The president and business presented a 15 billion-euro green hydrogen project in Germany

"The tradition of a successful economic partnership between Bulgaria and the Land of Hamburg will expand into new areas such as alternative energy sources and high technology." This was stated by President Rumen Radev after his meeting with the Prime Minister of the Province of Hamburg and Mayor Peter Cencher. The head of state is visiting the Federal Republic of Germany at the invitation of his counterpart, President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, with whom the Bulgarian president met in Berlin.

"We can successfully overcome today's challenges only if we develop technologies together, look for new solutions and create production," he said. According to him, in the long run Bulgaria and Germany should exchange experience and use new technologies and solutions to achieve energy independence.

President Rumen Radev highlighted Hamburg's experience in developing technologies in the field of green hydrogen and opportunities for cooperation with Bulgaria in this area. "Germany, with its leading industry, will need a lot of hydrogen in the future, and Bulgaria can produce green hydrogen and be a reliable supplier," he said, expressing confidence that the two countries would have fruitful co-operation in this area.

During his visit to Hamburg, President Rumen Radev also met with the leadership and representatives of the Chamber of Commerce. The Bulgarian President stressed that joint efforts are needed to address the challenges posed by the pandemic and the war in Ukraine. In front of the German business, Rumen Radev highlighted the advantages of Bulgaria as a country with good conditions for investors - highly qualified staff, macroeconomic stability and strategic location. During the meeting in the Chamber of Commerce, the representatives of the Bulgarian business, included in the delegation led by the head of state, had the opportunity to discuss with their German colleagues opportunities for cooperation.

The implementation of a 15 billion euro project for the production of green hydrogen in the Maritza East complex was presented by the Bulgarian business - part of the delegation led by the head of state in Germany. The investment intentions envisage joint financing by the business of the creation of solar capacities for the production of green hydrogen, part of which will be exported, and another will be intended for balancing the energy network in the country. The business plans to complete the transformation of Maritza East in the next 10 years, with 7,500 jobs expected to be created and another 18,000 in the supporting industries.

Bulgarian business was represented by the management of nationally representative employers' organizations, the management of the Thrace Economic Zone, the largest in the Balkans, as well as representatives of companies with already established partnerships in Germany in the field of alternative energy sources. The head of state stressed that there are already companies in Bulgaria that have practical experience in technologically replacing fossil fuels with hydrogen.

Earlier, the head of state visited one of the largest metallurgical companies in Germany, Aurubis, which is active in Bulgaria with its copper plant. Rumen Radev got acquainted with the company's activities and highlighted the need for even higher ambitions to increase exports of products with higher added value. The common position was that the corporate social responsibility of the company is a strong positive example for the business.