site.btaBelgian Secretary of State for Foreign Trade Talks with PM Borissov, Economy Minister Loukarski

Belgian Secretary of State for Foreign Trade Talks with PM Borissov, Economy Minister Loukarski

Sofia, May 16 (BTA) - The development of trade and economic relations between Belgium and Bulgaria featured on the agenda of the meetings of Belgian Secretary of State for Foreign Trade Pieter De Crem with Prime Minister Boyko Borissov and Economy Minister Bozhidar Loukarski in Sofia on Monday.

Prime Minister Borissov and Pieter De Crem, who is paying a visit to Bulgaria, discussed the opportunities for deepening the bilateral trade and economic cooperation, the Government Information Service said. Also attending the meeting at the Council of Ministers was Deputy Prime Minister for EU Funds and Economic Policy Tomislav Donchev.
  
"We are interested in attracting strategic investments and active participation of Belgian companies in the implementation of projects in infrastructure, energy, transport, environment, and telecommunications," Borissov said at the meeting. He noted that the Government's economic policy is directed at macroeconomic and financial stability, improvement of the administrative environment and preservation of the lowest tax rates in the EU, which are important factors for increasing the attractiveness of Bulgaria's investment and business environment.

Belgian companies can take advantage of the opportunities offered by Operational Programme Innovations and Competitiveness 2014-2020, as well as Operational Programme Initiative for SMEs once the application procedures are launched, it also transpired during the talks.

During his meeting with the Belgian guest, Economy Minister Loukarski said, as quoted by his ministry, that Belgium is an important partner of Bulgaria and although the bilateral trade has grown this year, there is enough economic potential to contribute to an even more active bilateral cooperation.

Loukarski underscored that the Economy Ministry's team consider it particularly important to encourage the interest of Belgian companies in new investment or broadening of their presence in Bulgaria. He gave the Solvey Sodi company as a positive example of a Belgian investor.

"We create conditions for attracting investment in high-tech productions and the construction of technological parks and industrial zones. Innovations are a key driving force for the achievement of growth and modernization of the Bulgarian economy," Loukarski also said. To this end, the National Company Industrial Zones is developing eight project, he added.

Pieter De Crem said that Bulgaria promises to become a preferred  place in Southeastern Europe for Belgian investors. The conditions offered by this country create prerequisites for long-term and stable investments, he noted.