site.btaTurkiye Among Bulgaria's Leading Economic Partners, PM Zhelyazkov Says

Bulgarian Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov held a meeting with Turkish Trade Minister Omer Bolat in Sofia on Tuesday, the Council of Ministers said in a press release. According to Zhelyazkov, Turkiye is traditionally one of Bulgaria's leading economic partners in the fields of trade and investment. Strengthening economic cooperation and trade relations is important for both countries, he noted.

As promising areas for bilateral cooperation, Zhelyazkov mentioned innovations, digital infrastructure, and green and low-carbon energy technologies. During the conversation, the bilateral trade exchange, which reached a record level of EUR 7.7 billion in 2024, was also highlighted.

The meeting also emphasized excellent bilateral cooperation in several fields. "Turkiye is not only our neighbour but also an ally in NATO and an important partner in areas such as transport, energy supply, trade, the fight against terrorism, and illegal migration," Zhelyazkov said. According to him, cooperation between Bulgaria and Turkiye in the field of migration is of particular importance not only for Bulgaria but also for the entire European Union. Opportunities for cooperation in the defence industry were also discussed during the meeting.

Regarding the intense traffic at the border checkpoints between the two countries, Zhelyazkov emphasized the need for both sides to make efforts to ease border control procedures and increase the capacity of the checkpoints. At the same time, the Prime Minister highlighted Bulgaria's commitments in view of its full membership in the Schengen Area since the beginning of 2025.