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Bulgaria: The country’s role and significance
Bulgaria is a Southeast European nation with a strategically crucial geopolitical position at the crossroads of Europe and Asia. As a member of the European Union, the World Trade Organization, and various other international institutions, the country plays an active role in European and Eurasian integration processes. EU membership grants Bulgaria strong economic and institutional ties with major European markets, while its geographical location makes it a natural logistics hub along routes connecting Europe with the Black Sea region, the Caucasus, the Middle East, and Central Asia.
Sofia is actively pursuing a strategy to position Bulgaria as a gateway to the European Union for Eastern and Central Asian countries. In this context, particular attention is given to developing sustainable trade and transport corridors, including the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (Middle Corridor), and participation in projects to expand energy links between Europe and Asian countries.
Bulgaria’s economy is characterized by a high degree of openness and diversification. The country has a well-developed mechanical engineering sector, electronics, food processing, chemical production, information technology, and tourism. At the same time, traditional sectors, particularly agriculture and light industry, remain competitive in both European and global markets. A key objective of the country’s economic policy is attracting foreign investment and creating the conditions for stable growth and modernization of its industrial potential.
In recent years, Bulgaria has played an active role in strengthening regional energy security. A strategic priority for the country is the development of infrastructure aimed at diversifying both energy sources and supply routes. Bulgaria aspires to become a key link in the emerging Eurasian energy architecture by supporting projects to expand gas transportation networks, promote renewable energy sources, and modernize existing facilities.
From a foreign policy perspective, Bulgaria is steadily developing bilateral and multilateral relations with Central Asian countries. The region is viewed as a promising area for deepening economic cooperation, expanding transport connectivity, and fostering collaboration in science, education, and culture. Bulgaria has shown sustained interest in participating in regional transit and infrastructure initiatives, seeing them as opportunities to strengthen its position within international logistics chains.
Historically, Bulgaria and Central Asian countries, including Uzbekistan, have maintained long-standing humanitarian and cultural ties. This cooperation is entering a new phase, driven by mutual interest in trade, investment, and joint development. For Uzbekistan, Bulgaria is a reliable partner, an important gateway to European markets, and a country capable of playing a key role in diversifying the nation’s foreign economic relations. For Sofia, Uzbekistan represents a dynamically developing economy with significant export potential, abundant resources, and opportunities for involvement in regional infrastructure initiatives.
History of relations between Uzbekistan and Bulgaria
Diplomatic relations between the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Republic of Bulgaria were established in early 1992, shortly after Uzbekistan gained independence. Since then, the two countries have signed dozens of intergovernmental agreements across various areas of cooperation. In April 1999, Bulgaria opened its embassy in Tashkent, significantly boosting political and economic ties.
A new phase of engagement began with the leadership of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. In September 2017, marking the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev met with the President of Bulgaria, Rumen Radev, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session in New York. The sides agreed to open a new chapter in bilateral cooperation. Particular emphasis was placed on mutually beneficial partnership in political, trade, economic, investment, transport and communication, cultural, humanitarian, and other fields. Bulgaria was identified as one of Uzbekistan’s reliable partners in Europe, however, at that time, trade volumes did not reflect the full potential – bilateral trade amounted to only $23 million in 2016. During the meeting, both leaders noted the significant economic potential yet to be realized.
Following those talks, contacts between the two governments and relevant agencies intensified. In September 2019, the first joint business forum was held in Sofia, during which the Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan and Bulgaria signed an agreement to establish a bilateral Business Council. This body aims to facilitate direct connections between entrepreneurs from both countries and promote joint projects. At that forum, the Bulgarian government and business community representatives spoke highly of Uzbekistan’s dynamic economic reforms, which are creating a favorable investment climate and developing new high-tech industries. In turn, the Uzbek side presented promising industrial and infrastructure projects and invited Bulgarian businesses to participate more actively.
Trade growth and investment cooperation
In recent years, trade between Uzbekistan and Bulgaria has demonstrated steady growth. While mutual trade turnover barely exceeded $20 million in 2017, it reached $36.2 million in 2022, nearly doubling in 2023 to $67.2 million. As of early 2024, this positive trend continues: in the first months of the year, Bulgarian exports to Uzbekistan increased by almost 20%, and total trade volume reached $75.3 million, 12% higher than last year. This indicates that both sides are approaching new records in bilateral trade.
The trade structure is characterized by Bulgaria primarily exporting industrial and finished goods to Uzbekistan, while Uzbekistan exports raw materials and agricultural products to Bulgaria. More than a quarter of Bulgaria’s exports to Uzbekistan are pharmaceutical and medical supplies. Other significant segments include electrical equipment (such as batteries and switchgear), transport machinery (including tractors), food products, and confectionery. Bulgaria’s imports from Uzbekistan mainly comprise cotton fiber, textile products, agricultural raw materials, fertilizers, and other semi-processed goods. Uzbekistan, in turn, is exploring opportunities to export chemical products, cables and wiring, electrical equipment, construction materials, fruits, and vegetables to the Bulgarian market. For its part, Bulgarian businesses have shown interest in participating in Uzbek projects in pharmaceuticals, the cosmetics industry, electrical engineering, and agricultural processing, including through joint ventures.
Investment cooperation is also gradually gaining momentum. Enterprises with Bulgarian capital are already operating in Uzbekistan – according to data from 2017, there were at least 14 such companies, and their number has been increasing since. Direct regional and business-to-business contacts are also on the rise. One example is signing an agreement to establish sister-city relations between the capitals, Tashkent and Sofia. A memorandum on municipal cooperation is expected to be signed during the current visit of the President of Bulgaria. This partnership between the two major cities is anticipated to open additional opportunities for exchanging experience in urban management, culture, and tourism.
Transport corridors: Through Bulgaria to Europe
One of the key areas of partnership is the development of transport and logistics links. Situated on the Black Sea coast and along the route to Central Europe, Bulgaria is crucial in facilitating cargo transit from Uzbekistan and neighboring countries to the European Union. In recent years, concrete agreements have been reached to ease the transit of Uzbek goods through Bulgarian territory. In September 2024, a meeting of the Joint Uzbekistan -Bulgaria Commission on International Road Transport was held in Tashkent. The sides discussed measures to expand cooperation in freight transport by road and to create more favorable conditions for carriers from both countries. Particular attention was given to the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, connecting through the Caucasus and the Black Sea to Bulgaria. This route is expected to significantly increase the volume of Uzbek goods delivered to European Union markets.
Following the negotiations, the transport authorities of both countries agreed on a substantial increase in road transport permit quotas. In particular, an agreement was reached to increase the exchange of permits for 2025 by 15 times. This step will significantly enhance the capacity for uninterrupted export of Uzbek goods by road to EU countries via Bulgaria. At the same time, Uzbekistan is diversifying its supply routes. As of April 1, 2024, under a new agreement with Romania, a permit-free regime was introduced for bilateral and transit freight transportation between Uzbekistan and Romania. Together, Bulgaria and Romania can offer Central Asian goods a more direct and faster corridor into Europe, which is especially relevant in the context of developing the new Middle Corridor route via the Caspian Sea.
Beyond road transport, opportunities for cooperation in rail and maritime logistics are also being explored, including using Bulgarian Black Sea ports. In this way, the transport sector is becoming one of the pillars of bilateral cooperation, closely linked with trade and investment.
Labor migration and humanitarian ties
Another important area of cooperation is labor migration. Facing a need for a workforce in specific sectors, Bulgaria is increasingly recruiting workers from Uzbekistan on a legal basis. In 2022-2023, work began on developing the relevant legal framework: the two countries are preparing to sign an intergovernmental agreement on the organized employment of Uzbekistan citizens in Bulgaria.
Practical steps are already being taken. The Bulgarian Industrial Capital Association (BICA) and the Agency for External Labor Migration of Uzbekistan signed a Cooperation Agreement in employment. This document laid the foundation for simplifying and streamlining the hiring process of Uzbek workers by Bulgarian enterprises. According to Bulgaria’s Ministry of Labor and Social Policy, approximately 15,000 Uzbekistan citizens are working in the country, which is steadily growing. These include seasonal workers (for example, in tourism and services) and skilled professionals such as engineers, construction workers, and IT specialists. Bulgarian businesses have openly stated their demand for such personnel, with a need for both seasonal workers in the tourism sector and specialists in electronics, mechanical engineering, and electrical technology.
For its part, Uzbekistan is interested in the legal and safe deployment of its labor force to European countries. The country is actively diversifying the geography of labor migration and views Bulgaria as one of the promising destinations. As noted by the head of Uzbekistan’s Migration Agency, working abroad represents an attractive opportunity for many young Uzbeks, and the state’s responsibility is to ensure the safety and sustainability of this process. Discussions are underway between the relevant agencies of both countries on key issues such as establishing joint training centers for workforce development, mutual recognition of qualifications, and simplifying visa and administrative procedures. The ongoing negotiations are also expected to bring progress in this important social sphere.
Beyond labor migration, the two countries are also developing cultural and educational ties. Universities and academic institutions are establishing direct partnerships. For example, in 2021, a university in Samarkand and a Bulgarian university in Skopje signed a memorandum of cooperation to facilitate student exchanges and explore joint academic programs. There has also been progress in tourism and people-to-people diplomacy. Plans are underway to launch direct charter flights between Tashkent and the Bulgarian resort city of Burgas, which Uzbekistan Airways will operate. These direct flights are expected to boost tourism exchanges, support health and wellness travel for Uzbek citizens to the Black Sea coast, and offer Bulgarian travelers a chance to discover Uzbekistan’s rich culture.
The potential for increased people-to-people contact is also significant in the broader context of Bulgaria’s European integration. The anticipated accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the Schengen Area will greatly simplify travel for Uzbekistan citizens to these countries and through them to the rest of Europe. As noted by Charlotte Adriaen, Head of the EU Delegation to Uzbekistan, Bulgaria, and Romania, joining Schengen will open new opportunities for travel and exchange, positively contributing to relations between Uzbekistan and the EU. In this way, the development of Uzbekistan’s relations with Bulgaria also fits into a broader Eurasian context.
Official visit of the President of Bulgaria: A new chapter in cooperation
At the invitation of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the President of the Republic of Bulgaria, Rumen Radev, pays an official visit to Uzbekistan from June 9 to 11, 2025. This visit is intended to summarize the achievements reached to date and outline new partnership horizons. A comprehensive program of high-level meetings and events is anticipated.
Negotiations in Tashkent are expected to take place in a constructive and business-like atmosphere, reflecting the high level of mutual trust between Uzbekistan and Bulgaria. According to the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA), the presidents are expected to adopt a Joint Declaration to deepen political dialogue and develop cooperation in trade, investment, culture, education, and other areas. Additionally, the signing of a Cooperation Program between the foreign ministries of Uzbekistan and Bulgaria for 2026-2027 is planned, as well as a Memorandum of Partnership between Tashkent and Sofia. Further documents aimed at expanding economic and social cooperation are also being developed.
Experts note that the visit of the President of Bulgaria, a member state of the European Union, holds particular significance for Uzbekistan in the context of strengthening its overall relations with the EU. Tashkent is pursuing the conclusion of a new Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement with the European Union and values the support of its European partners, among whom Bulgaria plays an important role. For Sofia, Uzbekistan is of interest not only in the bilateral dimension but also as part of the rapidly developing Central Asian region, where Bulgaria seeks to strengthen its presence through economic and cultural initiatives.
Prospects and significance of the visit
The upcoming official visit of President Rumen Radev to Uzbekistan is expected to give strong momentum to the entire spectrum of relations between Uzbekistan and Bulgaria. By demonstrating their political will to deepen ties, the leaders of both countries are laying the foundation for a transition to a qualitatively new level of cooperation – closer, more systematic, and results-oriented.
Soon, a significant increase in bilateral trade can be anticipated through expanding mutual supplies and reducing trade barriers. The investment projects currently under discussion and set to be advanced have the potential to bring new Bulgarian-capital ventures to Uzbekistan, enabling technology transfer and employment creation. At the same time, Uzbek consumer and industrial goods could enter the Bulgarian market, enriching it and offering Bulgarian consumers more choices.
Expanding transport corridors via the Black Sea and the Balkans will facilitate Uzbekistan’s integration into the European logistics system. Implementing agreements on road transport, and possibly, in the future, on rail connections, will help reduce delivery times and lower costs for exporters. Tourism and cultural exchange will also receive a boost: direct flights and the simplification of travel through EU visa policies are expected to enhance mutual interest among citizens of both countries.
The social impact of this partnership will be particularly evident in labor migration: thousands of Uzbekistan citizens will have the opportunity to work legally in Bulgaria under legal protections. At the same time, Bulgaria will be able to address workforce shortages in several sectors of its economy. Through the joint efforts of the relevant agencies, labor migration will become more structured and regulated, benefiting both sides and strengthening people-to-people ties.
Thus, the visit of President Rumen Radev is not an ordinary diplomatic event, but a significant step forward in the multifaceted partnership between Uzbekistan and Bulgaria. The friendly high-level dialogue, rich in concrete substance, reflects the spirit of Uzbekistan’s current foreign policy, which is focused on comprehensive cooperation with international partners. Implementing the agreements reached during this visit will open a new chapter in relations between Tashkent and Sofia, contributing to the prosperity of both nations and reinforcing the bonds between people.
Abduaziz Khidirov, UzA