H.E. Irena Gancheva, Ambassador of Bulgaria in Pakistan, has invited a large-scale trade delegation from Pakistan to visit Bulgaria – representing various sectors – for exploring the avenues for enhancement in bilateral trade; paving the way for entrepreneurs to invest; encouraging joint ventures and crafting mutually-beneficial chamber-to-chamber linkages between FPCCI & Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI). She was speaking at the occasion of her visit to the FPCCI Head Office at Federation House Karachi.
H.E. Irena Gancheva offered to expedite the visa processing for the business, industry and trade community’s representatives of Pakistan to create an enabling environment for them to forge business-to-business and people-to-people relationships. She stated that Bulgaria offers the cheapest skilled workforce in the EU and also enjoys the shortest distance with Pakistan in the EU; therefore, Bulgaria can serve as a gateway to Europe for Pakistan.
Bulgarian Ambassador also called upon the Pakistani exporters to fully capitalize on the tariff exemptions offered by the GSP Plus status and export textile products to Bulgaria. Furthermore, many regulations have been relaxed by the Government of Bulgaria over the years; which were historically in place; making Bulgaria a business-friendly country, she added.
It is pertinent to note that the Pakistani Trade Delegation to Bulgaria will be led by Mr. Irfan Iqbal Sheikh, President FPCCI. He has expressed his profound optimism that the delegation will open the doors for a new era of Pakistan-Bulgaria economic relations and unleash the true trade potential between the two countries.
Mr. Suleman Chawla, Senior Vice President FPCCI, appreciated the fact that the honorable ambassador has come to the right forum in Pakistan as FPCCI is the apex chamber of the country. He added that FPCCI will nominate the businessmen for the trade delegation to Bulgaria after due diligence; and, ensuring their relevance and potential to contribute productively.
Mr. Shaukat Omerson, VP FPCCI, emphasized that Bulgaria should open an office in Karachi to facilitate visa processing; as traveling to Islamabad will be time-consuming and counterintuitive to FPCCI’s efforts to create awareness and garner interest – on which, the honorable ambassador promised to relay the demand to the Government of Bulgaria to resolve the issue.
