 participants registered for the forum, they said. 

Ivan Hristov pointed out that the mission of “Bulgaria wants you” is to help see Bulgaria as a real alternative and a place worth returning to. “We also want Bulgarians already here to realize they live in one of the most wonderful places in the world and that there is no point in leaving.”

“We can be anywhere in the world, but we should never lose our connection to Bulgaria,” added Arnaudov. “We are here  to support and help you. That is also why we have invited private businesses,” he said, adding that over 100 company booths are part of the expo.

The producers shared that they had organized nearly 20 career forums worldwide. In their words, these events have helped many people find jobs, return to Bulgaria, or decide to stay in the country instead of emigrating. Since 2020 (excluding 2021), they noted a reversal in emigration trends, with more Bulgarians returning home than leaving.

Presenting the forum’s programme, they noted that for the first time the event is being held across two stages. 

The “Success and Lessons” stage features Bulgarians with notable achievements both in the country and abroad. Speakers include actors Maria Bakalova, Tzvetana Maneva, Dimiter Marinov, and Julian Vergov, producer Monika Evstatieva, journalist Boyko Vasilev, Tesla Motors engineer Alexander Atanasov, skier Albert Popov, and entrepreneurs Ivaylo Penchev, Dimitar Stanchev, among others. 

The “Leaders of Change” stage will focus on innovation, investment, regional development, and education, delivered through lectures, panel discussions, and workshops. Participants include Magarditch Halvadjian, Hristo Popov, Dobroslav Dimitrov, Radoslav Nikolov, Vladimir Grozdanov, to name but a few.

The forum also includes a dedicated expo zone with companies from a wide range of sectors.

The Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) is also present with an information stand, where visitors can learn about its publications, including the LIK magazine and a special series of books marking BTA’s 125th anniversary.