Ekaterina Zaharieva: Bulgarian visas to be issued in 15 cities across India
17 February 2019 News
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ekaterina Zakharieva met with Sushma Swaraj, the Minister of External Affairs of India. This has been the first visit to Bulgaria by an Indian foreign minister in two decades.
‘With the lowest taxes in the EU, good infrastructure and hospitable people, Bulgaria can become India’s door to Europe.’ Those were the words of Ekaterina Zakharieva in addressing Sushma Swaraj.
The top diplomats of Bulgaria and India underscored that our countries, which this year will mark the 65th anniversary since the establishment of their diplomatic relations, enjoy their traditional friendship, mutually beneficial cooperation and close and dynamic partnership.
‘You are the most populous democracy in the world, while Bulgaria is part of the most democratic community, the European Union,’ Minister Zakharieva pointed out. She stressed that the diplomacy of both countries should work for building links between their private sectors and their people. ‘This will provide a sound basis for development of our relations,’ Ekaterina Zakharieva stated.
Among the areas having the greatest potential for development the two ministers identified high technology, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, the food industry, and tourism. ‘We invite Bulgarian companies to take part in programs pursued in India,’ said Sushma Swaraj.
Minister Zakharieva pointed out that a Bulgarian company is already doing successful business as part of the ‘Make in India’ program; another Bulgarian company is providing internet services to over 200 thousand users in New Delhi, while a Bulgarian pharmaceutical plant is producing medicines in India.
Thanks to these and other successful initiatives, the bilateral trade between the two countries is on the upswing. Data for the first ten months of 2018 indicate a 25 percent annual increase. Over 14,500 Indian nationals, or 23% more than the previous year, have visited Bulgaria during 2018, Minister Zakharieva went on to say.
‘These ties will strengthen even further with the launch of direct scheduled flights between India and Bulgaria,’ the Bulgarian Foreign Minister commented in a press briefing after the meeting. Ekaterina Zakharieva announced that from March onwards, Bulgarian visas will be issued in over 15 cities across India.
‘It was on these and other specific matters that we agreed during our meeting,’ our Foreign Minister went on to say. She also shared how happy she was, being able to welcome Sushma Swaraj. ‘She is a role model and inspiration for so many girls and women in her homeland.’
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