February 19 (BTA) - Prime Minister Boyko Borissov on
Wednesday conferred with Pau Roca, Director General of the
International Organization of Wine and Vine (OIV), the
government information service said. In Borissov's presence
Agriculture Minister Dessislava Taneva and Roca signed a
memorandum of understanding under which the vine and wine
industry in Bulgaria and the Balkans will be promoted at an
international level.

Borissov and Roca noted the development of vine-growing and
wine-making in Bulgaria which is confirmed by data that 61 per
cent of all vineyards in the country have been entered in the
European Register of Protected Designation of Origin and
Protected Geographical Indications. Bulgaria has a little over
of 60,000 hectares of vineyards. Some have been planted under
the measure for vineyard restructuring and conversion.
 
In 2019, nearly 850 hectares of vines were planted. There is an
increase in the export of Bulgarian wines in 2019. Bulgaria
exported 64 million litres of wine to Western Europe, China, the
 US and the number of wine makers is growing.

The memorandum aims to enhance relations in viticulture,
wine-making, technology, marketing and other areas of mutual
interest. The two sides will also partner in the application of
new technologies, training of specialists and the organization
of conferences, seminars and regular meetings for exchange of
experience and the future trends for the development of the
sector. RI/PP

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