Today, April 14, 2025, the leadership of the Bulgarian Industrial Association held a working meeting with representatives of the Department of Commerce at the US Embassy in Bulgaria. The following participated in the meeting from the BIA side: Dobri Mitrev - Chairman of the Board, Stanislav Popdonchev - Deputy Chairman and Chief Financial Officer, Maria Mincheva - Deputy Chairman, Dimitar Brankov - Advisor to the Chairman of the Board, Hristina Kasparyan - Chief Director "Foreign Economic Cooperation", and Miryana Nedeva - Chief Expert "Foreign Economic Cooperation". The US Department of Commerce was represented by Hannah Kamenetsky - Commercial Attaché of the US Embassy, Stanislava Dimitrova - Senior Commercial Advisor, and Alexander Sandev - Commercial Specialist.
During the meeting, the Department’s opportunities to support bilateral trade between Bulgaria and the US, sectors with potential for increasing exports such as the food and chemical industries, metallurgy, mechanical engineering, aerospace and robotics, as well as upcoming events with the opportunity for BIA member companies to participate in them were discussed.
“Our mission is to support business in both countries, to encourage Bulgarian investments in the US and vice versa – to make it easier for American investors to enter the Bulgarian market. For American companies, Bulgaria is an attractive destination not only as a market in itself, but also as a gateway to Europe,” said Hannah Kamenetsky.
As the next upcoming event open to Bulgarian companies in the field of cybersecurity, the US Department of Commerce indicated that InfoSec SEE, which will occur May 14 to 15 this year, in Pravets, provides a stage for leading international experts and representatives of key global companies in the field of cybersecurity.
“In recent years, bilateral economic relations between Bulgaria and the US have been developing upwards, but currently Bulgarian business is cautious with regard to the American market. This caution is due to the tariff and non-tariff restrictions introduced by the US administration,” stated BIA Chairman Dobri Mitrev. He added that everyone is waiting to see what the final tariff barriers will be, since Bulgaria is part of the global supply chain and especially car parts manufacturers would be greatly affected.
During the conversation, the parties also discussed the possibilities for cooperation under the EEN, distribution of a calendar of upcoming business events organized by the US Department of Commerce, and European programs in support of Bulgarian business and trade issues.
