Thursday, March 9 2017 12:59

ArmInfo. Bulgaria considers Armenia as a traditional economic partner and it wants to develop comprehensive, long-term and mutually beneficial cooperation with Armenia, Maria Pavlova Tzotzorkova-Kaymaktchieva, Ambassador of Bulgaria to Armenia, says in an interview with ArmInfo.

She says that according to Bulgarian statistics, over the past ten yeas the bilateral commodity turnover has ranged from 23 mln to 27 mln USD per annum. "We think that amid the traditional friendly relations between the two countries, these indicators do not meet the potential of the two countries' economies," she says, noting that active efforts with the Armenian side towards expansion of bilateral trade and economic cooperation are among the priorities of the Bulgarian Embassy. The Ambassador points out that Bulgaria has an opportunity to export the goods approved on the international markets: cars, electric appliances, food industry equipment, furniture, medicaments, cosmetics, etc. 

She says that the Bulgarian food industry offers products with due regard for specificity of the consumer demand in Armenia. "As regards technologies and equipment, here we also can offer our products - for instance, our companies in dairy industry operate in some countries of Eastern Europe and Central Asia.  The same is true for Bulgarian furniture, which has European quality and competitive prices. There are favorable conditions for expansion of cooperation in tourism.  Over the past few years, Armenians' interest in the Black Sea resorts of Bulgaria has intensified. We think along with this type of tourism, our institutions should also be interested in developing other types of tourism familiarizing travelers with the rich historical and cultural heritage of Bulgaria and Armenia. We believe that the regular exchange of trade missions of the two countries' manufacturers, the fruitful business meetings and frequent business forums will give an impetus to further promotion of the trade and economic relations, which will reflect the actual potential of commodity turnover between Armenia and Bulgaria," the diplomat says.

Ambassador Tzotzorkova-Kaymaktchieva expresses confidence that there is also a potential for implementation of joint projects. "The Embassy's activities create favorable conditions for expansion of business contacts and interaction between the two countries' institutions, chambers of commerce and industry and sectoral structures to reveal the areas of mutual interest. The Embassy is willing to exert all efforts to help organize business forums in Bulgaria and Armenia, and contribute to Armenian representatives' participation in trade and economic fairs in Bulgaria.  There is also an opportunity to assist Armenia in creating administrative and technical capacities within the frames of Bulgaria's official support for development. We are currently working to determine the goals and priorities of that cooperation with due regard for the needs reflected in the national development strategy of Armenia, and for the opinion of the competent Armenian structures. We hope our efforts will give the desirable results in the near future," the Bulgarian Ambassador to Armenia says.

According to the National Statistical Service of Armenia, in Jan-Dec 2016 the commodity turnover between Armenia and Bulgaria amounted to $186.4 mln (up 77.6% versus Jan-Dec 2015). Bulgaria holds the fourth position among the trade partners of Armenia. Exports totaled $152.4 mln (second position among the trade partners), up 93.1% versus Jan-Dec 2015. Imports amounted to $34 mln, up 30.6% versus Jan-Dec 2015.