Bulgarian-Kazakh Chamber of Commerce Unveiled in Astana

Astana, May 22 (BTA) - Bulgarian Economy Minister Bozhidar
Loukarski unveiled a Bulgarian-Kazakh Chamber of Commerce (BKCC)
in Astana on Friday, the Economy Ministry reported. Loukarski
said at the ceremony that Bulgaria has a tradition of good trade
and economic relations with Kazakhstan but there is much more
that can be done in this field.

The minister visited Kazakhstan between Thursday and Friday to
take part in the 8th Astana Economic Forum which, as usual,
brought together leading economists from all over the world.

The unveiling of BKCC was also attended by Ayan Yerenov, Vice
President of the Foreign Trade Chamber at Kazakhstan's National
Chamber of Entrepreneurs, and Vassil Petkov, Ambassador of
Bulgaria to Kazakhstan.

Economy Minister Loukarski went on to say that rapid economic
development and a rising purchasing power level make Kazakhstan
a highly promising market. Bulgaria can increase its exports to
Kazakhstan, particularly the export of pharmaceuticals, fruit
and vegetable processing equipment, collapsible structures,
liquid pumps, batteries, furniture and wooden products, frozen
and canned fruit, he said.

BKCC President Andriana Petkova and Ayan Yerenov signed a
memorandum of cooperation between their organizations.

Bulgaria's Deputy Economy Minister Daniela Vezieva and
Kazakhstan's Deputy Investment and Development Minister Yerlan
Sagadiev discussed the promotion of investment in their
countries. They also considered potential bilateral cooperation
in the food industry, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.

In 2014, Bulgaria's trade with Kazakhstan amounted to almost 96
million US dollars, including 46 million dollars in Bulgarian
exports to Kazakhstan and 49.5 million dollars in Kazakh imports
to Bulgaria. Bulgarian exports to Kazakhstan in 2014 were
dominated by pharmaceuticals (33.7 per cent of the total), dish
washing machines (11.3 per cent), beef (8.6 per cent), control
boards (6.1 per cent) and horse meat (5.1 per cent). Imports
from Kazakhstan to Bulgaria included petroleum gas (84.7 per
cent of the total) and purified copper and copper alloys (15.1
per cent).