site.btaFirst Plovdiv Economic Forum Kicks Off

Plovdiv, Southern Bulgaria, June 21 (BTA) - Prime Minister Boyko Borissov opened the First Plovdiv Economic Forum which is taking place in Bulgaria's second-largest city on Thursday and Friday. Borissov said in his opening address that the event is a follow-up to the Delphi Economic Forum held in Greece in March. He noted that Greece is the third-largest source of foreign investment in Bulgaria providing 70,000 jobs.

Borissov said politicians' performance should be measured by the amount of per-capita GDP in their country. Bulgarian exports have increased in such sectors as innovative technology and mechanical engineering, he said. The country's annual GDP growth has maintained a steady level of 3.9 to 4 per cent over the last few years. "The latest surveys show one thing: stability. What Bulgaria has at present is a stable outlook, with a 10 per cent flat tax and 20 per cent VAT, which is perfect for investors. This will continue for as long as we are in power," the Prime Minister said. He added that unemployment is under 6 per cent, and in some towns there is even a shortage of workers because "a part of the population do not want to work."

Plovdiv Mayor Ivan Totev greeted the guests and thanked the organizers for choosing his city as the venue of the forum. Totev said: "Plovdiv is a strategically important hub in the Balkans, and the Trakia Economic Zone is a model for how businesses and public authorities can work together to a common end." Latest data put unemployment in Plovdiv Region at under 5 per cent, and in the city of Plovdiv at under 3 per cent. "Plovdiv has become Bulgaria's industrial heart," the Mayor said. The election of Plovdiv as a European Capital of Culture in 2019 is another powerful driver for the region's development in all spheres, he observed.

Over 80 distinguished figures from Bulgaria and Europe will speak at the Plovdiv Economic Forum. They are expected to highlight the key challenges to economic growth. Bulgaria's Deputy Prime Minister Tomislav Donchev and Ministers Ekaterina Zaharieva (Foreign Affairs), Liliyana Pavlova (Bulgarian Presidency of the EU Council), Temenouzhka Petkova (Energy), Emil Karanikolov (Economy), Nikolina Angelkova (Tourism) and Nikolai Nankov (Regional Development and Public Works) will be among the speakers.

The Plovdiv Economic Forum is being attended by World Bank Regional Director for the EU Countries Arup Banerji, Serbian Energy and Mining Minister Aleksandar Antic and Romanian Foreign Ministry State Secretary George Ciamba, among other senior officials and opinion makers from Europe.

The event has been organized by the Delphi Economic Forum in Athens and the Centre for Liberal Strategies in Sofia. It is discussing challenges facing Bulgaria, the Balkans and Europe. Through dialogue and exchange of ideas and visions, it is expected to contribute to Bulgaria's successful transformation and to help unlock the potential for social and economic growth. The forum will be held every June in Plovdiv. Its first edition is proceeding under the auspices of the American Chamber of Commerce in Bulgaria, the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Bulgaria, the General Confederation of Italian Industry (Confindustria) and the Hellenic Business Council in Bulgaria.