Jaishankar Calls for Refashioning Ties into Contemporary, Forward-Looking Partnership with Bulgaria
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar paid a visit to Bulgaria and engaged with senior leadership, focusing on bilateral cooperation, the partnership between India and the European Union, and future collaborative opportunities. He shared these details in press remarks following a meeting with his Bulgarian counterpart, Velislava Petrova-Chamova.
Jaishankar noted that India and Bulgaria share longstanding ties, and the current task is to refashion that into a contemporary and forward-looking relationship. He emphasized that India's annual growth rate of 7-8% offers numerous new opportunities. Within India, sectors such as engineering and defence present significant potential, while Indian companies are making new investments abroad and seeking further collaborations.
Jaishankar also highlighted the growing popularity of Yoga and Ayurveda in Bulgaria. With India being a major player in the global creative industry, he invited Bulgaria to deepen connections in this area.
Regarding India-European Union ties, Jaishankar recalled the Free Trade Agreement concluded earlier this year, along with a security and defence partnership and a mobility framework. He noted their transformative potential and stressed that economic opportunities would be explored with each EU member state, inviting them to undertake initiatives in India.
During his visit, Jaishankar held high-level talks with Bulgarian leaders, including Prime Minister Rumen Radev and Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova-Chamova. The discussions focused on expanding bilateral cooperation across a wide range of sectors and strengthening India's engagement with Bulgaria and the EU.
Jaishankar noted that both sides reviewed the full spectrum of India-Bulgaria relations and explored new avenues for cooperation, particularly in the context of the conclusion of India-EU FTA negotiations, the Strategic and Defence Partnership, and the Comprehensive Mobility Cooperation Framework.
Following his visit to Bulgaria, Jaishankar will travel to Finland on June 11 to participate in the 14th edition of the Kultaranta Talks, themed 'A World in Transition: Global, Regional and Local Perspectives'. He will also hold meetings with his Finnish counterpart and other senior leaders, according to a statement by the Ministry of External Affairs.
