President Radev and Ambassador Hiroshi Narahira discussed Japanese investments in Bulgaria

The increase of the Japanese investments in Bulgaria is an opportunity for the development of a qualitatively new model of the relations between the business and the institutions and the business and the society, as well as for the change of the economic environment in the country, Bulgaria’s President Rumen Radev said on July 14. He met with representatives of the Japan-Bulgaria Business Association, as well as the Ambassador of Japan to Bulgaria Hiroshi Narahira.

The head of state highlighted the consistent actions of the presidential institution to achieve new dynamics in the economic and investment partnership between Bulgaria and Japan. President Rumen Radev held a number of meetings with Japanese business and institutions during his visit to Japan in 2019 on the occasion of the enthronement of Emperor Naruhito. In 2020, at a meeting to promote investment cooperation between Bulgaria and Japan, hosted by the Bulgarian President, the initiative to establish the Japan-Bulgaria Business Association was presented.

Rumen Radev pointed out the huge untapped potential in the relations between Bulgaria and Japan and added that our country highly values ​​the predictability and correctness of the Japanese companies that invest in our country. The head of state also highlighted the advantages of our country for attracting investments: geostrategic location, stable macroeconomic indicators and high-quality human capital.

The Ambassador of Japan to Bulgaria Hiroshi Narahira welcomed the priority set by the Bulgarian Head of State for enhanced cooperation in the field of science, education and innovation within the Three Seas Initiative. Companies from Japan are interested to invest in regional projects in the area of “intelligent” transport, energy and digital connectivity in Eastern Europe.

"Without progressive education and innovation in research and development, we cannot talk about a quality partnership in any area," Rumen Radev stressed.

The common position was that the most important factor for attracting investments in our country and in the region is the sustainable development of the business environment.

The Chairman of the Board of the Japanese-Bulgarian Business Association Vladislav Mihov thanked the head of state for the support and said that the organization will support both the entry of Japanese companies on the Bulgarian market and Bulgarian companies to find their trading partners in Japan.

During the conversation, Ambassador Hiroshi Narahira noted the dynamically developing startup ecosystem in Bulgaria and the trend of young Bulgarians to return with their ideas and business plans and implement them in the country. The Ambassador of Japan invited Bulgarian companies to participate in the International Exhibition, which is to be held in 2025 in Osaka.