site.btaVarna Mayor and Austrian Ambassador Discuss Bilateral Cooperation

Varna Mayor Blagomir Kotsev and the Austrian Ambassador to Bulgaria Andrea Ikic-Böhm discussed bilateral cooperation opportunities on Tuesday. 

"With its rich cultural and historical heritage, well-developed tourism and its many and varied events, our city is established as a cultural centre and a successful tourist destination", said Mayor Kotsev. He pointed out that cultural exchange is one of the best ways for a fruitful and long-lasting international partnership. 

"In order to keep being a competitive tourist destination, the priority of my team's work is to improve the transport connectivity of the city by air, sea and, above all, land infrastructure", he emphasised. He also noted the improvement of the urban environment, which includes street repairs, public transport reforms, more parks and better living and business conditions. "It is important for us that the city is greener, cleaner, more ecological and with better infrastructure. We are looking for balanced solutions that include more car-free public spaces", Kotsev said.

Ambassador Ikic-Böhm pointed out that Austria is the second largest international investor in Bulgaria with 350 companies operating in the country in various fields. The two countries have always maintained extremely close friendly relations and long-term fruitful cooperation. She gave the example the joint exhibition of Bulgarian and Austrian artists in the City Art Gallery in the spring 2024, as well as the joint cooperation in a number of international scientific symposia.

The occasion of her visit to the seaside city is the International Symposium on the Music of the Danube Countries, which opened on Monday at the Varna City Art Gallery and which the Embassy of Austria traditionally supports in cooperation with the Varna Summer International Music Festival.