34 Countries Join Bulgarian Technologies Fair

On 8 May 2006, Bulgaria's Prime Minister Sergey Stanishev inaugurated in Plovdiv the 26th International Fair of Consumer Goods and Technologies, which drew significant world interest this year.

More than 1 200 firms from 34 countries are taking part in the fair, most companies coming from Italy, Germany, Greece, and Turkey. The fair in the country's second largest city will continue for six days.

The opening ceremony was attended by Economy and Energy Minister Rumen Ovcharov, Social Minister Emilia Maslarova, the District Governor of Plovdiv, the mayor of the city, diplomats and citizens.

In his welcoming speech at the opening of the forum, Prime Minister Stanishev pointed out that Bulgaria has turned into one of the fast developing economies for the last years, its annual growth exceeding 5%. "We expect this trend to be stable this year and thus to attract new FDI. This is part of the process of enhancing the competitiveness of the Bulgarian economy," Stanishev said.

"I am convinced that the political stability, the country's stable economic indicators as well as the sustainable economic growth are an important factor turning Bulgaria into an important destination for investment and trade."

He also pointed out that in 2005, Bulgaria's export exceeded BGN 18.5 B and said that this is not the ceiling of the Bulgarian economy. Now we see faster rise in export and this is optimistic, he added. Sergey Stanishev expressed his hope that in 2007, after the country joins the EU, the Plovdiv Fair will attract more participants, who will find new business partners, and contribute to Bulgaria's prosperity and development.