Bulgaria across Five Oceans Career Forum Held in Sofia

Dimitrina Solakova, Yoana Vodenicharova

Closing of the Bulgaria across Five Oceans career forum, Sofia, June 14, 2025 (BTA Photo/Vanya Suharova)

Sofia,

14.06.2025 20:55

(BTA)

A career forum titled "Bulgaria across Five Oceans," organized by the Bulgaria Wants You platform, was held at the Inter Expo Center in Sofia on Saturday. It marked the platform's fifth anniversary.

The event was opened by producers Andrey Arnaudov and Ivan Hristov, who noted that more than 4,000 participants registered for the forum this year.

The forum marks the fifth anniversary of the initiative, which aims to connect Bulgarians abroad with career opportunities back home.

The producers shared that they had organized nearly 20 career forums worldwide and since 2020 (excluding 2021), they noted a reversal in emigration trends, with more Bulgarians returning home than leaving.

Addressing participants at the opening of the forum, Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov said: "A system can change under constant external pressure. We rely on every single person who returns, so that through their educational and professional influence, they can change the system itself. Bulgaria needs the skills of young people who have gone abroad, received a good education, and have become accustomed to the discipline of modern life in Europe - and not only in Europe, but globally - to return to Bulgaria and bring back those skills. That will transform the business environment, the climate, the institutions, and will make the country different. They must participate not only in business but also in public life and politics - they must be engaged."

The event was held across two stages for the first time. The “Success and Lessons” stage featured Bulgarians with notable achievements both in the country and abroad. Speakers included 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 focused on innovation, investment, regional development, and education, delivered through lectures, panel discussions, and workshops. Participants included Magarditch Halvadjian, Hristo Popov, Dobroslav Dimitrov, Radoslav Nikolov, and Vladimir Grozdanov, among others.

Taking part in a panel discussion on innovation and investment, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Innovation and Growth Tomislav Donchev highlighted the need for Bulgaria to move beyond producing components and start manufacturing complete products. He cited statistics showing that 80% of cars produced in Europe contain a component made in Bulgaria. Donchev noted that there is a growing need for engineers, saying that with smart policies and leadership, Bulgaria is capable of achieving sustainable economic growth of 3–4%, instead of 1–2%. He said that Bulgaria is a regional leader in the field of artificial intelligence (AI), noting that in 2026, with support from the European Commission, EUR 90 million will be invested in a new AI supercomputer.

Energy Minister Zhecho Stankov spoke of a need of talent in the energy sector, citing upcoming large-scale projects. He said that a project for the construction of Units 7 and 8 at the Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant will allow Bulgaria to double nuclear electricity production. He noted that 10,000 people will be employed on-site at peak construction. “Some of them are recent university graduates, and others we hope to bring back from Europe,” Stankov said. The Minister also noted that large-scale pumped storage hydro power plants are planned to be built, adding that hydropower accounts for approximately 20% of Bulgaria’s energy mix.

In an interview for Arnaudov screened during the forum, Oscar-nominated Bulgarian actress Maria Bakalova said that dedication and discipline are the qualities that are needed to be successful. According to her, the general difference between her profession in the USA and in Bulgaria is that there is more competition, there are a lot of people and you have to be prepared. Asked by Arnaudov why more Bulgarians are coming home to Bulgaria than going abroad, the actress said that she thinks this country is becoming more global, more open to learning new things and accepting new cultures.

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

The Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) was also present with an information stand, where visitors could learn about its publications, including the LIK magazine and a special series of books marking BTA’s 125th anniversary. The exhibitor at the stand, Denislav Chakarov, editor at the BTA Historical Archive Department, said there was strong interest in the information stand. Among the visitors was parliamentary Committee on Labour and Social Policy Chair Denitsa Sacheva, who is also Deputy Floor Leader of GERB-UDF, as well as Bulgarians coming from abroad, some asking about job and internship opportunities, others interested in the LIK magazine.

/IV/