Bulgarian PM Opens Business Forum in Vietnam

Representatives of 21 Bulgarian companies are taking part in Tuesday's Bulgaria-Vietnam business forum in Da Nang.

The forum was opened by Bulgaria's Prime Minister Plamen Oresharski, as a part of his official visit to the Asian country.

"Bulgaria pays particular attention to developing and deepening its ties with the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. The frequent high-level meetings as well as business forums like this one are a proof of our intentions. After a relatively limited period, we are now seeing the revival of trade and economic relations with Vietnam, which in 2008 reached its peak of nearly USD 100 M", Oresharski said in his speech.

The Bulgarian firms represented at the Da Nang forum are from the energy, tourism, construction, winery, consultancy, and food industries. They will be looking to build new partnerships in Vietnam, something which the local government has promised it would do its best in facilitating.

According to Evgeni Ivanov, the head of Bulgaria's Agency for Promotion of Small and Medium-Size Enterprizes, Vietnam is an increasingly attractive country for business, with a huge (90 million) market, which is trying to recreate the successful Chinese model, Dariknews reports.

On Monday, the prime ministers of the two countries agreed to work for a new model of economic cooperation, with specific measures geared towards increasing investments.

PM Oresharski's trip ends on Wednesday, when he will visit the old imperial capital Hue, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.