The Algerian-Bulgarian relations have been marked by a relative stagnation in the recent years. This situation of stagnating bilateral relations is largely a consequence of major political and economic changes having occurred in international relations since the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.
Following a series of internal developments in Algeria, prompted by the events of October 1988, the country was faced with an extremely difficult situation that did not fail to influence its place on the international stage and its relations with a number of its partners.
Bulgaria, on the other hand, lived in the whirl of its priorities and preoccupations, as a result of its political and economical opening to the world through the country’s accession to the European Union and NATO.
There was a slowdown in cooperation. In the absence of an organized framework; trade and economic relations are developing unevenly. The transactions that have been recorded were actually a response of Bulgarian businesses to tenders launched by Algerian public enterprises and some public institutions.
The current legal framework needs to be updated and action is underway to that effect. The Bilateral Economic Cooperation Committee, which could offer an adequate framework for the recovery of Algeria – Bulgaria economic cooperation, has held a single session since 1989. This was the Committee’s 18th Session that took place in Algiers on 26 and 27 March 2007.
Since the late 1990, namely since 1999, Bulgaria has been seeking ways to reconnect with the Arab World and Algeria in particular. This new orientation of Bulgaria’s foreign policy was further strengthened under the current government of Prime Minister Boyko Borissov who took office after the parliamentary elections in July 2009.
As for Algeria, the willingness of Sofia to boost bilateral cooperation was manifested through the proposals for high-level visits of Bulgarian officials to Algiers and some visits that Bulgarian official representatives paid to our country in 1999 and 2000.
To give a new start to Algerian-Bulgarian cooperation, a great number of contacts were established with political officials, CEOs of institutions and economic organizations, as well as with Bulgarian journalists.
The purpose of these contacts is to help Bulgarians working in various fields of activity better understand our national realities and appreciate the promising perspectives our country offers as a result of the economic development and modernization policy engaged its Chief Executive.
Practical initiatives have already been undertaken. They are bound to bear fruit within a reasonable time. The first consisted in the proposed signature of two agreements between the Algerian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CACI) and the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI). These include an agreement of cooperation between the two chambers on the one hand, and an agreement to create a bilateral business forum, on the other hand. Secondly, the Embassy and the BCCI organized together a business seminar on 18 February 2010 with the purpose to make Bulgarian entrepreneurs acquainted with the opportunities that Algeria offers for the development of mutually beneficial business relations and partnerships in many various sectors, such as energy, building and construction, civil engineering, mining, and others.
A project of f the Speaker of the Algerian People’s National Assembly’s visit to Sofia is being discussed. It is expected that the materialization of this project would open new and important horizons to the development of Algeria – Bulgaria relations.
Bulgaria is an important member of the international community, having in mind, in particular, its accession to the EU and NATO. This offers the country an important outlook for the future, enhancing its role in Europe and, more generally, on the international stage. Therefore, our relations with this partner will be given their due importance.