site.btaEconomy Minister Sets New Tasks to Bulgaria's Commercial Attaches Worldwide

Deputy Prime Minister and Economy and Industry Minister Kornelia Ninova held an online meeting with 62 Bulgarian commercial attaches around the world, her Ministry said on Saturday.

In view of the complicated international situation, Ninova expects the attaches to submit every month an analysis of the situation in the countries to which they are posted. They should analyse the economic and social environment, anti-crisis measures and government decisions on geopolitical matters concerning the EU and Bulgaria.

Ninova said: "The crises have caused supply chains to shorten. Companies are withdrawing their production operations from Asia, which makes Bulgaria an interesting destination."

The Economy Ministry has sent the commercial attaches a new register of industrial zones so they can present it to potential investors in Bulgaria.

Ninova briefed the commercial attaches on the latest government decisions after Russia's Gazprom cut off gas supplies to Bulgaria on April 27. She said Sofia has asked to be exempted from the ban on EU imports of Russian crude oil and will impose a veto if the European Commission does not grant its request. The Economy Minister said Bulgaria is not 100% ready with alternative supplies but is working on the matter in "quite a dynamic" economic situation.

The number one task now is to ensure gas and oil supplies, she said.

The government will work towards scrapping excise duty on gas in the budget revision planned for this summer. "This could lower its price, we will impose a new tax on the excess profits of energy companies, and the revenues will go towards compensation for the economy and industry," the minister said.

Ninova stressed that young families and older people would be the focus of the government's income policy.

She called on the commercial attaches to work hard for the further expansion of bilateral trade cooperation and thus help to stabilize the economy and industry.