Official Launch of the Swedish-Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce
The Swedish-Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce (SweCham Bulgaria) was established in Sofia. The official opening ceremony was held on January 17 with the presence of the Swedish Ambassador to Bulgaria, H.E Louise Bergholm and the Bulgarian Deputy Economy Minister Liliya Ivanova.
SweCham Bulgaria will focus on the Swedish-related business in Bulgaria and the culture of Sweden.
Sweden’s ambassador to Bulgaria, Louise Bergholm, emphasised the strong presence of Swedish firms, with close to 40 subsidiaries of Swedish companies present in Bulgaria, with an increasing number of Swedish investments in the digital economy.
🇸🇪🇧🇬Swedish Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce now up and running. Thanks to founding members @AstraZeneca @TrelleborgSeals @Saab Join the chamber: https://t.co/Z4QLMkb12s @TeamSwedenSE @BulChamber @MoEBulgaria @SweMFA pic.twitter.com/ylWthdWZ18
— Amb Bergholm (@SwedeninBG) January 18, 2019
“In the past 13 years, Swedish investment in Bulgaria reached nearly 300 million euro, with an 11.3% growth in volume of trade by October 2018, to a value of nearly 343 million euro. Bulgaria’s Economy Ministry would make every effort to make Bulgaria an even more attractive investment destination for Swedish capital,” Deputy Economy Minister Liliya Ivanova said at the opening ceremony.
According to data announced at the launching event, 87% of the Swedish companies in Bulgaria expect to expand in the mid-term, while 90% expect to grow their turnover in the next three years. Half of the enterprises expect to increase staff levels in 2019, while more than 50% expect to do so in the next three years.
The purpose of the newly established Swedish-Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce will be to contribute to the development of business relations and business-related initiatives between Sweden and the Republic of Bulgaria.
According to the official announcement, the Chamber will do the following to attain its goals:
- Support and protect common interests and organize advisory service to its members in their activities in the Republic of Bulgaria.
- Initiate, organize, support or coordinate seminars, business trips, meetings and social events, supporting the activities of the members of the Chamber.
- Assist, support and represent its members when dealing with the governmental and local authorities regarding general issues and in the general interest of the members.
- Support its members in conducting negotiations and concluding transactions.
- Investigation of the conditions of the bilateral commercial exchange, in particular, the possibilities for sale, production, supply, cooperation and investments in both countries.
To join SweCham Bulgaria, please register on the website: https://www.swechambulgaria.org/membership/
