Ministry of Transport, Information Technology and Communications

The opportunities for Bulgarian and Vietnamese companies to launch joint products were discussed today at a meeting between the Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications Danail Papazov and the Deputy Minister of Information and Communications of Vietnam Nguyen Minh Hong. The talks were held during Prime Minister Oresharski’s official visit to Vietnam.

"In view of the rapid development of the IT sector in Vietnam and the opportunities that the country exhibits in the production of machinery and equipment, Bulgarian companies could seek to work with Vietnamese ones", said Minister Papazov during the meeting. He suggested the promotion of business relations between the two countries through bilateral forums or special meetings of professional associations of Bulgaria and Vietnam.

Minister Papazov stressed the need to consider the possibility of updating the legal and regulatory framework in Vietnam by signing a new bilateral agreement on cooperation in IT and communications.

Bulgaria's experience in establishing e-government was one of the main topics of discussion. Minister Papazov presented the projects for automatic exchange of data between the main registers of the administration and the development of e-services.

During his visit to Vietnam Minister Danail Papazov also met with the Deputy Minister of Transport Nguyen Ngoc Dong. Minister Papazov expressed his satisfaction with the efforts of both countries to strengthen the cooperation in the field of air transport through future exchange of texts on a new draft Agreement on Air Transport. They also discussed the opening of a direct air route between the two countries and the possibilities for Vietnamese pilots, flight attendants, air traffic controllers, engineers and technicians to study in Bulgaria. The prospects of registering and handling of goods through the ports of Varna and Burgas were also discussed.