Minister Dilov and the Italian Ambassador to Bulgaria discussed the possibilities for activating economic relations
Italy is the third largest foreign trade partner of Bulgaria
The possibilities for activating trade and economic cooperation were discussed by the Minister of Economy and Industry Petar Dilov with H.E. Giuseppina Dzara, Ambassador of Italy to Bulgaria. The meeting was also attended by Roberto Santorelli, Chairman of the Association of Italian Entrepreneurs in Bulgaria Confindustria, as well as the Deputy Minister of Economy and Industry Nevena Lazarova and the Chief of Staff of the Minister Tanya Atanasova.
At the meeting, it became clear that Italy is among Bulgaria's leading foreign trade partners, ranking 3rd in exports and 4th in trade, according to data for the first 10 months of 2024.
"Italy is among our country's traditional partners, we attach great importance to the development of bilateral relations and will continue to promote economic cooperation," said Minister Dilov.
During the talks, Minister Dilov emphasized that Bulgaria strives to attract Italian investments in high-tech production and services with high added value. According to him, the amount of direct investments from Italy in Bulgaria amounts to 3.3 billion euros, according to BNB data.
The Minister of Economy and the Ambassador of Italy to Bulgaria discussed deepening cooperation in strategic sectors such as manufacturing, transport, energy, digital technologies and support for small and medium-sized enterprises.
Minister Dilov emphasized that among his main priorities is the improvement of the business climate in Bulgaria and the reduction of administrative burdens.
For his part, Ambassador Dzara pointed out that our country is an important economic partner of Italy and pointed out that there are many Italian investments in Bulgaria in the manufacturing sector. The two also discussed Bulgaria's progress on the path to its membership in the OECD and the process of joining the eurozone.
With the Chairman of Confindustria Roberto Santorelli, the possibilities for organizing bilateral initiatives that would help companies from both countries to implement partnerships were identified.