Development of the relations between Bulgaria and Greece in the industrial sector

On November 14, 2025 in Sofia, in the building of BCCI, in their capacity as a co-organizer, was held a Bulgarian-Greek Business Forum on the topic “Development of the relations between Bulgaria and Greece in the industrial sector and solving the problems they are facing” – one of the most significant bilateral economic events in recent years. During the forum, new steps towards a closer economic partnership were outlined.

The forum was opened by the Minister of Regional Development and Public Works of Bulgaria, Mr. Ivan Ivanov. On the Greek side, the Minister of Development of Greece Mr. Panagiotis Theodorikakos and the Deputy Minister of Interior of Greece in charge of the regions of Macedonia and Thrace Mr. Konstantinos Gyulekas participated remotely.

Greetings and speeches were made by Mr. Tsvetan Simeonov, Chairman of the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Savvas Karafyllidis, Chairman of the Bulgarian-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Sergey Stanishev, Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria (2005-2009), Mr. Georgios Kremlis, Honorary Director of the European Commission and Ambassador of the European Public Law Organization in Bulgaria, Mr. Adrian Petrov, Deputy Governor of Smolyan Region, Republic of Bulgaria, Mr. Antonis Gravanis, Advisor to the Regional  Governor of the Regions of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace for European Affairs, Republic of Greece, Ms. Lilyana Pavlova, Vice-President of the EIB (2019-2023), Mr. Todor Tabakov, Vice-President of BCCI, Mr. Konstantinos Moraitidis, Chairman of the Association of Enterprises of the Industrial Zone of Thessaloniki and Vice-President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Thessaloniki, Mr. Emanuel Vlahoyannis, Honorary President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Thessaloniki, Ms. Yana Mladenova, Director of Business Development and Projects of the National Company Industrial Zones EAD, Mr. Konstantinos Styliaras, Analyst, Documentation and Research Directorate, Hellenic Federation of Enterprises.

A special speech was delivered by the Minister Plenipotentiary for Economic and Trade Affairs at the Embassy of Greece in Sofia, Mr. Dimitrios Michas.

During the forum, a memorandum of cooperation was signed between the Trakia Economic Zone and the Association of Enterprises of the Thessaloniki Industrial Zone.

The forum was attended by the President of the Greek Association of Supply Chain Management Mr. Dimitrios Tsitsamis and the representative of the Thessaloniki Port Authority Mr. Georgios Seitanidis, many representatives of the Greek and Bulgarian business, municipalities and institutions. A large group of students studying Modern Greek language at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” and New Bulgarian University contributed to the smooth conduct of the forum as interns.