Rumen Radev: Cooperation between countries is crucial for achieving a carbon-neutral transition

Sustainable climate solutions require close cooperation between countries, exchange of experience, transfer of knowledge and technology and joint action. This was stated by President Rumen Radev during the opening of the national pavilion of Bulgaria within the framework of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 28). The head of state leads the Bulgarian delegation at the world forum, the presidential institution announced. For the first time, Bulgaria has its own pavilion at the event, which this year takes place from December 1 to 12 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. In the Bulgarian pavilion, representatives of institutions, business, the non-governmental sector and science present achievements in decarbonization, as well as their activities and ambitions in the field of technology and innovative ecological production.

According to the head of state, cooperation between countries is crucial to achieving a fair, people-focused, nature- and economy-focused carbon-neutral transition. He expressed confidence that the Bulgarian national pavilion will successfully serve not only as a place to demonstrate climate-efficient and high-tech solutions, but also as a shared space for international meetings and communication.

"Bulgaria is ready to expand its cooperation with like-minded countries", the president pointed out and expressed gratitude for the presence of the representatives of foreign delegations. The opening of the Bulgarian pavilion was attended by the President of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Duda, the Vice-President of the European Commission Marosz Šefčovič, representatives of the US Department of Energy, ministers and representatives of foreign delegations. "I thank you that today we are together, speaking a common language, guided by shared goals, united in common efforts to turn our high ambitions into action," said the Bulgarian head of state.

Rumen Radev highlighted the need for a sustainable transition to a green economy, without compromises with the quality of life of people and the competitiveness of the economies of each country. The President pointed out that this challenge can only be overcome by applying the latest technological advances. He gave an example with the technological solutions presented at the Bulgarian national pavilion in the field of artificial intelligence, satellite technologies, autonomous systems, green energy, biotechnology, carbon neutral industry. The head of state pointed out that the successes in these areas are due to the interaction between state institutions, business, science and the non-governmental sector.

Among the institutions, business and science represented at the Bulgarian pavilion are the Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Technologies INSAIT, the Bulgarian company for nanosatellite technologies EnduroSat, the Higher Naval School "Nikola Vaptsarov", whose Antarctic expeditions are dedicated to scientific research, a large part of which is related to climate, the first carbon-neutral industrial zone in Europe "Thrace Economic Zone", Executive Agency for Small and Medium Enterprises, Institute of Robotics at BAS, Bulgarian Investment Agency and others.