/ world today news/ Special interview for KMG with the Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of Bulgaria Yavor Gechev
– Mr. Minister, after the easing of anti-epidemic measures, China began to rapidly restore its economy and agriculture, and above all, its cooperation with other countries in various areas of life. What are the commercial and economic relations between Bulgaria and China in this regard, and in particular in agriculture and farming, as well as in other sectors, and how do you see the prospects for our cooperation in the coming years?
– The development of trade and economic relations between Bulgaria and China should be considered in the context of our full membership in the European Union and the fact that China is a strategic partner of the EU, as well as within the framework of the Cooperation Initiative between China and the CEE countries, launched by the Chinese government in 2011 and the Belt and Road Initiative launched by Chinese President Xi Jinping in autumn 2013.
Regarding Bulgaria’s agricultural trade with China, we see a growth in exports for the period January-June this year, which is estimated at 105 million euros according to data from the National Statistical Institute. For the same period last year, total agricultural exports to China were estimated at 44 million euros. That’s a 139.2% change, which is a really good result. On the other hand, imports from China to Bulgaria for the same period of January-June 2021-2022 are about 31.3% higher, amounting to nearly 42 million euros.
The main agricultural goods imported from China to Bulgaria are grain plants, natural varnishes, resins and other plant extracts, prepared animal feed and various types of food products. To China, we mainly export corn, sunflower seeds, oilseed meal and other solid residues, fodder beets and other forage crops. For example, for the first six months of 2022, we have exported nearly 99 thousand tons of corn.
That is, we see that the exchange of goods between the two countries continues to grow and trade is showing excellent growth. We aim to continue to develop bilateral relations and support small and medium-sized enterprises in this direction.
China’s agricultural and food imports from the CEE region have also increased at a tremendous rate in the past few years. This is due to the rapid economic growth and increase in the income of the Chinese population, as well as the high demand for goods. The tendency is that in the coming years, China will become the largest and most profitable food market in the world. Prospects for cooperation also exist in the trade of dairy products, honey, preserves, sweets and jams, wine, agricultural equipment.
– Could you indicate some more interesting and important initiatives related to the cooperation initiative between China and CEE, which are coming up and in which Bulgaria is an active participant?
– Agriculture, both in Bulgaria and in China, is one of the leading sectors that are critically important for the countries’ economies. The development of trade and economic relations between China and Bulgaria should be considered, both at the bilateral level and at the multilateral level, in the context of Bulgaria’s participation in the Cooperation Initiative between China and the CEE countries. The initiative has significantly contributed to the deepening of bilateral and multilateral relations, both between member countries and between societies.
Regarding cooperation in the field of agriculture within the framework of the Initiative, the exceptional growth in the trade of agricultural and food products should be noted. For example, it has increased from $6 million in 2012 to $76 million in 2022.
The Center for the Promotion of Cooperation in the Field of Agriculture between China and the Countries of Central and Eastern Europe (CEECA), established under the Ministry of Agriculture, works actively in terms of creating opportunities for the real sector and positioning products from CEE in the Chinese market, through visits of business delegations, participation in exhibitions and festivals.
An example of this is the upcoming Third Exhibition “China-CIE”, which will be held in the city of Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, in the period May 16-20, 2023. It is planned that the CNSCCCIE will participate with a stand at which food companies will be presented – the taste sector and cosmetics. Currently, 10 companies from CEE have expressed their desire to participate in the exhibition.
Apart from this, the participation of CNSSCCCIE with its own pavilion is being prepared during the Sixth International Exhibition for Imported Goods in China, which will be held in the period November 5-10, 2023 in the city of Shanghai. It is planned that companies from Bulgaria and other CEE countries will participate at the Center’s stand.
This year, the CNSSCCCIE initiated and launched a pilot edition of the Accelerator Program for start-up enterprises in the field of agriculture between China and the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, which will be held in the period March 27-April 1 of this year. Through this new initiative, it will contribute to the development of a vibrant entrepreneurial environment in Central and Eastern Europe, the implementation of innovations and technologies in agriculture, and the training and incentives provided will motivate participants to develop an entrepreneurial mindset, thus contributing to convergence and promotion of cooperation in the field of agriculture.
Apart from this, since the beginning of the year, the Central Committee of the Central Agricultural and Rural Development Agency has been providing and will periodically prepare analytical reports with up-to-date statistical data and materials on the state of the agricultural sector and its accompanying sub-sectors in the CEE countries and China, in order to acquaint businesses with useful information and trends in the field .
With a view to strengthening the traditional friendship between China and Bulgaria, the CNSSCCCIE will join and support the organization of a summer Dragon Boat Festival in June on Lake Pancharevo, during which a culinary festival will be held, which will showcase the best of the culinary traditions of the CEE countries. The initiator of the Festival is the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Republic of Bulgaria, and among the main partners and co-organizers are the Municipality of Sofia, embassies in Bulgaria of Asian countries, the General Office for Sports of the People’s Republic of China, People’s Government of Chongqing City, People’s Government of Ningbo City, People’s Government of Kunming City, Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism of Beijing City, Foreign Affairs Office of Jiangxi Provincial Government, Chinese Cultural Center – Sofia, Research Base for International Cultural Exchange (Cultural Trade) of the Information Department of the CPC Central Committee, China Institute in trade in services at the Second Beijing University of Foreign Languages, Confucius Institute at Sofia University, “Hangzhou City-Express” newspaper, Bulgarian-Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Association of Chinese Returned from Abroad in Zhejiang Province, People’s Government of Qingtien County; Municipality of Ruse, Bulgarian National Association “One Belt, One Road”, Bulgarian Canoe-Kayak Federation, Exclusive representative and importer of Mautai brandy in Bulgaria; and supporting institutions are the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Bulgaria, the Ministry of Tourism of the Republic of Bulgaria, the Ministry of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Bulgaria; Center for the promotion of cooperation in the field of agriculture between China and the countries of Central and Eastern Europe (CNSSCCIE) under the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Bulgaria.
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