site.btaTurkish Ambassador Meets Ministers of Defence and Economy ahead of Departure from Bulgaria

Turkish Ambassador Aylin Sekizkok Monday met with the outgoing Ministers of Defence, Todor Tagarev, and of Economy, Bogdan Bogdanov, ahead of the completion of the diplomat's tour of duty. On the same occasion, outgoing Foreign Minister Maria Gabriel wrote on Facebook that “Turkiye is our neighbour, a NATO ally, and an important partner in strategic areas”. 

Gabriel also thanked outgoing Turkish Ambassador to Bulgaria Aylin Sekizkok for her consistent work to deepen relations between the two countries.  "I also thank her for the good cooperation in the implementation of our common initiatives for more women in diplomacy. I wish her success in her future endeavours," Gabriel also wrote.

As they met Monday, Economy and Industry Minister Bogdan Bogdanov and the Ambassador discussed the high level of economic relations and the new opportunities for development between the two countries.

"We have reached a point of very good economic relations. Now it is time to chart steps that will yield even better results," Bogdanov said, citing as an example the implementation of the Alcomet aluminium plant investment project, a priority for the Bulgarian government.

Ambassador Sekizkok presented the upcoming important economic events and forums that will be held in Turkiye and in Bulgaria until the end of the year and invited the Ministry of Economy and Industry and Bulgarian businesses to take part in them. She noted that Bulgaria has well-developed high-tech companies in the sectors of automotive and aerospace. According to her, Turkiye is interested in implementing joint projects in these areas.

The two sides also discussed the environment for Turkish investors in Bulgaria. Minister Bogdanov announced that Bulgaria's efforts to reduce the administrative burden for foreign investors will continue. He pointed to the establishment of two new industrial zones in Varna and Burgas and said that the Bulgarian and Turkish states can cooperate in the construction and development of industrial zones and the possibilities for the implementation of projects with public-private partnership.

As the Turkish Ambassador met with Defence Minister Todor Tagarev, the sides expressed satisfaction with the excellent defence cooperation in the last nine months. Attention was drawn to the shared understanding of the risks and threats in the Black Sea region. The two noted the progress in relations, the swift coordination in the establishment of the Mine Counter-measures Task Group Black Sea by Bulgaria, Turkiye and Romania, and the intergovernmental Memorandum of Understanding on cross-border air policing operations signed recently in Ankara.

Tagarev and Sekizkok expressed hope that the positive trends in Bulgarian-Turkish relations would continue as befits good neighbours and NATO Allies.