site.btaEconomy Minister in Moscow: Bulgaria Wants to Keep Good Economic Contacts with Russia

Economy Minister in Moscow: Bulgaria Wants to Keep Good Economic Contacts with Russia

Moscow/Sofia, May 25 (BTA) - Economy Minister Bozhidar Loukarski
said Bulgaria wants to keep its good economic relations with
Russia. On Sunday his delegation met with Alexey Likhachev,
Russia's First Deputy Minister of Economic Development, in
Moscow.

The Bulgarian Economy Ministry quoted Likhachev as saying that
the political situation should not be an obstacle to the
development of Russian-Bulgarian economic relations. It is in
the interest of businesses to preserve the traditionally good
contacts. He quoted data showing that two-way trade in capital
goods totals 3 billion US dollars, and Russian citizens' private
investments in real estate in Bulgaria bring the total to 5
billion-plus dollars.

Likhachev also said that it is crucial for good relations to
hold regular meetings of the Intergovernmental Commission on
Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation. Loukarski agreed
that the lack of commission meetings since 2011 was a hurdle
and suggested that the next meeting should be held in Sofia in
late October or mid-November along with a business forum.
Likhachev stated that this would send a good signal to Russian
business. It was agreed to set up subcommissions for the Russian
regions.

Later on Loukarski opened an exhibition of Bulgarian mechanical
engineering at the Bulgarian Industry Centre and participated in
the marking of the 30th anniversary of its opening.

Loukarski is on a two-day working visit to Moscow with Deputy
Economy Minister Daniela Vezieva, InvestBulgaria Agency Chairman
Stamen Yanev and Marieta Zaharieva, Director of the Small and
Medium Enterprises Promotion Agency. Representatives of forty
companies are on the delegation.

Loukarski is also scheduled to participate in a
Bulgarian-Russian business forum.