On May 20, 2025, the Sofia Balkan Palace Hotel hosted a Bulgarian-Kazakh Business Forum organized by the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) with the assistance of the Ministry of Economy and Industry, the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Sofia, and the Bulgarian-Kazakh Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The event coincided with the fifth session of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation between the two countries.
The Executive Director of the InvestBulgaria Agency (IBA), Ms. Mila Nenova, presented the advantages of Bulgaria as an investment destination. She emphasized that the country is no longer just a low-cost location, but offers competitive conditions compared to other EU member states. Ms. Nenova highlighted Bulgaria’s strategic geographical location, stable macroeconomic environment, and attractive tax system with a corporate tax rate of 10% and a dividend tax rate of 5%. She also noted that Bulgaria is a safe country with talented human resources, especially in IT and engineering.
The forum brought together representatives of Bulgarian and Kazakh institutions and businesses, with a focus on sectors such as food and beverage, agriculture, transport and logistics, chemical and pharmaceutical industries, mechanical engineering, electronics, and electrical engineering. The program included an official opening, sector presentations, and B2B meetings between companies.
The Minister of Economy and Industry of Bulgaria, Petar Dilov, together with Serik Zhumangarin, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy of Kazakhstan, opened the forum.
During the opening, Minister Dilov stated that Central Asia has significant economic potential and pointed out that joint efforts are continuing to seek new incentives to facilitate business, create new jobs, and generate new business opportunities.
The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy of Kazakhstan, Mr. Serik Zhumangarin, said that Bulgaria is one of Kazakhstan’s key trade and economic partners in Southeast Europe. He emphasized the importance of cooperation between the two countries and expressed hope for future successful projects.
The forum provided a platform for establishing new partnerships and expanding business contacts between Bulgarian and Kazakh companies.
