site.btaBulgarian-Turkish Business Forum Held in Shumen

National and local politicians as well as business representatives took part in the Bulgarian-Turkish Business Forum held on Thursday at the Barbarossa Complex in Shumen.

The programme included three panels on workforce development and vocational training, Bulgarian-Turkish trade and economic relations, and the role of local government and business as a bridge of friendship in the Balkans.

Addressing the opening of a Bulgarian-Turkish Business Forum here Thursday, Shumen Mayor Hristo Hristov underscored the crucial importance of education for economic growth, business and progress in all spheres. "There is no growth without education, there is no business without education, there is no progress without education," said the Mayor. He emphasized that Bulgaria and Turkiye traditionally have excellent trade and economic relations, which enliven the region and make a great economic contribution to the Bulgarian economy. "I am glad that the forum focuses on the relationship between business and education," he commented.

Deputy Innovation and Growth Minister Krasimir Yakimov urged businesses to take advantage of the EU funding opportunities. Two new procedures under the Competitiveness Programme and the Research and Innovation Programme for a total of over BGN 200 million will soon be opened for applications, he said. He noted that in 2025 alone, the ministry will unlock a resource of over BGN 900 million. "Whenever I have the opportunity to speak among businesses, I allow myself to call on you to be active, to apply and to take advantage of the opportunities that the Innovation and Growth Ministry provides you. These funds will not only develop your companies, but they will develop and ennoble entire regions," Yakimov stressed.

Turkiye is one of Bulgaria's main reliable economic partners, with whom this country continues to build on the successful trade and economic relations, said Economy Deputy Minister Nikolay Pavlov during the Bulgarian-Turkish Business Forum in Shumen on Thursday. "Proof of the high economic activity between business representatives from both countries is the statistical data, according to which we can see EUR 7.7 billion of bilateral exchange (of goods in 2024 - ed. note), which is an increase of 15% compared to 2023," he emphasized, adding that the trend is upward, with expectations and ambitions to reach EUR 10 billion of goods exchange soon. Pavlov commented that the assessment of this growth potential is shared and pointed out that the current forum is another step that enables companies from both countries to build important new partnerships, to form new impressions and ideas through which this potential can be developed.