BTA :: Turkiye Among Bulgaria’s Most Important Strategic Partners

Turkiye Among Bulgaria’s Most Important Strategic Partners – Deputy PM Poulev

Metodi Yordanov, BTA correspondent Desislava Velkova

Deputy PM Poulev addresses the forum in Bansko, June 12, 2026 (BTA Photo/Krassimir Nikolov)

Bansko, Southwest Bulgaria,

12.06.2026 15:33

(BTA)

Turkiye is one of Bulgaria’s most significant partners across a range of sectors and one of its key foreign trade partners, with bilateral trade reaching record levels, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy, Investments and Industry Alexander Poulev said at the fifth Balkan Business Forum in Bansko.

Poulev noted that more than 2,200 companies with Turkish capital operate in Bulgaria, describing them as major employers that provide livelihoods for thousands of families and help address regional economic disparities.

He said the Government will continue to support economic ties with Turkiye, emphasizing that the relationship is built not only on trade and investment but also on long-standing trust, friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

Poulev described Turkiye as one of Bulgaria’s principal strategic partners and said the current regular Government intended to advance major joint projects, particularly in the areas of regional cooperation and dialogue.

Referring to the 2023 earthquakes in Turkiye, he recalled Bulgaria’s rapid humanitarian response, saying it demonstrated the solidarity between the two countries and underscored a relationship that goes beyond economic interests.

Commenting on Thursday’s meetings between Prime Minister Rumen Radev, Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Poulev said they had outlined a strong direction for future cooperation. In addition to traditional areas such as energy and transport, discussions covered regional security and trilateral cooperation among Bulgaria, Turkiye and Romania aimed at strengthening security in the Black Sea region.

He said Bulgaria’s administration stood ready to support more ambitious projects in energy infrastructure, transport connectivity and regional integration to improve the Balkans’ competitiveness as a business destination.

The Balkan Business Forum is organized by the Bulgarian-Turkish Chamber of Commerce and Industry in partnership with the Bulgarian-Romanian Chamber of Commerce, with the support of the Embassy of the Republic of Turkiye in Bulgaria, Foreign Economic Relations Board, the Executive Agency for the Promotion of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises and the Bulgarian Investment Agency.

The main topics of discussion include transport, logistics and industrial ecosystems; technologies and artificial intelligence as a driver of competitiveness; opportunities for Balkan economic cooperation; investments and industrial growth in Bulgaria.

/MY/