Switzerland is dispatching a business delegation to Bulgaria to boost economic ties with the Eastern European country. The three-day mission, to be led by David Syz, head of the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (Seco), will include around 20 Swiss business leaders.

The visit kicks off in the Bulgarian capital Sofia on Tuesday with a seminar and forum with members of the Bulgarian government and local entrepreneurs.

The Swiss delegation hopes to receive first-hand reports on the economic situation in Bulgaria and information on regulations governing economic investment.

Syz plans to hold a series of official meetings in Sofia, notably with Bulgaria's economic and finance minister and the country's central bank. Discussions are expected to include bilateral economic relations between the two countries.

According to Seco, investment by Swiss firms in Bulgaria has been limited up until now, but bilateral trade has increased over the past 12 months. The bulk of Swiss exports has been made up of chemical and pharmaceutical products, and machinery. Imports from Bulgaria include textiles, followed by agricultural produce as well as machinery.

Seco has been actively funding development projects in Bulgaria, especially water treatment works. Syz will officially open one of these during a visit to Bulgaria's second city, Plovdiv.

swissinfo with agencies

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