site.btaLisbon Trade, Economic Affairs Representative: Country’s Insufficient Recognition Is Main Barrier to Bulgaria-Portugal Active Cooperation

The management of the Bulgarian Industrial Association (BIA) discussed with a representative of the Trade and Economic Affairs Office (STIV) in Lisbon the current state and prospects of trade and economic relations between Bulgaria and Portugal, BIA announced on Monday.

According to the data, the 2025 trade turnover between the two countries amounts to nearly EUR 200 million and remains at the 2024 levels. Bulgaria's exports to Portugal in 2025 amount to around EUR 116-118 million, while imports to around EUR 72-73 million, BIA said on its website.

The discussion, which took place at BIA headquarters, was attended by Anna Georgieva from STIV-Lisbon, BIA President Dobri Mitrev, and the head of BIA's Centre for Innovation, International Trade, Technological Transformation and Analyses (CINTRA), Christina Kasparyan.

Regarding Portugal's economic situation, Anna Georgieva stated that about 70% of Portugal's economy is concentrated in the tourism sector. Portuguese business is dominated by small and medium-sized enterprises, which opens up real opportunities for Bulgarian companies, especially in technological and innovative sectors. 

Bulgaria's leading export products to the Portuguese market include electrical panels and consoles, telerecording devices, barley, sunflower oil, copper products, and medicines. The main product groups imported from Portugal include insulated and coaxial cables, plastic and polymer products, mould casting boxes, copper concentrate, rubber, textiles, and pharmaceutical products.

According to Georgieva, a serious barrier to active cooperation between the two countries is the fact that Bulgaria is not recognizable in Portugal. "Portugal is a relatively unknown market for Bulgarian companies, but Bulgaria is also not well represented as a business partnership opportunity for Portuguese companies," she said.

Opportunities for cooperation in high value-added sectors such as electronics, ICT, robotics, renewable energy sources, and energy technologies were also discussed at the meeting. 

With regard to tourism, interest in Portugal as a tourist destination is growing, but the country is still not among the most popular choices for Bulgarian tourists. 

As specific follow-up actions, the possibilities for organizing business forums, buyer missions, and study visits by Portuguese companies to Bulgaria were discussed, with the aim of actively presenting the opportunities for partnership with Bulgarian businesses.