May 14 – Lombard exports to Bulgaria recorded a real boom in 2013, compared to 2012: +17.1 It’s the higher growth in regional exports in Europe. This is what emerges in the elaboration of the Chamber of Commerce of Milan on ISTAT data. Taking into consideration the top 25 destination countries, Bulgaria precedes Russia (+13.3%), the Netherlands (+9.1%) and the UK (+7.7%). In general, Lombard exports in 2013 exceeded half a billion euro in value, accounting for more than a quarter of the Italian total, with manufacturing, particularly machinery (€113 million, +78.7 %) and metal products, in the lead. The most active provinces are Milan (29.1% of regional exports, for a 53.9% increase over 2012), Bergamo (21.4% of regional exports, +36.2%) and Brescia (16.2% of regional exports, +13 %). Strong growth was also registered for Pavia (+64.4%). The Lombard import from Bulgaria amounts to over € 400 million and focuses on chemical, medical and pharmaceutical products (38.3% of the total). More than half reaches Milan (57.9 % of the total in 2013), followed by Bergamo and Brescia. A relevant fact is that Como, which doubled its imports in a year (+96.8 %). Development opportunities in Bulgaria were discussed during a conference held today at Palazzo Turati, headquarters of the Chamber of Commerce of Milan. During the initiative development programs, business regulation, finance and incentives for companies investing in Bulgaria were presented, focusing in particular on agribusiness, mechanics, new technologies, electronics, and wood furniture. The Deputy Minister of Economy and Energy of the Republic of Bulgaria, Anna Yaneva, was present. At the end of the conference – organized, among others, by Promos, a special agency of the Milan Chamber of Commerce for international activities – bilateral meetings between representatives of the Bulgarian delegation and Italian entrepreneurs were held.
