Building Bridges Across the Atlantic
From April 20 to 24, 2026, AmCham Bulgaria participated in the ACE US Delegation 2026 – a high-level mission organized by AmChams in Europe (ACE) that brought together 37 senior executives from 30 AmChams across Europe and Eurasia. Representing AmCham Bulgaria were Ivan Mihaylov, CEO, and Daniel Kiryakov, PMP, who engaged in both the shared group program and an extensive parallel agenda of bilateral meetings, institutional visits, and community outreach.
Throughout the week, the AmCham Bulgaria team worked to strengthen key relationships, advocate for Bulgarian and U.S. business interests, and position AmCham Bulgaria’s U.S. Office in Washington, D.C. – led by Ivo Konstantinov – as a significant node in the transatlantic network.
Day 0–1 | April 20–21 — Washington, D.C.: Arrival & Opening Sessions
T.A.B.A. Reception
The delegation week kicked off with a networking reception hosted by T.A.B.A., which welcomed the ACE community to Washington, D.C. The event brought together more than 70 distinguished guests from across Europe and beyond, providing an ideal environment for relationship-building ahead of the intensive meeting schedule.
U.S. Chamber of Commerce – Full Group Session
Day 1 opened with an in-depth, multi-topic program at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, moderated by Marjorie Chorlins and featuring John Murphy, Christopher Guith, and other top-level experts. The session covered the current U.S. political landscape, evolving global trade dynamics, energy cooperation, and EU–U.S. security partnerships.
Meeting with the U.S. Commercial Attaché to Bulgaria Nominee
On the sidelines of the Day 1 program, Ivan Mihaylov and Daniel Kiryakov held a bilateral meeting with Antonios Louloudakis, the U.S. Commercial Attaché to Bulgaria Nominee. The meeting was one of several side engagements that the AmCham Bulgaria team arranged independently during the week – a testament to the team’s proactive approach to building bilateral ties.
Day 2 | April 22 – Washington, D.C.: Policy, Security & Statecraft
Day 2 provided an excellent mix of group and Chamber-to-partner meetings, enabling the AmCham Bulgaria team to engage with key institutions and leaders shaping transatlantic policy, security, and economic cooperation.
Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)
The full delegation participated in a dynamic session at CSIS, featuring wide-ranging exchanges on economic security, technological innovation, energy, and the future of transatlantic cooperation.
Contributing experts included:
- Navin Girishankar, President, Economic Security and Technology Department
- Sujai Shivakumar, Ph.D., Director and Senior Fellow, Renewing American Innovation
- Max Bergmann, Director, Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program and Stuart Center
- Joseph Majkut, Director, Energy Security and Climate Change Program
- Kate Koren, Deputy Director, Economics Program and Scholl Chair in International Business
Congressional Meetings: Congressman Keith Self & Congressman Joe Wilson
As part of the group program, the delegation met with Joshua Adams, Senior Legislative Assistant to Congressman Keith Self, gaining valuable perspectives on U.S. legislative priorities, foreign relations, and oversight. The meeting highlighted the critical role Congress plays in shaping both domestic and international partnerships.
On their own separate agenda, Ivan Mihaylov and Daniel Kiryakov held a bilateral meeting with Congressman Joe Wilson – their second consecutive such meeting with the Congressman – continuing the dialogue on matters of importance to Bulgaria – U.S. relations and the role of American businesses in Southeast Europe.
29th Statesman of the Year Ceremony — Former Members of Congress (FMC)
Later that evening, Ivan Mihaylov and Daniel Kiryakov attended the 29th Statesman of the Year Ceremony organized by the U.S. Association of Former Members of Congress – an event bringing together current and former legislators to honor distinguished service and inspire the next generation of policymakers. For AmCham Bulgaria, attending this ceremony was both a moment of respect for legislative achievement and an opportunity to deepen connections across political aisles.
Day 3 | April 23 — Austin, Texas: Community, Business & Bulgarian Diaspora
Day 3 in Austin provided a rich mix of business meetings, institutional discussions, and deeply meaningful community outreach, as the AmCham Bulgaria team engaged with investors, honorary consuls, policy analysts, and members of the Bulgarian diaspora.
Meeting with the Bulgarian Community in Austin
One of the most emotionally resonant moments of the entire delegation came when Ivan Mihaylov and Daniel Kiryakov met with members of the Bulgarian diaspora in Austin, Texas. They were warmly welcomed by Tsvetomira (Mira) Lyubenova, Marina Neal, Yoana Dumanova, Lyuboslav Lyubenov, and Petar Kralev, with whom they discussed work, the future, and the opportunities that the United States and Bulgaria hold for each other.
A cherished part of the meeting was the sharing of gifts from Bulgaria, symbolizing cultural pride and heritage:
- Puzzles featuring the likenesses of national heroes Levski, Botev, and Rakovski, by NoNameArt
- Posters featuring Vazov, Levski, Paisiy, and Botev, by Store.bg
- Seven of the 2026 commemorative flags by Asarel-Medet JSC, part of their campaign honoring the 150th anniversary of the April Uprising
“I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to everyone here in Austin, Texas, for continuing to be champions and promoters of Bulgarian culture!” – Ivan Mihaylov, CEO, AmCham Bulgaria
Day 4 | April 24 — Austin, Texas: Manufacturing, Education & Trade
The final day of the delegation offered a triple experience: advanced manufacturing, top-class global education, and insights into doing business in one of the United States’ most dynamic economic hubs.
Tesla Gigafactory
The delegation visited Tesla’s first Gigafactory – a facility spanning one mile in length and a quarter mile in width, set on 28,000 acres of land. The visit offered an insider’s look at the scale of advanced manufacturing and clean energy, from the design of vehicles to their production at a global level, with over 12,000 employees working on site.
University of Texas at Austin
The delegation had the pleasure of engaging with Dr. Sonia Feigenbaum, Senior Vice Provost for Global Engagement and Chief International Officer at UT Austin. The discussion highlighted the vital role of international collaboration in higher education and its impact on building strong, long-term global partnerships. As a leading public research institution, UT Austin plays a pivotal role in advancing health, discovery, and innovation worldwide.
U.S. Trade Consult, AngelouEconomics & Q-Branch
The final day concluded with insightful exchanges with Sean Herrity, Founder & CEO of U.S. Trade Consult, Angelos Angelou, Founder and Principal Executive Officer of AngelouEconomics, and Brandon Schneider of Q-Branch. Their perspectives on market entry, trade strategy, and international business underscored the importance of agile thinking in today’s complex global trade and investment environment.
Positioning AmCham Bulgaria’s U.S. Office in Washington, D.C.
Throughout the delegation week, a key strategic priority for Ivan Mihaylov and Daniel Kiryakov was to actively position AmCham Bulgaria’s U.S. Office in Washington, D.C. – led by Ivo Konstantinov – as a credible and well-connected partner in the transatlantic space. By participating in the group program, organizing separate bilateral meetings, attending high-level ceremonial events, and reaching out to the Bulgarian diaspora, the team demonstrated the breadth and depth of what AmCham Bulgaria represents on both sides of the Atlantic.
Looking Ahead
The ACE US Delegation 2026 was a milestone engagement for AmCham Bulgaria. The meetings, the connections forged, and the conversations held – both formal and informal – will serve as a foundation for continued advocacy, partnership-building, and transatlantic cooperation in the months and years ahead. AmCham Bulgaria returns from the United States energized and more committed than ever to bridging the two economies, supporting its members, and contributing to a prosperous and stable transatlantic future.