§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to promote trade with Bulgaria. [89302]
299W
§ Mr. WilsonMy Department is actively involved in a number of initiatives to promote Bulgaria. Earlier this month the London Chamber of Commerce, supported by my Department, took 19 companies to Bulgaria. This was the largest ever trade mission to the market. Companies from the British Nuclear Industries Forum visited Bulgaria last week and my Department is also supporting the Department for the Environment's July mission of water sector companies. We will also be supporting the British stand at the annual Plovdiv Fair in September. Over the last year, we have assisted in strengthening bilateral trade and commercial relations by hosting visits to the UK by the Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister and the Bulgarian Minister for Trade and Tourism. I had a bilateral meeting in March with the Bulgarian Minister for Trade and Tourism, which was then followed by a well attended business seminar at which we both spoke.
Under the Export Promoter initiative, my Department currently employs a private sector secondee to assist with our efforts to promote trade and investment with Bulgaria.