Mr Prime Minister,

Ladies and gentlemen,

We are witnessing today a very important event, which is part of the Year of Bulgaria in Russia. The Bulgarian National Exhibition in Moscow is significant because it will increase awareness of Bulgaria's current economic potential among Russian business leaders and the general public.

Mr Prime Minister has already mentioned a number of major joint projects, such as the Belene Nuclear Power Plant, the South Stream and the Burgas-Alexandroupolis pipeline projects. But our cooperation stretches far beyond these large projects.

It is our wish to benefit from every productive contact made between our two countries over the past decades, and use them as a springboard to move forward, especially in high-tech cooperation. We all know the sector is extremely promising.

As for investment, much is left to be down here. Mutual investments between Russia and Bulgaria are certainly not at a high enough level. While Russian investments in Bulgaria add up to hundreds of millions of dollars, Bulgarian investments in Russia do not exceed $13 million. This is certainly far below our potential.

Therefore, business contacts between Russian and Bulgarian regions are extremely important. It is also good that part of the exhibition now on display here will later be taken to major Russian regions, including Khanty-Mansiisk, Yekaterinburg and Kazan. We also hope that Bulgarian professionals will be able to show their worth in major infrastructure projects for 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.

I would like to thank the organisers of this exhibition, to greet all the participants and guests, and wish them success. Thank you.