Minister Svetlan Stoev: Bulgaria will work more closely with the OECD on all topics related to the development of the digital economy
27 September 2021 News
Bulgaria has the ambition to work more closely with the Organization for Economic Cooperation (OECD) on all topics related to the development of the digital economy. This was emphasized by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Svetlan Stoev during the opening of an international virtual conference on "Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity: Plenty of Potential".
The purpose of the forum is to stimulate a debate on the challenges and opportunities facing the digital transition of Bulgaria, as well as to contribute to the ongoing efforts of our country in preparation for membership in the OECD.
In his introductory speech at the opening of the conference, the Minister of Foreign Affairs stressed the importance of artificial intelligence and cybersecurity issues, which are increasingly penetrating our lives. "It is the responsibility of all of us to adapt - citizens, businesses, administration, youth, academia, local government," said our foreign minister.
Our country has already taken strategic steps to adapt to artificial intelligence and cyber problems with the Concept for the development of artificial intelligence in Bulgaria until 2030, adopted at the end of last year.
The challenges related to the digital transformation also play an important role in the National Recovery and Sustainability Plan, which is to be finalized.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs pointed out that the promotion of competitiveness, as well as the establishment of an appropriate global framework with the relevant regulations and standards, are key to addressing the challenges related to cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. The NATO-EU dialogue in this area also needs to be strengthened.
"The adoption of a NATO Comprehensive Cyber Defense Policy was one of the Alliance's priorities. Bulgaria actively participates in the discussions and supported at the highest level NATO's initiative to create an Accelerator for Innovation in the Defense Sector, as well as an Innovation Fund," said the Foreign Minister.
Issues related to the balance between the introduction of regulations on the use of artificial intelligence in the EU and the promotion of innovative companies within the Union were also discussed during the discussion. Good practices for digitalization of public administration from countries such as the USA, Estonia and Austria were also presented.
Gergana Passy, President of the Digital National Coalition, and Tanya Mihailova, Director of the Diplomatic Institute under the Minister of Foreign Affairs, also took part in the event today. The conference was also attended online by NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoana, OECD Secretary General Mathias Cormann, Bulgarian MEP Eva Maydell, Artificial Intelligence Adviser to the European Commission's Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology, and Juha Heikkilä, as well as the Minister of Digitalisation and Economy of Austria Margarete Schrambök.
The forum, held on 27th and 28th September 2021 in Sofia, is organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Diplomatic Institute under the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Digital National Coalition, in partnership with NATO's Public Diplomacy Directorate and the Konrad-Adenauer Foundation in Bulgaria.