site.btaBusinessmen of Bulgarian Descent in Bursa Want Appointment of Bulgarian Trade Representative There

Istanbul, August 26 (BTA exclusive by Nahide Deniz) - Businessmen of Bulgarian descent in Bursa want the appointment of a Bulgarian trade representative in their town, arguing that this will facilitate and promote trade and economic relations with Bulgaria.

The suggestion was made during a meeting of the Bursa-based Association of Balkan Rumelia Businessmen Balkansiad with Bulgarian Consul General in Istanbul Angel Angelov and Bulgarian Consul in Bursa Evgeni Vassilev.

Balkansiad President Aytug Onur said that a key focus of the Association's work is the implementation of joint projects with Bulgarian businesses. "We are a bridge for economic, as well as cultural and social activities, with people in Bulgaria and in other Balkan countries," Onur said at the meeting.

In Onur's words, Bursa is the leading Turkish city in the trade and economic relations with Bulgaria due to the fact that it has the highest potential for such partnership. "Bursa has the greatest number of companies and businessmen working with Bulgaria, and the building of the consulate has enough space to house a trade representation," he said.

Onur said also that two-way economic forums are a very good venue for cooperation, exchange of experience and joint project. He said that Balkansiad and the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry are organizing economic forums in Plovdiv and in Sofia at the start of September. A Balkan Trade Fair and a Balkan Trade Week are to be held in 2015.

Angelov said that Bulgaria has two trade representatives in Istanbul, one of whom could work in Bursa during given days of the month.