site.btaBulgaria and India to Step Up Bilateral Relations

Bulgaria's Economy and Industry Minister Petko Nikolov and India's Ambassador Sanjay Rana Thursday discussed ways for their countries to invigorate cooperation in various sectors of mutual interest. They concurred that some of the most important areas for cooperation are the IT and services sectors. It emerged that the five largest Indian IT companies already have offices in Bulgaria and have hired local specialists and engineers.

The Economy Minister said: "Bulgaria and India have traditionally good bilateral ties. This country attaches great importance to the development of economic cooperation."

Nikolov and Ambassador Rana discussed ways to improve investment and trade. They stressed that in recent years Indian companies had shown a serious interest in investing in Bulgaria's agriculture, defence, pharmaceutical industry, engineering, clinical trials, tourism and hospitality, among others.

The two stressed the need to tap the full potential of two-way trade. As a step in this direction, they discussed holding a meeting of the Joint Commission for Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation early next year, which has played a key role in promoting partnership. 

They agreed that a business forum would be organized within the upcoming meeting as a platform for new partnerships between Bulgarian and Indian companies.

A conference was held Wednesday on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Bulgaria and India. It noted the key importance of the long-standing partnership for the two economies. Deputy Economy and Industry Minister Nikolay Pavlov participated in the event.