Deputy Minister Zaritsa Dinkova participates in the EU-Central Asia Economic Forum
05 November 2021 News
Deputy Foreign Minister Zaritsa Dinkova participated in the first EU-Central Asia High Level Economic Forum, which took place in a hybrid format on November 5, 2021 in the capital of the Kyrgyz Republic, Bishkek.
Speaking at the Digitalization panel, Deputy Minister Dinkova, who joined online, focused on the opportunities and challenges of digital transformation in the context of economic recovery after the pandemic, as well as on the prospects for strengthening cooperation between Central Asia and the European Union.
The Deputy Foreign Minister stressed the key importance of new technologies and the adaptation of economies and societies to them, including through the development of the necessary skills, to ensure sustainable and inclusive economic development. Improving connectivity, both between the countries of the region and with the European Union, was highlighted as a top priority. Zaritsa Dinkova highlighted the potential of the fast-growing IT sector in Bulgaria and the readiness of Bulgarian companies to share their experience and expertise, contributing to the development of digitalization in Central Asian countries.
The forum was attended by the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, the Vice-President of the European Commission and Commissioner for Trade Valdis Dombrovskis, Prime Ministers and Ministers of Central Asian States, Ministers and Deputy Ministers of EU Member States, the President of the European Commission Bank for Reconstruction and Development Odile Reno-Basso, business representatives in both regions, etc..
The main part of the forum was organized in three plenary sessions on the topics of green economy, digitalization and business climate. Representatives of the countries of the Central Asian region, Estonia, Sweden, the World Bank, and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development also took part in the Digitalization panel.