site.btaNewly Founded Business Organization Aims to Protect Interests of Importers, Exporters in Bulgaria

A new business organization, the Chamber of Importers and Exporters in Bulgaria (CIEB), was officially presented by its founders at a press conference at the National Press Club of the Bulgarian News Agency in Sofia on Wednesday. The Chamber aims to protect the interests of importers and exporters in Bulgaria by providing comprehensive support to businesses — from legal and administrative assistance to help with company registration and finding new contacts and clients.

Emilia Kehayova, head of CIEB, said that the organization was created by “real businesses in response to real needs within the sector.“

“Imports and exports are the backbone of the Bulgarian economy. Thousands of companies work daily with international markets, regulations, logistics, and foreign partners, yet until now this sector has not had a single, clear, and representative voice. The Chamber was established to fill that gap — to unite foreign trade businesses and ensure that the industry is visible, heard, and protected,” Kehayova said.

She noted that CIEB is a national organization bringing together companies from various sectors that share a common focus on international trade.

Anna Boyanova, a founder of the Chamber, said that the organization maintains active contact with small, medium-sized, and established companies that have the potential to expand their import and export activities but face similar challenges, such as limited business networks, complex procedures, and uncertainty about how to get started

“Our focus is on helping companies connect more quickly with the right partners and identify real business opportunities,” Boyanova said. She added that the organization’s activities will not be limited to European Union and Schengen countries but will also target non-EU countries neighbouring Bulgaria. The Chamber also expects the forthcoming EU trade agreement with India to have a positive impact on Bulgarian imports and exports.

Kehayova added that the Chamber is currently working to expand its membership base.

CIEB also announced its first business event, scheduled for February 17 in Corlu, Turkiye. The one-day event will be organized in cooperation with the local chamber of commerce. More than 500 factories are expected to participate from the Turkish side, while Bulgarian companies from sectors including energy, pharmaceuticals, and others have already registered to attend.