site.btaUPDATED Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Urges Bulgarian Businesses to Participate in Ukraine's Reconstruction

Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (UCCI) President Gennadiy Chyzhykov Monday urged Bulgarian companies not to miss the right moment to participate in Ukraine's reconstruction. He spoke at a Bulgarian-Ukrainian business forum organized by the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Bulgarian-Ukrainian Industrial Chamber (BUIC), the Embassy of Ukraine in Sofia, and the UCCI. Focusing on sectors such as agriculture, the food industry, energy, infrastructure, and logistics, the event brings together more than 30 Ukrainian companies and representatives of Bulgarian businesses.

Chyzhykov called for joint efforts to develop a Ukrainian logistics hub. "We are very interested in routes through Bulgaria - to Asia, south to Africa, and beyond," he said.

Major opportunities are arising for the European Union, including grants to support Ukraine’s recovery. "Do not wait. Tomorrow may be too late. Start thinking now about how we can work together," Chyzhykov said, addressing the business representatives.

The UCCI President highlighted the enormous potential for cooperation between the two countries. Ukraine is struggling but it is working actively with the European Union on reconstruction, Chyzhykov said, adding that he is convinced that Bulgarian entrepreneurs can play an important role in this process.

Chyzhykov noted that logistics, infrastructure, energy, IT, and small and medium-sized enterprises are the main areas of Bulgarian-Ukrainian cooperation. He also pointed to opportunities in the food industry, inviting Bulgarian companies to build processing plants in Ukraine with products destined for global markets.

More than 1,600 Ukrainian companies currently operate in Bulgaria, while over 350 Bulgarian firms have invested in Ukraine, he said, adding that his country needs more.

Bulgaria’s role has changed dramatically during the war and this country has become an important regional economic hub, Chyzhykov said. He noted that this opens up opportunities in logistics, which is of critical importance for Ukraine.

Ukraine loves Bulgaria. Bulgaria’s image in Ukraine is very positive. "Ukraine looks forward to deepening its cooperation with you," Chyzhykov said, highlighting Bulgaria’s support for his country.

Artem Rybchenko, Deputy Minister for Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine, said that Bulgaria ranks among Ukraine’s top 10 partner countries and is a strategic ally. He noted that cooperation in Ukraine’s recovery extends beyond construction to include social services and the energy sector.

Ukraine's Ambassador to Bulgaria, Olesia Ilashchuk, highlighted Bulgaria’s traditional role as Ukraine’s largest trading partner in the Balkans and an important market for Ukrainian products. She also described this country as a key partner for joint ventures targeting third-country markets. 

She underscored the significance of the energy sector in bilateral relations, pointing to considerable potential for joint projects in renewable energy, energy efficiency, and infrastructure modernization, as well as knowledge exchange on energy sustainability. She called for deeper cooperation in infrastructure and logistics, particularly regarding route diversification and new transport projects in the Danube region and the Black Sea basin. The Ambassador also identified opportunities in digital transformation, including cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and startup ecosystem development. The large-scale reconstruction of Ukraine offers new prospects for Bulgaria’s construction industry, she added.

Ilashchuk expressed gratitude for Bulgaria’s support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and acknowledged the political, financial, energy, humanitarian, and military-technical assistance this country has provided. She noted that this support is not charity, but an investment in strengthening the eastern flank of the EU and NATO. She also welcomed Bulgaria’s consistent backing of Ukraine’s EU and NATO membership aspirations.

BUIC Chair Liliya Ivanova said that trade between the two countries grew nearly 6% during the first five months of 2025. Bulgaria’s main exports to Ukraine include fertilizers, medicines, and petroleum oils, while imports from Ukraine feature sunflower, safflower, and cottonseed oils, as well as flat-rolled products of iron and non-alloy steel. Citing data from the Bulgarian National Bank, Ivanova said that by the end of 2024, direct investments from Ukraine in Bulgaria totalled EUR 307.4 million. Ukrainian investors are mainly interested in real estate, opening commercial offices, and setting up companies in Bulgaria, largely as a gateway to European markets, she added.

BCCI President Tsvetan Simeonov said that "as chambers of commerce, we must look ahead to the future - when Ukraine’s reconstruction begins." He added that there is interest in business cooperation with Ukraine and that early exchanges of ideas with potential partners will lead to better cooperation and mutual investments.