site.btaUntapped Opportunities for Labour Import from India to Be Discussed in Sofia

The untapped opportunities for import of labour from India will be discussed at a round table organized by the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) in Sofia on Monday, the BCCI said in a press release.

Bulgaria's growing economy is facing a shortage of skilled labour in sectors such as construction, tourism, pharmaceuticals, transport and logistics, which limits growth, the BCCI said. The Chamber sees an opportunity for Bulgaria and India to conclude a migration and mobility partnership agreement which would ease third country nationals’ access to the Bulgarian labour market. Such an agreement would help above all Bulgarian companies seeking to hire skilled workers.

By 2025, India will have one fifth of the world's working age population. This makes that country the largest supplier of skilled labour in the world, the BCCI said. India is an untapped opportunity and a natural partner for Bulgaria in terms of labour import.

"In the next three to five years, Bulgaria will experience a shortage of more than 250,000 qualified specialists with higher education in Bulgaria, which will threaten the development of the country's economy. At the same time, Bulgaria is now in its eighth year of missing the opportunity, which a number of EU countries have taken advantage of, to conclude an agreement with the largest exporter of human resources: India. Similar agreements could be concluded with other third countries," Dr Petar Velev, Chairman of the Indian-Bulgarian Business Chamber, said in a BTA interview last week.