site.btaUPDATED Large French Business Delegation Visits Sofia in Search of Partners

A delegation of 100 French companies arrived in Sofia, as their visit will last until October 13, the French Embassy said on Wednesday. This is the largest ever delegation of French entrepreneurs to visit this country in search of partners.

The delegation is led by the President of the Movement of the Enterprises of France in the Rennes Region (Bretagne: Brittany) Eric Challan Belval, who is accompanied by French MEP and Vice-President of the European Parliament's International Trade Committee Marie-Pierre Vedrenne, the Embassy added.

The French companies visiting Bulgaria have interest in several sectors, including Textile and Fashion, Food, Robotics, Metallurgy, Air Transport, and Logistics, the Bulgarian Industrial Association noted.

The visit was initiated by the MEDEF regional structure. The Bulgarian Industrial Association (BIA) and MEDEF are members of BusinessEurope, the largest business representative organization in Europe, and this visit is another step towards bringing the two employers' organizations closer together, BIA pointed out.

A Bulgarian-French business forum is scheduled to take place on October 12 within the framework of the visit in Sofia. BIA will brief the delegation on the prospects for the Bulgarian economy, the structure of employer systems and relations with trade unions in this country. There will also be a discussion with French companies working in Bulgaria.

At the end of the forum, BIA and MEDEF will sign an agreement for deeper cooperation, exchange of information and opinions, relevant for improving the business environment in Europe, as well as a commitment to serve French and Bulgarian companies, members of both organizations, interested in establishing contacts and business cooperation with each other.

The French companies will visit various industrial productions in Sofia and Plovdiv, the Embassy stated.

Addressing a news conference at the French Embassy French Ambassador here Joel Meyer said that a visit by a delegation of about 100 French companies speaks of increased interest in Bulgaria and has political dimensions.

"For me this is a very important visit, which also has political dimensions," Meyer said, adding that there is a serious momentum for reforms in terms of the rule of law, and others which will strengthen trust in the state. According to him, a forthcoming visit to Bulgaria of France's Secretary of State for European Affairs Laurence Boone is indicative of the political dimensions.

“The French entrepreneurs coming to Bulgaria are interested in re-industrialization,” said Eric Challan Belval, President of the Movement of Enterprises in France (MEDEF). He said the French businessmen would visit various industrial enterprises, mainly in Sofia and Plovdiv. “Our aim is to get to know each other, talk business, see what the business climate is like and think about future partnerships,” he added.

"Reindustrialization is our goal," said Marie-Pierre Vedrenne, MEP and Vice-Chair of the European Parliament's International Trade Committee.

Stephane Delahaye, Chairman of the French-Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce, noted that for nearly 145 years of bilateral relations between Bulgaria and France there has never been a visit of such a large business delegation. The health crisis, combined with the complicated geopolitical situation, has led French industrial enterprises to completely reconsider their location in the world, and the big question for companies based in Asia is looming large. “We are constantly being asked by small and medium-sized enterprises whether they can relocate their companies here,” he said.

Bulgarian Industrial Association Chairman Dobri Mitrev expressed hope that Europe will continue to be a leading factor in economic terms, stop deindustrialization and remain the best place to live and do business in the world. "The crises that have hit us in the last 3-4 years have actually shown us that if we stand together, we will achieve a lot and from the lessons learned we will create new opportunities," he said.

Earlier the delegation met with members of the parliamentary Bulgaria-France Friendship Group.