5th Balkan Business Forum Brings Together Business Leaders, Institutions in Bansko

Momchil Rusev, BTA correspondent Desislava Velkova

5th Balkan Business Forum in Bansko on June 12, 2026 (BTA Photo/Krasimir Nikolov)

Bansko, Southwestern Bulgaria,

12.06.2026 18:50

(BTA)

The 5th Balkan Business Forum took place in Bansko on Friday, bringing together representatives of businesses, industry and institutions.

The event was organized by the Bulgarian-Turkish Chamber of Commerce (BULTISAD) in partnership with the Bulgarian-Romanian Chamber of Commerce, with the support of the Embassy of the Republic of Turkiye in Bulgaria, Turkiye's Foreign Economic Relations Board, the Executive Agency for the Promotion of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, and the Bulgarian Investment Agency.

Bulgarian Economy Minister Alexander Poulev said that Turkiye is one of Bulgaria's most important partners across a wide range of sectors and one of its key foreign trade partners. He 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 reduce regional economic disparities. The Government will continue to support economic ties with Türkiye, he said, 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.

Customs Agency Director Nikolay Shushkov said that Bulgaria plans to modernize and expand its border infrastructure, including the construction of a new border crossing and upgrades to existing facilities. He described Türkiye as Bulgaria's largest trading partner outside the European Union and said that Bulgaria needs to develop its infrastructure in order to double the capacity of the three border crossings between the two neighbouring countries.

BULTISAD Board Chair Burhan Nemutlu said that people often talk about the Balkans through the prism of history, but the world is interested in what the region can offer for the future.

Bulgarian-Romanian Chamber of Commerce Chair Viktor Gugushev said that the Balkan Business Forum is a platform that creates opportunities.

Bansko Mayor Stoycho Banenski stressed that the topics discussed at the Balkan Business Forum are highly relevant and crucial for the region's future. Economic cooperation and investment opportunities in the Balkans are key to accelerating growth and enhancing the competitiveness of countries in the region, he added.

The Balkan Business Forum brought together business representatives, investors, institutions and industry leaders from across the region to discuss opportunities for investment, industrial development, innovation and regional economic cooperation. The programme included panel discussions, B2B meetings and opportunities to establish new partnerships.

The main discussion topics included transport, logistics and industrial ecosystems; technology and artificial intelligence as drivers of competitiveness; opportunities for Balkan economic cooperation; and investment and industrial growth in Bulgaria.

/КТ/