site.btaPresident Radev Meets with Representatives of Leading French Companies

Paris, December 5 (BTA Special Correspondent Lora Metanova) - French companies have expressed ambitions to invest in high technologies in Bulgaria, President Rumen Radev told journalists here Tuesday during his three-day working visit to France. Earlier in the day, he met with representatives of leading French companies in the area of aviation industry, defence, agriculture, and food production.

"France is always present as a potential partner in our modernisation projects, and as a partner who is ready to transfer technologies," Radev commented. He added that he had met with the leaders of big corporations and that half of them are already present in Bulgaria. In his words, they reacted favourably to the opportunities in this country.

Later on Tuesday, Radev talked with UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay, with whom he discussed the protection and development of historical heritage and the support for education and science.

"I raised the question about aid for archaeological excavations, because in Bulgaria we have a lot to uncover but have shortage of resources," the head of State commented on the meeting when approached by journalists. The conservation of excavations is also very important, and he discussed with Azoulay how this activity could be broadened on the international level.

Radev and the UNESCO Director-General also discussed how education can be made more effective and accessible to every child. "UNESCO has its projects and we should work together in this direction; common European and world standards should be imposed," the head of State said.

"Audrey Azoulay fully supports our idea, which I also presented to President Macron, for development of science and high tech not only in the West but also in the East, which means a harmonically developed Europe," Radev told journalists. He specified that one of the ideas has been worked on for a long time: the construction of an international sustainable development institute with a scientific centre where a particle accelerator would be located. The idea project has been under active development, and an interdepartmental working group on the project has been established on Radev's initiative. This project will unite Balkan countries, Radev noted and expressed the hope that it will be placed "on the table" during the Bulgarian Presidency of the EU Council in the first half of 2018.

On Monday, Radev visited the European Space Agency (ESA) and held a meeting with its Director General, Johann Woerner, together with the Director of the Space Research Institute with the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Prof. Petar Getsov. Bulgaria aims at strengthening its positions in sectors with high value added in science and economy, such as informatics, electronics and the development of medicine, and the partnership with the ESA is a step in this direction, he said, as quoted by his press secretariat.

Bulgaria's strengthened cooperation with the ESA will also create more opportunities and professional prospects for Bulgarian scientists, engineers, students, and university professors, as well as provide financial and material support for national and international scientific and applied projects. "Bulgaria has a solid scientific potential, the necessary experience and traditions in this area, and we believe that our contribution to the ESA's goals can be increased," Radev said at the meeting.

Woerner acquainted the Bulgarian head of State with the ESA's work and praised Bulgaria's contribution to space research and the cooperation with the country's Space Research Institute. Bulgaria has the status of a cooperating European state, which gives it the opportunity to use the ESA's infrastructure and services for the implementation of its national space projects.

On Monday evening, Radev met with representatives of the Bulgarian community in Paris. He told them that Bulgarian emigration to this city has left world-known names in the area of science, education, art, and culture. He said that the Bulgarian community in Paris is growing and thanked his compatriots for representing their country in such a cosmopolitan city and building the trust in Bulgarians and Bulgaria. "Your successes - both professional and personal - are successes for Bulgaria," he noted.

In his words, the Bulgarian community in France is active and has four schools with over 500 pupils in Paris alone.

He praised the Bulgarian community's efforts to get the Bulgarian language recognized for matriculation in the French education system. "In the face of the presidential institution you have a friend and partner open to your problems and plans at any time," Radev said, as quoted by the presidential press secretariat.