site.btaBulgaria's Labour and Social Policy Minister, Vietnam's Ambassador Discuss Deepening Labour Market Cooperation

Bulgaria’s Minister of Labour and Social Policy, Borislav Gutsanov, and Vietnam’s Ambassador to Sofia, Nguyen Thi Minh Nguyet, have discussed the possibility of signing a new memorandum of cooperation in the field of labour and social policy, with a particular focus on the labour market and workforce training, the Ministry’s press centre said on Thursday.

“I am deeply impressed by Vietnam’s economic achievements. We are open to all forms of cooperation that would benefit both countries and our Ministry. Bulgaria is facing a dire shortage of workers - not only in terms of unskilled labor, but also skilled professionals who could come to our country,” Gutsanov said.

Some 230 Vietnamese nationals are currently working in Bulgaria. “That is a very small number compared to the past. We agree that a new framework should be found to deepen the ties between the two countries in areas like investment, personnel exchange and training, including through an agreement,” the Minister added.

Ambassador Nguyen Thi Minh Nguyet said that 2025 marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Bulgaria and Vietnam. She noted that over the decades, some 30,000 Vietnamese nationals have studied in Bulgaria. Many of them have gone on to hold senior positions in Vietnam, which she described as a valuable asset for bilateral relations. The Ambassador added that some 160,000 Vietnamese are currently working abroad, and Vietnam has many skilled professionals in healthcare - nurses, caregivers, elderly care workers. Investment in training Vietnamese workers could also be expanded, she said.

Minister Gutsanov and Ambassador Nguyen Thi Minh Nguyet agreed that work on drafting an agreement aimed at deepening cooperation in labour and social policy should start as soon as possible. “I, along with the Ministry’s team, am eager to restore the close, warm, and mutually beneficial relations we enjoyed in the past. It is unfortunate that these contacts have been lost and have to be restored,” Gutsanov said.