May 18 (BTA) - President Rumen Radev opened Tuesday an
international conference dedicated to financing possibilities
for the Three Seas Initiative Investment Fund, organized by the
Bulgarian Development Bank. Radev said that thanks to the joint
efforts of the 12 countries in the Black, Adriatic and Baltic
Seas, the Three Seas Initiative creates opportunities for
economic growth, connection of the countries, social and
economic cohesion. ''With political leadership and joint actions
 of businesses and the non-governmental sector, we can improve
the living standards of the people in the region,'' said the
Bulgarian Head of State, quoted by his press office.

President Radev said that the strengthening of the Three Seas
Initiative Investment Fund and attracting an investment adviser
to it  (Amber Infrastructure Group) mark the Initiative's
transition from political to real action. Business is a key
player, said Radev, adding that interest in the initiative is
growing from various countries around the world, based on the
great potential of the region.

Bulgaria is looking beyond the geographical and temporal borders
 in the region to find the intelligent development of the
projects in the initiative, commented Radev on the priorities of
 the Bulgarian Three Seas Initiative Presidency. According to
him, new opportunities for progress in the region should be
sought and this is the reason why Bulgaria invited Greece as a
guest at the Three Seas summit which Bulgaria  will host this
year in Sofia. ''We must fully ensure the connectivity on the
North-South line, and important transport, energy and digital
connections pass through our border with Greece,'' said the Head
 of State and pointed out that the region should take advantage
of the potential of ports and liquefied gas terminals in Greece.
 

The President also emphasized another main priority of the
Bulgarian presidency - connectivity in the field of science,
education, technology and innovation. Radev also noted the
importance of strengthening the initiative's ties with its
strategic partners - the United States, the European Commission
and Germany.

Caretaker Economy Minister Kiril Petkov said during the forum  
that the main focus should be on innovations, digital
technologies and startups, his ministry said. In this regard,
Petkov said that he had talked with the executive directors of
the Invest Bulgaria Agency and the Bulgarian Small and Medium
Enterprises Promotion Agency with a request to focus their
efforts on small and medium enterprises and to give them the
opportunity to decide which sectors they would want to cooperate
 and do business with. RY/DT

 
 



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