Minister of Agriculture and Food Dr. Miroslav Naydenov met with newly appointed Ambassador of Japan to Bulgaria H.E. Makoto Ito. Minister Naydenov welcomed the Japanese Ambassador, providing various opportunities for Japanese business to invest in Bulgarian agriculture. First Minister Naydenov pointed out that with such a unique Bulgarian ‘ambassador’, known as Bacillus bulgaricus, which is very popular and well accepted in Japan, our country has a good chance for better and even more efficient expansion of cooperation . He stressed also that apart from Bulgarian yoghurt which is well-known in Japan, our country produces other dairy products well accepted on world markets, such as Bulgarian white brine cheese and Bulgarian yellow cheese.
The Japanese side has expressed interest in in expanding its imports of certain agricultural products and especially in the imports of Bulgarian poultry. the Japanese authorities will assess the sanitary requirements of Bulgarian poultry as its quality and prices have been described as competitive.Ambassador Ito is quoted as saying that in the recent years Japan imported most of its poultry from Brazil because of restrictions on imports from Asian nations, which created potential for imports from an European destination such as Bulgaria
The two sides are said to have agreed that a potential start of exports of Bulgarian wine to Japan would enjoy good opportunities as Japan is already importing wines from France, Italy, Australia, Chile, the USA, South Africa.
Japan's Ambassador has pointed out Japanese businesses are aware of the fact that Bulgaria has some fallow agricultural land, and that they would be interested in investments in agricultural land property.
Minister Naydenov said that opportunities to expand bilateral cooperation in respect to science and technical support in agriculture could be sought. Business in Bulgaria could have interest in buying technological lines for equipment of production and processing of agricultural products and machinery for the woodworking industry and pave the roads in forest areas.
Details and arrangements for the Naydenov’s visit in Japan as part of a Bulgarian government delegation later in January were also discussed at the meeting, as well as possibilities for Minister Naydenov to take part in the business forum and to present investment fields of Bulgarian agriculture and food industry directly to the Japanese businessmen.