Deputy Minister Zaritsa Dinkova talks with the Ambassador of the Swiss Confederation Raimund Führer
04 November 2021 News
The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Zaritsa Dinkova held a meeting with the Ambassador of the Swiss Confederation Raimund Führer. Among the topics of conversation were the development of bilateral relations, as well as those between Switzerland and the European Union.
The two countries described the relations between Bulgaria and Switzerland as excellent. Deputy Minister Dinkova stressed the importance of Switzerland as an economic partner of Bulgaria. "It is crucial for the Bulgarian state to attract high-quality investments," she said.
The importance of the investment of the Swiss concern Nestle was emphasized, which will invest BGN 19 million and create 70 new jobs in Sofia. The opportunities for cooperation offered by the Bulgarian economic zones were also noted. The Thrace park zone developing as a carbon-neutral industrial zone, was given as an example.
In the course of the conversation, the forthcoming opening of the Sofia Institute of Computer Technology and Artificial Intelligence, a project on a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Ministry of Education and Science, the St. Kliment Ohridski Sofia University, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich and the Swiss Federal Polytechnic Institute in Lausanne. It will be essential for the development of Bulgarian students and young scientists and for attracting new investments in education and innovation. Another example of a good partnership in the scientific field was highlighted - the opening of a representative office of Biotechlab in Sofia.
The Bulgarian side highly appreciates the decision of the Parliament of the Swiss Confederation to allocate funds in the amount of 1.3 billion Swiss francs for the second cohesion contribution, aimed at overcoming economic and social disparities between EU member states. An institutional framework agreement is the optimal format for continuing successful cooperation between the European Union and Switzerland. For its part, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria is ready to support the partnership between Bulgaria and Switzerland in the future.