Bulgaria successfully coordinates two working groups within the BSEC
30 June 2021 News
The active role of Bulgaria as a coordinating state of two Working Groups within the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organisation was emphasised by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Rumen Alexandrov during the 43rd Meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the member states of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organisation (BSEC). It was held in videoconference format on June 30, 2021 at the invitation of the Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs of Albania Olta Dzacka and at the initiative of the Albanian rotating presidency of the BSEC.
During the meeting, the ministers assessed the achievements of the BSEC in conducting its economic mission and exchanged views on the prospects for further strengthening of the cooperation.
"Bulgaria's participation in the BSEC is an important element of our country's regional policy, aimed at strengthening confidence, stability and security in the wider Black Sea Region," said Deputy Minister Alexandrov. He noted that the participation in the activities of the BSEC working groups is an opportunity to present our country's views on individual sectoral policies, as well as to encourage the deepening of the contacts between the countries in the region.
Bulgaria successfully coordinates two working groups within the BSEC: in the fields of information and communication technologies and exchange of statistical data and economic information,” said Rumen Alexandrov. It was noted that within the Working Group on Information and Communication Technologies, our country seeks to turn cooperation into a successful tool for exchanging ideas and information. "We are pursuing an active policy for development of information technologies, as the sector is one of the leaders in the structure of the Bulgarian economy and contributes significantly to GDP growth," said the Deputy Minister.
In his speech, Deputy Minister Alexandrov pointed out that as a coordinator of the Working Group for Exchange of Statistical Data and Economic Information, Bulgaria has contributed to reviving its work after a long period of stagnation, recognising the key role of statistics in making informed and effective management decisions.
The four main priorities proposed by Bulgaria on which to focus the Working Group on Exchange of Statistical Data and Economic Information in 2021 were presented:
- Support for the achievement of the sustainable development goals by providing comparable and reliable data;
- Exchange of ideas and best practices from national statistical authorities to address the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic;
- Strengthening the cooperation in the statistical field by organising trainings and creating a network of young statisticians in the region;
- Activation of the work of the Coordination Centre for Exchange of Statistical Data and Economic Information with the BSEC.
"By the end of 2021, we plan to hold a seminar with young statisticians and lecturers from the BSEC member states. We believe that the interaction between young people is a guarantee for sustainable cooperation between our countries in the future,” the Deputy Minister concluded.
During the videoconference meeting, gratitude was expressed to Ambassador Michael Christidis, who is completing his second successful term as Secretary General of the BSEC, and welcomed the new Secretary General, Ambassador Lazar Comanescu, who will take office on July 1, 2021. At the end of the meeting, the rotating presidency of the BSEC was handed over to Georgia for the period July 1 - December 31, 2021.