Mr. President, the Bulgarian government recently approved a draft Memorandum of Understanding between Kazakhstan and Bulgaria on the development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route. How do you assess the prospects for deepening economic cooperation between our countries in this context?
The Middle Corridor, officially called the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, has significant potential in the near future for strengthening ties between Bulgaria and Kazakhstan. As a multimodal trade route connecting Europe and China through Kazakhstan, the Caucasus and the Balkans, it is gaining increasing importance in the context of the global geopolitical landscape.
After the decline in the importance of the Northern Corridor, the traditional route from China to Europe via Russia, as a result of the war in Ukraine and the accompanying sanctions regime, international freight transport is increasingly reorienting itself to the alternative Middle Corridor. In 2024 the volume of freight transport on this route reached 4.5 million tons, which is about 65% more than the previous year and several times higher than in 2021 (586,000 tons).
With the existing land routes between Bulgaria and Turkey, as well as the sea connection across the Black Sea connecting the Bulgarian ports of Varna and Burgas with the Georgian port of Poti, the transport connection between Bulgaria and Kazakhstan has significant potential for expansion and increase in transport volume through the use of the Middle Corridor and its extension to the Balkans.
In this context, the Middle Corridor represents a key strategic initiative that contributes to the development of promising cooperation between the Republic of Bulgaria and the Republic of Kazakhstan. It can also be seen as a logical continuation of the Trans-European Transport Corridor VIII, which passes through Bulgaria, connects North Macedonia, Albania and Italy and plays an important role in connecting the Adriatic and Black Seas.
The Middle Corridor is based primarily on the existing railway and port infrastructure, but its full implementation requires additional investments and development. The countries along the route are taking active steps to position it as a viable alternative to the Northern and Southern Corridors. These measures include the modernization and expansion of port, railway and road infrastructure.
The growing importance of the Middle Corridor will certainly lead to deeper economic cooperation and expansion of trade relations between our countries, which play a key role in its development and functioning. In addition, it is important to realize that this route is not only a transport corridor, but also an energy and digital corridor with huge potential for further growth.
In order to achieve the desired results, it is necessary to use the full range of available tools and ensure the participation of all stakeholders not only at the level of state agencies, but also in business circles.
During my visit to Kazakhstan, I am accompanied by a representative business delegation, which includes heads of leading and successful Bulgarian companies operating in the fields of transport, logistics, energy and information technologies.
Within the framework of the visit to Astana, a business forum is being held, which is a platform for establishing direct contacts and business ties between companies from Bulgaria and Kazakhstan. This event contributes to the further promotion of the Middle Corridor and the strengthening of economic relations between our countries.
Central Asia is increasingly entering the international arena as a single region. To what extent is Bulgaria interested in expanding cooperation not only with Kazakhstan, but also with the countries of Central Asia in general — for example, in the field of energy or education?
It is encouraging that the countries of Central Asia have already begun to cooperate on environmental issues and climate change — problems that in recent years have had serious economic and social consequences for the region.
The problem of water supply remains one of the most acute and affects the entire region. As in many other parts of the world, the countries of Central Asia have realized that only through cooperation can real results be achieved.
Water plays a key role in the life of cities, agriculture and energy. At the same time, heavy rainfall in recent years has had catastrophic consequences: massive floods have caused significant damage, including to agriculture. Jointly overcoming the consequences of these climatic anomalies and joining efforts to prevent them have become a solid basis for the development of closer cooperation between the countries of Central Asia on geopolitical issues, economic and business projects, educational programs and other areas.
The rapidly growing geopolitical importance of the development of the Middle Corridor is another important factor contributing to the joining of efforts. The expansion and modernization of the relevant transport and logistics infrastructure is in the interests of all participating countries, and the benefits of such cooperation are already obvious. As noted, Bulgaria is interested in cooperation with the countries of Central Asia in order to expand connections through the Middle Corridor. This promising global route has a high potential for transporting significant volumes of cargo.
Another important area of cooperation is energy. We have already launched a project to transport “green” electricity from Azerbaijan and other Caucasian countries across the Black Sea to the countries of Eastern and Central Europe. Such a project could be a promising area for deepening Bulgaria's partnership with Central Asia.
Another important area is cooperation in the field of education and labor. This is especially relevant given the demographic situation in Europe, where the population is aging, while the countries of Central Asia have a young, energetic generation interested in training and finding a job in the European Union. We have already started cooperation with Uzbekistan in these areas.
What role, in your opinion, should small and medium-sized countries play in ensuring global strategic stability and diversification of foreign policy?
This is an extremely complex question and there can be no simple answer. However, the current geopolitical situation seems to create more favorable conditions for small and medium-sized countries to take their place in the emerging new international order, acting as an important balancing factor and introducing diversity in foreign policy.
In the era of confrontation between the two global superpowers, such countries could only in exceptional cases afford not to follow the policy of the dominant country.
The modern world system, which is in the process of formation and transition to multipolarity, gives small and medium-sized countries more opportunities to demonstrate flexibility and independence in foreign policy matters. They are given the opportunity - both independently and within the framework of regional cooperation - to state their positions and interests, which do not necessarily coincide with the interests of the great powers.
Adherence to UN principles and norms of international law gives such states both a moral right and political protection, allowing them to provoke disagreements and, at least in political form, to oppose violations of the rules-based international order.
On the sidelines of the 92nd General Assembly of the World Organization for Animal Health, Kazakhstan and Bulgaria discussed a program for the development of industrial dairy farms, which provides for the import of purebred dairy cattle from the countries of the European Union. How is cooperation with Kazakhstan planned to develop in this area in terms of veterinary safety and logistics in the supply of purebred cattle?
Bulgaria has considerable experience in the field of industrial dairy farming. The largest dairy farm in Eastern Europe is located on the territory of our country. In addition, high-ranking scientific and educational institutions are actively working in this area. Genomic technologies are also developing intensively. Thanks to this base, Bulgaria has the potential to become a leading partner from Europe in the exchange of breeding animals, technologies and successful practices. At the same time, the creation of logistical corridors for the transportation of animals, organized in a way that guarantees veterinary safety, will require serious and purposeful work. This emphasizes the importance of cooperation both in establishing business partnerships and in interdepartmental interaction.
Brussels officially approved Bulgaria's transition to the euro from January 1, 2026. What key economic and social changes do you expect from joining the eurozone? How does Bulgaria plan to minimize the possible risks associated with this step?
Following Bulgaria's accession to the European Union, several governments have set themselves the goal of joining the eurozone, which is also an obligation of the country, enshrined in the EU Accession Treaty. In the medium and long term, joining the eurozone is expected to bring significant benefits to the Bulgarian economy. The use of the euro should contribute to greater stability and financial integration of the economy, attract more foreign investment and open up new trade opportunities.
However, it is important to bear in mind that joining the eurozone will affect every Bulgarian citizen. The latest Eurobarometer survey conducted by the EU showed that 50% of Bulgarians are against adopting the euro at this stage, while 43% support this move. There are dangers that the introduction of the euro could lead to price increases, similar to the experience of some countries that have already joined the eurozone.
Social support is therefore essential for the successful implementation of this large-scale transformation. It can only be achieved through a serious commitment on the part of the responsible institutions - not through an imperative political tone, but through real action aimed at preventing any attempts at unfair market speculation on consumer prices. The in-depth analysis of the social and economic consequences of the adoption of the euro, as well as the corresponding institutional measures, are no less important and this is what the citizens of Bulgaria rely on.
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