ARMENIAN-BULGARIAN COOPERATION GREATLY POTENTIAL
ARKA News Agency
Nov 14 2007
Armenia
YEREVAN, November 14. /ARKA/. Armenian-Bulgarian trade cooperation
has a great potential for development, Bulgarian Prime Minister Sergey
Stanishev told a news conference held jointly with RA Prime Minister
Serge Sargsyan.
He pointed out that the bilateral trade is estimated at $30mln, which
is insufficient. He said that the bilateral economic relations are
not at the same level as political relations.
According to Stanishev, in 1990s both countries experienced hard times,
when some ties were lost. However, the country has been successfully
and steadily developing over the last few years. The Bulgarian Premier
pointed out that the country has recently recorded 6% steady economic
growth, and foreign investments in its economy total [email protected].
"The steps enable us to develop bilateral cooperation, Of course,
a number of obstacles to the development of cooperation do exist,"
he said.
Stanishev pointed out that Bulgaria, as a country of investment
attractiveness, is not only attracting foreign investments, but also
invests its own capital in other countries. He said that Bulgaria
has successful investment projects in Ukraine, Macedonia, Serbia,
Kosovo and Turkey.
"Since we have such successful projects, why not invest funds in
Armenia’s economy as well?" he asked.
The RA Statistical Service reports that Armenian-Bulagrian trade
totaled $82mln in January-September 2007 – a 3.2-fold increase.
Armenia’s exports to Bulgaria reached $12.7bln – a 17.3-fold increase
compared to the corresponding period last year. Armenia’s imports
from Bulgaria reached $20.3mln – a 1.6-fold increase, with imports
of Bulgarian products reaching $57.7mln (a 2.3-fold increase).
Bulgarian Premier Sergey Stanishev arrived for a 3-day official visit
to Armenia. During his visit he was to hold meetings with RA President
Robert Kocharyan, Speaker of the RA Parliament Tigran Torosyan and
Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II.
In Armenia, the Bulgarian Premier is tom lay a wreath to the Memorial
to the victims of the Armenian Genocide, hold a meeting with students
and teaching staff of Yerevan State University. The Bulgarian Premier
is also scheduled to meet with the members of the Armenia-Bulgaria
friendship group and representatives of the Bulgarian community
in Armenia.
The Bulgarian Premier will also visit the Institute of Ancient
Manuscripts "Matenandaran", Peyo Yavorov secondary school, Yerevan
Brandy Company, treasure house and Cathedral of the Holy See of
Echmiadzin.