Bulgarian-Hungarian Business Forum to Strengthen Economic Ties

The third Bulgarian-Hungarian Business Forum, to be held at the SamElyon complex in Samokov from April 27 to 29, is expected to conclude with a number of partnership agreements on trade cooperation and the opening of representative offices, Bulgarian Trade Attaché in Hungary Nevena Stoyanova said on Thursday. She made the statement at a press conference held at the BTA National Press Club in Samokov.

The press conference was also attended by Samokov Regional Development Council Chair Sotir Nemov and Samokov Mayor Angel Dzhorgov.

Stoyanova noted that during the forum, Hungarian representatives will have the opportunity to learn about the development of the city’s industrial zone. She added that interest in the forum is high on both sides, particularly among businesses and partner organizations. Over the past five years, economic relations between Bulgaria and Hungary have shown significant and steady growth, reflecting the active efforts of both governments and their embassies.

Trade between Bulgaria and Hungary has continued to grow, reaching EUR 2.4 billion in 2025. According to data from the Bulgarian National Bank, Hungarian investment in Bulgaria amounted to EUR 130 million in 2025, Stoyanova said, adding that Hungary is Bulgaria’s leading investor among the Visegrád countries.

Dzhorgov stressed that hosting the forum is important for the city. He expressed hope that a branch of a Hungarian university could be opened in Samokov, noting that the region has much to offer and that Hungarian interest is not accidental. He also said that approval of the detailed spatial plan for the industrial zone is expected, which will pave the way for future investment and job creation.

Representatives of Bulgarian and Hungarian institutions, chambers of commerce, leading companies from the industrial, energy and service sectors, as well as academia, have been invited to take part in the forum.

The event is being held as part of the “Hungarian Days in Samokov” initiative and is organized by the Samokov Regional Development Council, the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Ministry of Economy and Industry, the Trade Service at the Bulgarian Embassy in Hungary, the Municipality of Samokov, and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Bács-Kiskun County.

Comment by the Institute of Danube Research 

The forum in Samokov should be viewed not only as a bilateral business event, but also as part of a broader trend toward the regionalization of economic diplomacy in the Danube and Central European area. Bringing together business representatives, local authorities, government institutions and academia on one platform indicates a transition from protocol-driven contacts to longer-term cooperation chains spanning trade, investment, education and territorial development.

In practical terms, this means that Bulgaria and Hungary are seeking to institutionalize the growth of their economic ties through regional platforms where cities and local industrial zones become independent entry points for foreign capital. For the countries of the Danube Basin and the wider Central and Eastern European space, this model is particularly illustrative, as it shows that competitiveness increasingly depends not only on macroeconomic indicators, but also on the ability of territories to quickly offer ready-made sites, partnerships and specialized institutional solutions.

For Ukraine, this case is important in light of the need to strengthen economic diplomacy at the regional level and to promote industrial zones, cross-border clusters and municipal cooperation platforms with partners in the Danube region. The Bulgarian-Hungarian format effectively demonstrates how a local initiative can be embedded in the broader architecture of international economic integration.