Angel Ivanov, Executive Director of InvestBulgaria Agency, delivered welcoming remarks at the official opening of the training seminar “Bulgarian Industrial Zones and Investment Cooperation”, which began on 4 September 2026 in Beijing, People’s Republic of China.
The seminar is organised by the Academy for International Business Officials under China’s Ministry of Commerce (AIBO, MOFCOM) and brings together more than 20 representatives of Bulgarian institutions and businesses.
Speaking on behalf of InvestBulgaria Agency and the Bulgarian delegation, Mr Ivanov thanked the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China, the Chinese government and the organisers for their warm welcome, excellent organisation and the opportunity to gain firsthand insight into China’s investment environment, industrial development and investment promotion policies.
“Economic relations between Bulgaria and China have a solid foundation, but there remains significant untapped potential. The current level of Chinese investment is still well below what the Bulgarian economy and our country’s position within the European Union can offer,” Angel Ivanov said.
He emphasised that Bulgaria could benefit from the extensive experience of Chinese companies and institutions in developing industrial zones, high-tech manufacturing, infrastructure, innovation and global value chains.
At the same time, Bulgaria offers competitive conditions for doing business, a favourable tax environment, established industrial traditions, growing technological capacity and direct access to the EU Single Market.
The seminar programme combines lectures and discussions with site visits, meetings with representatives of Chinese institutions and companies, and participation in major economic events. According to the Executive Director of InvestBulgaria Agency, the initiative is much more than a training programme: it provides an opportunity to deepen bilateral dialogue, exchange practical experience and build new partnerships.
On the first day, participants learned about China’s national characteristics and the key aspects of Chinese modernisation. The topic was presented by Ding Yifan of the Institute for Global Governance and Development at Renmin University of China.
“I am confident that, by the time we next meet, we will be able to point to new, concrete achievements in Bulgarian-Chinese trade, investment and industrial cooperation,” Mr Ivanov added.
