Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Benedetto Della Vedova attended the first Italy-Bulgaria Economic Forum, entitled “Together for Growth”, in Sofia this morning. The form, organised jointly by the Embassy of Italy in Sofia, the Agenzia ICE-Sofia Office, the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Bulgaria and Confindustria Bulgaria, offered an important opportunity for encounter on macroeconomic themes and prospects for Italo-Bulgarian economic relations.
Under-Secretary Della Vedova opened the sessions with Minister for the Economy of the Republic of Bulgaria Bojidar Loukarski. Other speakers included President of the Agenzia ICE Roccardo Monti and Director of the “Invest Bulgaria” Agency Stamen Yanev. Relateurs included Vice President of Confindustria Alberto Baban, Head of International and Regulatory Affairs of UniCredit, Giuseppe Scognamiglio and Secretary General of Assocameresterio Gaetano Fausto Esposito. Participants included representatives of the Bulgarian and Italian business worlds, economic associations and local bodies.
The 2015 “Guide to Investments in Bulgaria”, created by the components of System Italy with the contribution of the InvestBulgaria Agency, was presented during the forum. “Our impression is that a new cycle is about to begin, thanks not least to the substantial amount of European funding earmarked in the 2014-2020 multiannual financial framework, and that Bulgaria and Italy are fully prepared to strengthen investments and growth”, Della Vedova asserted. He also pointed out that “in order to boost foreign investments in Bulgaria, certain comparative advantages such as low labour costs, tax breaks and a skilled labour force need to go hand in hand with a renewed commitment to reform and the rule of law, with special regard to justice, in order to ensure market transparency, fair competition, and legal certainty”.