site.btaBulgarian and French Craft Chambers Explore Partnership Opportunities at Lyon Meeting

The Consulate General of Bulgaria in Lyon, France, hosted a meeting between the leadership of Bulgaria’s National Chamber of Crafts (NCC) and the Lyon Chamber of Trades and Crafts (Chambre de métiers et de l'artisanat). The meeting took place on June 10, 2025, and focused on exchanging experience and exploring future partnerships in support of the crafts sector, according to a statement from the Bulgarian diplomatic mission published on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.

The Bulgarian delegation was headed by Bulgaria’s Consul General in Lyon, Nadya Zhivkova-Vaneva, the Chairman of the NCC, Ivan Vlaev, and representatives from the Chamber’s regional structures.

From the French side, Christophe Bernolen, President of the Lyon Chamber of Trades and Crafts, attended the meeting together with his team.

During the meeting, the French side presented in detail the structure and operational model of the Chamber of Trades and Crafts, sharing valuable insights into its organization and its experience in establishing international partnerships. The discussions were highly productive and raised a number of important topics, including the range and number of crafts represented in both chambers, membership conditions, financing mechanisms, training programs, certification recognition processes, and opportunities for experience exchange through practical internships, stated the Bulgarian delegation.

It was also noted that both sides unanimously emphasized the crucial role of the Master Certificate as a "guarantee of quality for the customer in every craft."

The conversation also highlighted the importance of attracting young people to preserve and develop traditional crafts, which are an integral part of both national and European cultural heritage.