Minister Pulev: Four Japanese companies have created 7,000 jobs in the country, we have unused potential

The Ministry of Innovation and Growth has supported 4 projects of Japanese companies in our country. They have created nearly 7,000 jobs in our country in the automotive, healthcare and energy sectors. We are in the process of certifying another investment by a Japanese company in the automotive sector for its first R&D center in Europe, in Sofia.

This was stated by the Minister of Innovation and Growth, Alexander Pulev, who today together with the Minister of Economy and Industry, Nikola Stoyanov, held a meeting with the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan, Nishimura Yasutoshi.

"We have serious unrealized potential between the two countries," emphasized Minister Pulev. "We are working in complete synchronization and coordination with our fellow ministers, and the fact that I am next to Minister Stoyanov shows this," he added.

"On the line of IANMSP, we lead the organization for Expo 2025 in Osaka. We are currently negotiating with 6 Japanese companies nominated by the Japanese organizers, they are one of the leaders in creating such infrastructure," he pointed out at the meeting.

On the Japanese side, they expressed a desire to expand cooperation between the two countries in the IT sector, the automotive industry, as well as investments in startups and the technology sector.

Minister Pulev emphasized that it is planned to open BAI's first international representative office outside the country in Japan and to use it as a platform for discussions with their business and for Asian investments. "We are also conducting negotiations with other Japanese investors in the automotive industry," the minister added.

Yasutoshi is in Bulgaria together with official and business delegations from the automotive, IT and telecommunications industries. This is the first visit of a Japanese economy minister to our country in 50 years.