Minister Poulev: Four Japanese companies have created nearly 7000 jobs in Bulgaria

Meeting with Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Yasutoshi Nishimura bulgarian Minister of Innovation and Growth Alexander Poulev said that four projects of Japanese companies in Bulgaria have been supported by his ministry. They have created nearly 7000 jobs in the country in the automotive, healthcare and energy sectors. "We are in the process of certifying another investment of a Japanese company in the automotive sector for its first R&D centre in Europe, in Sofia", Poulev added, as quoted by his Ministry.

"There is serious unrealised potential between the two countries", Minister Pulev said.

"We are leading the organisation for Expo 2025 in Osaka under the Bulgarian Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion Agency (BSMEPA). We are currently negotiating with six Japanese companies nominated by the Japanese organizers, they are one of the leaders in creating such infrastructure," he said at the meeting.

The Japanese side expressed desire to expand cooperation between the two countries in the IT sector, the automotive industry, as well as investment in start-ups and the technology sector.

Poulev stressed that the first international representative office of InvestBulgaria Agency outside the country is planned to be opened in Japan and to be used as a platform for discussions with their business and for Asian investments. "We are also in talks with other Japanese investors in the automotive industry," the minister added.

Nishimura is in Bulgaria along with official and business delegations from the automobile, IT and telecommunications industries. This is the first visit of a Japanese economy minister to the country in 50 years.