Bulgaria, and more specifically Bulgaria’s economy is in dire need of investments – domestic, but most of all foreign investments. This is no secret, on the contrary, this need is made public at each and every political and diplomatic level inside and outside the country. “Bulgaria’s foreign policy is growing more and more active and by opening up to Europe but also to dynamic economies such as Qatar we shall be seeking more pragmatism and better results for Bulgaria’s trade,” said President Rossen Plevneliev at a meeting with the Bulgarian community in the State of Qatar. At the beginning of the week the Bulgarian head of state paid an official visit there at the invitation of the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. “Our efforts to expand our ties with Qatar are facilitated by the clear political signal that they wish to cooperate, work and produce together with us,” Rossen Plevneliev said. As clear as it can get. And more specifically during their meeting, President Plevneliev and the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Al Thani stated a shared position on the priority sectors in which economic cooperation should focus. The two countries will lay an emphasis on the production of foodstuffs, power generation, high-tech, construction and trade and joint projects of mutual interest. Qatar for example could become the first natural gas exporting country to take part in the implementation of the North-South gas corridor, a project Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia have so far stated they are ready to take part in. Investment opportunities in the sphere of high-tech in this country were also presented at the meeting. President Plevneliev stated this was one of the most dynamically developing sectors in Bulgaria with a sustained annual growth rate and over 25,000 working in the branch. While Bulgarian companies are welcome in Qatar which is opening up to the whole world and is currently implementing large-scale infrastructure projects which are changing the face of the country. The visits by President Plevneliev and by Foreign Ministrer Vigenin in February are a crucial step in making Bulgaria an important partner to the wealthy Arab state.

English version: Milena Daynova