Ivan Mihaylov, CEO of the American Chamber of Commerce in Bulgaria, appeared on the “Our Day” program, on the Bulgarian National Radio to discuss the prospects for economic relations between Bulgaria and the United States in the context of security, business, and investment.
According to Ivan Mihaylov, the increased momentum in relations between Bulgaria and the U.S. comes “at just the right time.” He believes that the presence of a stable government with a strong mandate helps bilateral relations begin to develop more smoothly.
On the topic of visas, Mihaylov notes that the process is the result of years of work by various governments and experts. According to him, the technical work on meeting the criteria has already been completed, leaving only the reduction of the visa refusal rate and the presence of political will.
“Perhaps there is still one small step forward – or rather, two steps. One is technical – reducing the visa refusal rate, which is falling quite moderately. And, of course, political will is also needed so that Bulgarians – all of us – can travel visa-free.”, he stated.
He clarifies that visa-free travel to the U.S. does not mean the elimination of immigration controls, but rather the removal of the visa requirement. In his words, this will significantly facilitate business contacts and increase the flow of people between the two countries.
“Bulgaria, Bulgarians, and Bulgarian business are very well received in the U.S.,” stated Mihaylov. He notes that Bulgarian companies’ interest in investment, manufacturing, and exports to the American market is growing every year.
In his view, Bulgaria does not fall into the high-risk categories under U.S. immigration policy. He points out that the Trump administration makes a clear distinction between legal and illegal immigration and notes that Europe is also facing significant migration pressure.
Ivan Mihaylov highlights the energy and defense industries as key areas for the development of economic relations between Bulgaria and the U.S.
In his words, Bulgarian industry needs an “injection of capital and investment” to accelerate its development.