site.btaDeputy Foreign Minister Georgiev Confers with Canadian Counterpart Shugart

Ottawa/Sofia, December 6 (BTA) - Bulgarian Deputy Foreign Minister Georg Georgiev conferred with his Canadian counterpart Ian Shugart at the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development. The meeting was part of the ongoing working visit of Georgiev to Canada, the Foreign Ministry said Wednesday.

The Deputy Foreign Minister expressed gratitude for Canada's support and particularly for that of Global Affairs Canada, for the successful resolution of the visa issue. He confirmed readiness for the two countries to continue the dialogue at expert level to ensure the normal functioning of the established procedure of visa-free travel for Bulgarian citizens.

Georgiev underscored that the provisional implementation of the Canada-European Union (EU) Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) creates an entirely new environment to promote the potential in a broad range of fields, particularly to increase trade and investments, economic growth and opening new jobs. "It is a priority for Bulgaria to increase Canadian investments in Bulgaria and to expand the volume and the variety of Bulgarian products on the Canadian market. This country has considerable potential to attract investments in a wide range of fields, including energy infrastructure, oil and natural gas extraction, agriculture, high-tech, and telecommunications. Bulgaria will encourage the efforts of Canadian firms interested in its market," Georgiev told Shugart.

Meeting with the Associate Deputy Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Richard Wex, Georgiev said that easing the visa regime between Canada and Bulgaria opens new opportunities for promotion of bilateral relations. Bulgaria is ready to expand its partnership with Canada in key fields such as the fight against illegal migration, immigrant integration and human trafficking.

In response to the decision of the Canadian government for waiver of visas for Bulgarian citizens, the Bulgarian government will propose waiver of visa requirements for holders of Canadian diplomatic and official passports.